The Capital Area Division (CAD) of Applied Research Associates, Inc. (ARA) is seeking a Communications Specialist to support the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Customs and Border Protection (CBP). CBP is responsible securing the border and facilitating lawful trade and travel while enforcing the immigration, customs, agriculture, and other laws of the United States at the borders. As a valued contributor to our team, you will support and conduct projects requiring interdisciplinary methods including but not limited to design of communications and marketing programs and products, statistical reports, preparing material for publication, and assessing communication needs, programs, and products.

Applicants for this position will support a variety of requirements and analysis projects for CBP. Successful candidates will have demonstrated experience with the following:

• Conducting research, planning, design, and development of communications and marketing programs and products that convey information to targeted audiences in the most effective ways, through the most suitable media, to contribute to achieving specific impacts and desired effects.
• Conducting research, preparing statistical reports, handling information requests, and performing clerical functions such as preparing correspondence, and scheduling meetings.
• Planning, coordinating, or editing content of material for publication. May review proposals and drafts for possible publication. Includes technical editors.
• Originating and preparing written material, such as scripts, stories, advertisements, and
• other material.
• Assessing communications needs, programs, and products through the effective application of interdisciplinary thinking, integrating principles and practices from the areas of communications theory, business and marketing, public relations, psychology, and organizational theory.
• Contributing to the design and conduct of stakeholder analyses, outreach approaches, and other customer- and market-related research and interaction.
• Proficiency in software applications such as the Microsoft Office suite; the Adobe suites of desktop publishing, graphic design, and illustration applications; and other audiovisual design and editing applications.

Required Qualifications:

• Current and active CBP Tier 4 provisional (limited) or full Background Investigation (BI)
• An analytic mindset, with strong problem-solving abilities
• Must be a US Citizen
• Eagerness to learn new tools and techniques
• Strong verbal and written communication skills
• Experience with Microsoft Office (Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Teams, SharePoint), including advanced skills with Excel
• Experience providing authoritative and defensible analyses, assessments, and recommendations supporting senior leadership decisions
• Experience working with multiple stakeholder groups to reach consensus decisions
• Must be able to obtain and maintain a security clearance
• Bachelors degree in Communications or similar with 5-7 years of relevant experience OR Masters degree in Communications or similar with 3-5 years of relevant experience

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 generates 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 Communications Specialist position.