The Capital Area Division (CAD) of Applied Research Associates, Inc. (ARA) is seeking an experienced Senior Engineering Program Manager for a multi-discipline team of other scientists and engineers. This person will be responsible for elucidating and tracking requirements from government customers and developing viable and successful R&D programs with their project team. He/She will also be responsible for developing high quality deliverables. The right candidate will be responsible for project budget management, tracking, and reporting. This person will have business development responsibilities with marketing and business development goals. The right candidate will have staff supervision responsibilities including professional development plans and annual performance reviews.
Essential Functions:
The primary responsibility of this position is to manage and grow the team and project and includes full responsibility for high quality project execution. The Senior Engineering Program Manager will oversee a team of engineers and scientists focused on operational planning and functional defeat of hard targets, underground facilities, and WMD facilities. The team performs research and development of new tools and methodologies to understand and reverse engineer processes and support systems at remote WMD-related facilities.
The Senior Engineering Program Manager is the face of the project to the government and is the technical point of contact for the government with all project matters, responsible for identifying and tracking requirements, thought leadership, tracking deliverables, developing and executing a project plan, and cost and project status reporting. As a Group Leader in ARA, this person is also responsible for marketing, recruitment, and group growth. Selection will be based on demonstrated leadership; marketing performance compatible with a % growth goal; supervision and interpersonal skills; capability to develop new initiatives; and quality of prior work in primary technical field.
Project Performance
- Responsible for technical quality, budget, and schedule performance on the projects in the group
- Oversee adherence to ARA’s quality plan, including project management reviews, project quality reviews, and holding themselves accountable for high technical, budget, and schedule performance
- Develop project execution budgets, forecasting burnouts and future funding needs
- Track deliverables progress, discover issues before they become significant
- Identify and track R&D requirements for the project
- Work closely with government PMs to develop project plans consistent with their goals
Marketing
- Growth goal of 15%
- Emphasize technical excellence as the foundation for customer satisfaction, follow-on work, and marketing
- Develop and implement group marketing plans; oversee marketing with current clients and development of new clients
- Prepare proposals and cost estimates in line with ARA and the division’s policies and procedures
- Coordinate and communicate with other divisions on joint proposals
General Administration
- Processing and timely approval of timecards, vouchers, and expense reports
- Maintain a strong working knowledge to enforce ARA policies and procedures
Personnel
- Supervise staff
- Develop and enforce consistent standards for performance in line with the guidance provided in ARA’s Talent Manager Handbook
- Ensure consistent, compliant and effective recruiting process is adhered to in accordance with ARA’s Recruiting Handbook
- Coach and develop staff and other direct reports informally and in accordance with ARA’s performance management system
- Hold staff accountable to project performance and employee development goals
- Effectively resolve employee disputes and concerns
Financial Management
- Responsible for meeting group profit goals
- Prepare division budget including overhead and direct contract components
- Monitor adherence to budget and take appropriate actions to maintain the budget
- Advise sector and corporate levels of potential budget problems
- Monitor project cost performance
- Develop annual and quarterly projections, working with staff on inputs for staffing, ODCs, and overhead budgets
- Review and assure the accuracy of cost reports and invoices affecting the division
Security
- Oversee project security management activities of the project, including classified processing and materials, physical security, and insider threat awareness program
Coordination with Other Divisions
- Develop working relationships with other Group Leaders and Division Managers to ensure company-wide cooperation and coordination
- Work with other Group Leaders and Division Managers to develop and manage joint marketing, proposals, and projects
General Requirements
- Effectively respond to a wide range of problems on an undefined schedule
- Participate in all division and company events
- Willingness to go above and beyond a standard work schedule to meet the needs of the division
Required Qualifications:
- Master’s degree in a related field with 12 – 15 years of experience in R&D
- Must be a US Citizen
- Minimum of active Top Secret clearance with eligibility for SCI based upon an SSBI in the last five years
- 10 – 15 years of experience in large R&D project management (>$5M annual revenue)
- Demonstrated leadership experience as a Group Leader, Senior Group Leader, Program Manager and large project manager
- Demonstrated marketing and business development skills to grow a business area and contribute to ARA’s growth goals
- Demonstrated ability to effectively plan and manage resources and budgets (personnel, projects, proposals, OH, and service centers)
- Demonstrated ability to work effectively and lead a team of peers, as well as excellent interpersonal and communication skills; leads by example
- Demonstrated proposal writing and management skills
- Positive presence in front of customers
Preferred Qualifications:
- Military or defense-related experience and an understanding of operational planning and functional defeat of hard targets, underground facilities, and WMD facilities
- R&D experience of new tools and methodologies to understand and reverse engineer processes and support systems at remote WMD-related facilities
COMPANY INFORMATION:
Applied Research Associates, Inc. is an employee-owned international research and engineering company recognized for providing technically superior solutions to complex and challenging problems in the physical sciences. The company, founded in Albuquerque, NM, in 1979, currently employs over 2000 professionals. ARA offices throughout the United States and Canada provide a broad range of technical expertise in defense technologies, civil technologies, computer software and simulation, systems analysis, environmental technologies, and testing and measurement. The corporation also provides sophisticated technical products for environmental site characterization, pavement analysis, and robotics.
At ARA, employees are our greatest assets. The corporation realizes that employee ownership fosters greater creativity and initiative along with higher performance and customer satisfaction levels. ARA gives its employees the tools, training, and opportunities to take more active roles as owners. The culture is challenging; innovation and experimentation are the norm. Employees are eligible for contributions which not only add to the company’s success but also their own through the Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP). The motto, “Engineering and Science for Fun and Profit” sums up the ARA experience. For additional information and an opportunity to join this unique workplace, please visit our website at www.ara.com.
Please apply at www.careers.ara.com for the Senior Engineering Program Manager position.
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