Sr. Operations Research Analyst

Systems Planning and Analysis, Inc. (SPA) delivers high-impact, technical solutions to complex national security issues. With over 50 years of business expertise and consistent growth, we are known for continuous innovation for our government customers, in both the US and abroad. Our exceptionally talented team is highly collaborative in spirit and practice, producing Results that Matter. Come work with the best! We offer opportunity, unique challenges, and clear-sighted commitment to the mission. SPA: Objective. Responsive. Trusted.

The Joint, Office of the Secretary of Defense, Interagency Division (JOID) provides expert support services to a range of customers spanning across the Department of Defense, Federal Civilian, and international markets. JOID provides a diverse portfolio of analytical and programmatic capabilities to help our customers make informed decisions on their most challenging issues.

The Critical Infrastructure Group (CIG) within JOID provides technical, programmatic and analytical support to customers with missions in national security to include the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Health and Human Services (HHS), and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The Group brings technical and operational expertise in fields of countering weapons of mass destruction, critical infrastructure protection, emergency response, nuclear non-proliferation, weapons deployment programs, and transportation safety. In addition to management and advisory services, CIG staff collaborate closely with our clients to provide high-quality modeling, simulation, software, and analytical products to meet the most demanding government standards and timelines.

SPA has a near-term need for a highly motivated and experienced Senior Operations Research Analyst to join our organization and play a key role in shaping the future of our data-driven initiatives. This role is onsite in Alexandria, VA.

The candidate will develop and implement data management frameworks to support risk informed decision making across organizations; collaborate with cross-functional teams to understand their analytic needs and help them make risk informed decisions; design, implement, and publish common lexicons to maximize the data sharing efficiencies; analyze issues to identify patterns, trends, and insights that inform business strategy; design and implement data governance processes to ensure data quality, security, and compliance; and stay up-to-date with emerging technologies and industry trends to identify opportunities for innovation and improvement. The ideal candidate will have a passion for using data to drive business decisions and a track record of successfully executing data strategy projects.

Required:

Bachelor's degree in Mathematics, Statistics, Engineering or a related field
• Active TS/SCI clearance and the ability to obtain a favorable DHS Suitability determination
• At least 10 years of experience acting as a senior data analyst, including at least three years applied to national security or homeland security data
• More than 24 credit hours of quantitative-based coursework (in the fields of mathematics, statistics, or engineering), including at least six credit hours of calculus and Experience in presenting and communicating the results of analysis to project stakeholders.
• Possess the same or comparable certifications as listed: Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert (MCSE): Data Management and Analytics, Certified Analytics Professional, Amazon Web Services (AWS) Certified Big Data - Specialty, or SAS Certified Big Data Professional
• Demonstrated experience acting as a senior representative for an organization that developed national-level plans or initiatives as they relate to data and information sharing, including at least three years applied to national security or homeland security missions

Desired:

• DHS Suitability
• Understanding of the infrastructure security mission, the data in this mission area, and how to deliver the most pertinent data for decisions by senior DHS government leaders
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills with strong attention-to-detail
• Strong communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to effectively lead and communicate data insights to both technical and non-technical stakeholders
• Experience with data visualization tools such as Tableau or PowerBI
• Familiarity with data management technologies such as SQL, NoSQL (e.g., graph databases), and cloud-based data platforms
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team in a fast-paced and dynamic environment