Project Control Analyst

About the Role

Join the Integrated Products Division (IPD) of Applied Research Associates, Inc. in Greenville, SC as a Project Analyst. The IPD team develops and delivers solutions for challenging problems in highly technical areas such as robotic systems, autonomous vehicles, advanced sensors, geotechnical applications, weapon systems, energy solutions, and other emerging technologies for both commercial and DOD/Government customers. This role offers the opportunity to be part of a growing Program & Project Management team, collaborating with project managers and the accounting team.

Responsibilities

• Perform advanced analysis of project datasets to solve complex operational challenges, delivering impactful results that enhance efficiency and drive productivity.
• Aggregate project data across all divisional projects to provide a portfolio view and maintain dashboards to track progress and ensure transparency of key metrics.
• Perform budget analysis, cost projections, and estimates.
• Compile, analyze, and track data influencing cost, such as materials, labor, and special equipment requirements.
• Proactively anticipate and resolve issues related to the accuracy of resource and financial monitoring and reports.
• Generate and manage project plans within Smartsheet, ensuring projects are properly linked to reports.
• Maintain resource (people and materials) planning spreadsheets, ensuring all required resources are captured and allocated accurately.
• Proactively identify potential resource constraints and communicate effectively with project managers.
• Support the generation of work instructions and Standard Operating Procedures for project and change management.
• Support the project management and systems engineering teams in executing the change management process.
• Support configuration reviews with the Change Management Review board, ensuring the process is completed and required approvals are received.
• Track and monitor subcontractor spending, work completion, and deliverables when required.
• Support during project reviews, documenting and communicating identified action items.
• Facilitate lessons learned activities/reviews for completed projects.
• Support the project management team and proposal managers in compiling estimates and getting quotes for project proposals.
• Update cost trackers with actuals from Job Status Reports (JSRs) and work with PMs to realign hours, material, and travel costs.
• Maintain project cost tracker templates, including adding new employees, formatting/modifications, and troubleshooting errors.
• Add employee allocations into Adaptive Planning (AP) and maintain AP with changes/updates on projects (direct labor, travel, and material costs).
• Assist the accounting team with reconciling project revenue in AP to E-office and cost tracking worksheets.
• Provide other support to project managers as required, with possible opportunities to lead internal process improvements.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration or a similar field.
• 2-4 years of relevant experience.
• Experience with data integration, including combining and cleaning data.
• Strong skills in Excel tools such as Power Query, VLOOKUP, and macros, plus basic database or automation knowledge.
• Proficient in MS Word, PowerPoint, and Smartsheet.
• Highly proficient with MS Excel.
• Highly organized and detail-oriented.
• Effective communicator.
• Must be a U.S. Citizen.

Preferred Qualifications

• Familiarity with Power BI and Deltek Cost Point.
• Familiarity with Earned Value Management practices.
• Experience with project/task scheduling.
• Knowledge of change management or configuration management processes and procedures.

Pay

Expected compensation for this position will range from $32 - $38/hour depending on education and experience.

About the Company

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. Founded in Albuquerque, NM, in 1979, ARA currently employs over 2,200 employee-owners and continues to grow. The company operates offices throughout the United States and Canada, offering expertise in defense technologies, civil technologies, computer software and simulation, systems analysis, environmental technologies, and testing and measurement. ARA also provides sophisticated technical products for environmental site characterization, pavement analysis, and robotics.

At ARA, employees are our greatest assets. The company fosters a culture of creativity and initiative, where employee ownership drives greater performance and customer satisfaction. ARA provides tools, training, and opportunities for employees to take active roles as owners through the Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP). The motto, "Engineering and Science for Fun and Profit," reflects the ARA experience.