Research Analyst

Cna - Arlington, VA

Full-time - Entry Level

Hybrid - Arlington, VA

Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services

About the position

As part of the Department of the Navy's Federally Funded Research and Development Center (FFRDC), CNA's Systems, Tactics, and Force Development (STF) division provides analysis for decision-makers to support the development of tactics and employment of forces, the modernization and management of forces, and the establishment of integrated requirements. The division's four research programs focus on warfare domains: Strike and Air Warfare; Surface Warfare; Undersea Warfare; and Cyber, IT Systems, and Networks. Our Research Analysts support decision-makers by quantifying naval warfighting capabilities and limitations under realistic employment conditions; developing empirical or theoretical estimates for the performance of fleet systems and platforms; and developing creative solutions to complex tactical and force design challenges that meet military-utility, cost-effectiveness, and modernization requirements. CNA fosters an inclusive culture that values diverse backgrounds and perspectives. Our flexible and engaging work environment encourages iterative and creative collaboration at every stage of the problem-solving process. Our employees are committed to helping clients develop effective solutions to better manage their programs through scientific, data-driven approaches. We are looking for creative and innovative individuals to help carry out our mission.

Responsibilities

• Meets CNA's quality standards when working on well-structured pieces of a project with minimal or no guidance.
• Develops and maintains broad, general institutional knowledge of primary clients/sponsors; their culture, organization, and issues.
• Contributes productively and harmoniously to the work of others; treats everyone respectfully, professionally and fairly.
• Supports business development efforts and/or marketing activities by maintaining strong client relationships through high quality work.
• Interacts with sponsors/clients under the supervision of an experienced colleague, and with study POCs independently.
• Makes significant contributions to research publications and analytic products for individual projects.
• Demonstrates ability to communicate results of work in a clear and concise fashion.
• Works with minimal or no guidance on focused, well-structured pieces of projects.
• Exhibits a positive attitude in interactions with colleagues and clients/sponsors.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Minimum Master's degree in a relevant field or equivalent experience, PhD preferred.
• Typical minimum requirements: Ph.D. & 0+ years or Master's & 2+ years of experience in research and analysis.
• Ability to make significant contributions to projects/analyses; Strong analytic curiosity/creativity; Ability to operate independently in the execution of assignments.
• Ability to work in a multi-disciplinary environment; Strong critical thinking skills; Knowledge of research techniques; Strong planning and organizational skills.
• Excellent interpersonal, oral and written communication skills; Ability to interact positively and somewhat independently with clients.

Nice-to-haves

• Experience with classified work environments.
• Familiarity with military tactics and force development.

Benefits

• Flexible working environment with hybrid options for unclassified work.
• Opportunities for professional development and training.
• Support for obtaining and maintaining security clearances.