Acquisition Policy Analyst - DARPA

chimera; Arlington (VA); On-site; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

chimera is seeking an Acquisition Analyst in Arlington, Virginia to support various acquisition activities for complex R&D programs. This role involves managing solicitations, coordinating communications among stakeholders, and proposing efficiency improvements based on data analysis.

The ideal candidate will hold a bachelor’s degree and have at least 4 years of experience as an acquisition analyst. A strong understanding of federal regulations and an active Top Secret clearance are required.

Qualifications

• At least 4 years of experience as a management or acquisition analyst.
• Experience with contract and technical concepts related to R&D and services contracting.
• Hands-on experience supporting procurement contracts, grants, cooperative agreements, and/or Other Transaction agreements.

Responsibilities

• Manage the administrative flow of R&D acquisition actions.
• Help develop, format, and maintain solicitation materials.
• Coordinate communications and document routing among stakeholders.
• Track acquisition activity and performance, analyze lifecycle data.

Skills

Strong understanding of Federal acquisition regulations

Excellent document management

Coordination and communication skills

Proficiency with Microsoft Office

Proficiency with collaborative document repositories

Education

Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field

Job description

Job Summary

We are seeking an Acquisition Analyst to support end‑to‑end acquisition activities for complex research and development programs. This role focuses on managing the administrative lifecycle of solicitations, coordinating communications among stakeholders, and helping to improve processes through data‑informed insights.

Key Responsibilities

As an Acquisition Analyst, you will manage the administrative flow of R&D acquisition actions from early planning through proposal evaluation and documentation. You will help develop, format, and maintain solicitation materials and supporting documentation for a variety of acquisition strategies, including broad agency announcements and other competitive vehicles.

You will maintain and update acquisition templates and standard operating procedures, ensuring that documentation remains current, consistent, and readily accessible in both classified and unclassified repositories. A key part of your role will be to coordinate communications and document routing among program offices, contracting, legal, and other stakeholders so that acquisition actions move efficiently and remain aligned with established timelines.

You will also track acquisition activity and performance, analyze lifecycle data, and help identify bottlenecks or areas where processes can be streamlined. Based on your analysis, you will propose practical improvements that help the team work more efficiently. Throughout, you will collaborate closely with financial, operations, and program analysts to ensure that acquisition planning is informed by accurate budget, schedule, and performance information.

Qualifications and Requirements

• Education:
  • Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field.
• Experience:
  • At least 4 years of experience as a management or acquisition analyst.
  • Experience with contract and technical concepts related to R&D and services contracting.
  • Hands‑on experience supporting procurement contracts, grants, cooperative agreements, and/or Other Transaction agreements.
• Security Clearance:
  • Active Top Secret (TS) clearance required.
• Skills:
  • Strong understanding of Federal acquisition regulations and Department of Defense acquisition processes.
  • Excellent document management, coordination, and communication skills.
  • Proficiency with Microsoft Office and collaborative document repositories.

Preferred Qualifications

• Prior experience supporting DARPA or other defense science and technology organizations.
• Formal acquisition training or certification (e.g., DAWIA, FAC‑C, or equivalent).