What you will do at ARA:

At ARA, you’ll join a team engaged in applied research, testing, and engineering at a world-renowned outdoor wave tank facility. In this role, you’ll oversee exciting engineering and field test projects, collaborate with our skilled engineers and technicians, and manage planned enhancements to this one-of-a-kind indoor/outdoor test facility. As a part of the ARA-Ohmsett team, you will:

• Assure that the team delivers high quality technical results to our government and private customers (such as data and video from experiments, engineering designs and CAD drawings, fabricated test apparatus, etc.).
• Manage project budgets, schedules, staffing, and technical execution to ensure timely delivery and adherence to budget.
• Lead and coordinate a small team of experienced engineers, conducting regular meetings to prioritize tasks and track progress.
• Engage with clients and subcontractors to ensure project expectations are clearly understood and met.
• Develop proposals and cost estimates by collaborating with staff and clients to define project requirements, staffing needs, and budget estimates.
• Promote a safe and efficient and work environment with a focus on teamwork and excellent project results.

Applied Research Associates, Inc. (ARA) is seeking a Principal Program Manager for “Ohmsett, the National Oil Spill Response Research & Renewable Energy Test Facility” in Leonardo, New Jersey. Ohmsett is a unique facility focused on research, testing, and training in the areas of marine oil spill response and marine renewable energy. This position is on-site (at the Naval Weapons Station Earle Waterfront facility in Leonardo, NJ) with limited travel to other facilities or relevant conferences. Candidates with experience leading projects in outdoor test facilities and/or managing the operations and maintenance of research facilities/laboratories are encouraged to apply for this position.

As an ARA Principal Program Manager, you will work closely with ARA’s scientists, engineers, subcontractors, and government clients to ensure that project goals are met. You will lead or manage a wide range of interesting projects including facilities improvement, testing & training, and research & development. You and your team will test new technology in a large outdoor wave tank (or other indoor testing facilities at Ohmsett) and produce quality reports, test data, and videos.

About ARA and Ohmsett:

ARA is a 100% employee-owned company with over 2300 employees working at locations across the nation. We pride ourselves on solving some of the toughest problems for our clients, performing engineering and science that matters, creating exciting new technologies and solutions, and making the world a safer place. As employee-owners, we receive a comprehensive benefits package including competitive salary, health, dental, personal leave, holiday leave, 401k contributions and Employee Stock Ownership contributions. As employee-owners, we are all excited and motivated to see ARA succeed and help our clients succeed.

ARA’s Ohmsett team is based in Leonardo, NJ and includes a staff of passionate, dedicated, and dynamic engineering and research experts that operate and conduct tests and training events in one of the world’s largest outdoor saltwater wave tank facilities.

Required Qualifications and Experience

• Demonstrated experience managing engineering, research, or construction projects (within the past four years)
• Demonstrated experience supervising four or more technical staff (within the past four years)
• Experience conducting research or testing on US government facilities or national laboratories
• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field of engineering or science (mechanical, electrical, industrial, maritime, oceanography, physics, or similar)
• 12 or more years of relevant experience in your specific engineering or science discipline
• Proficiency in MS Excel, MS Project, technical writing, and oral presentations
• U.S. Citizen and ability to obtain and maintain a government-issued Common Access Card (CAC)

Preferred Qualifications

• M.S. or Ph.D. degree in an engineering or science field
• Experience with US Navy or US Coast Guard missions as they may relate to Ohmsett such as maritime oil spill clean-up or operation of ocean deployed systems
• Previous experience managing a large indoor or outdoor facility
• Program management experience including oversight of multi-year programs
• Experience executing projects on US military bases
• Familiarity with facility operations and maintenance
• Familiarity with safety procedures for the use of cranes and other heavy machinery

Experience

• 12 year(s): Relevant experience in your specific engineering or science discipline

Education

• Bachelors or better in Engineering or related field

• Doctorate or better in Engineering or related field
• Masters or better in Engineering or related field

Behaviors

• Dedicated: Devoted to a task or purpose with loyalty or integrity
• Team Player: Works well as a member of a group
• Leader: Inspires teammates to follow them

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.