Staff Project Management Support Analyst

ARA; Champaign (IL); On-site; USD 63,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

ARA is seeking a staff project management support analyst for our Champaign, IL office. The role supports a diverse portfolio with federal, state, local agencies and commercial clients, delivering timely project financial reports and contract reviews.

The ideal candidate will have a bachelor’s degree with 2+ years of experience (or 8+ years without a degree) and strong skills in project finance, budgeting, and purchasing. Experience with Deltek CostPoint, Adobe, and ERP tools is preferred.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree with 2+ years of experience, or 8+ years of experience without a degree.
• Experience in project management support, project finance, budgeting, purchasing, and subcontracting.
• High proficiency with Microsoft Office, especially Excel and Word.
• Demonstrated ability to work with ERP tools and accounting/finance systems.
• Ability to communicate effectively and manage competing priorities.

Responsibilities

• Perform project setup, planning, subcontractor coordination, purchasing, accounting, monitoring and reporting on project progress.
• Review and verify employee travel and expense reimbursements for accuracy and compliance.
• Interface with vendors and customers and conduct investigations as required.
• Process vendor invoices for payment in a timely manner.
• Manage electronic document archives.
• Review project budget spreadsheets for accuracy.
• Engage in project meetings supporting deadlines, goals and projects.
• Assist in invoicing complex projects across multiple customer-specific programs.
• Assist in subcontracting processes and analyze supplier proposals for terms, FAR clauses, costs, schedules and technical responses.
• Participate in multi-functional teams to obtain business solutions on complex agreements.

Skills

Project management support

Budgeting

Purchasing

Subcontracting

Excel/Word proficiency

Education

Bachelor’s degree with 2+ years experience

Tools

Deltek CostPoint

Adobe Suite

Workday Adaptive Planning

Microsoft SharePoint

Microsoft Power Platform

Job description

ARA’s Transportation & Infrastructure Sector is seeking a detail‑oriented, customer‑focused project management support analyst to join our project support team. This role supports a diverse portfolio of projects serving federal agencies, state and local government customers, and commercial clients, each with unique financial and contractual requirements. We are looking for a motivated individual who thrives in collaborative environments and is committed to delivering high‑quality, timely support.

This is an on‑site position in our office in Champaign, IL. No relocation assistance will be provided.

Due to the nature of the work, US citizenship is required.

The ideal staff project management support analyst will have experience partnering with project managers to perform budget analysis, cost projections, and FAR compliance activities. This role is responsible for preparing and delivering project financial reports to project teams, division leadership, and sector management. The analyst coordinates with purchasing and subcontracting personnel to support purchase requisitions and subcontract request packages, review contracts and contract modifications, and assist project managers in utilizing ERP tools and accounting/finance systems. The selected candidate will support project managers throughout the project lifecycle—including pre‑award, negotiation, execution, monitoring, reporting, and close‑out.

What you will do as a staff project management support analyst:

• Perform duties involving project setup, planning, coordination of subcontractors, purchasing, accounting, monitoring and reporting on project progress, and problem solving.
• Review and verify employee travel and expense reimbursements for accuracy and compliance with ARA and customer policies.
• Interface with vendors and customers and perform investigations as required.
• Process vendor invoices for payment in a timely manner.
• Manage electronic document archives.
• Review project budget spreadsheets for accuracy.
• Engage in project meetings supporting deadlines, goals, and projects.
• Assist in invoicing complex projects, interacting with multiple customer‑specific invoicing programs.
• Assist in subcontracting processes, performing analysis of supplier proposals with respect to terms and conditions, appropriate FAR clause flow‑downs, proposed price/cost, schedule, and coordination of the technical response as it relates to the specifications/statement of work.
• Participate on multi‑functional teams to obtain business solutions on complex, nonstandard agreements. The staff project management support analyst regularly interacts with other procurement organization staff, functional peer groups, suppliers, and internal customers.

Staff Project Management Support Analyst Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree with 2+ years of experience, or 8+ years of experience without a degree.
• Demonstrated experience in one or more of the following:
  • Project management support
  • Project finance
  • Budgeting
  • Purchasing
  • Subcontracting
• Highly efficient computer skills with the ability and willingness to learn new programs/skills.
• High proficiency with Microsoft Office, particularly Excel and Word.
• Detail‑oriented, proactive, and organized with a strong work ethic.
• Customer service focused with excellent time management and prioritization skills.
• Self‑motivated with the ability to manage independent tasks and/or projects.
• Requires ability to:
  • Communicate effectively (both verbal and written)
  • Manage competing priorities and complete assigned tasks within required timelines
  • Think critically and pay acute attention to details
  • Build relationships and work collaboratively with team members
  • Work independently and take ownership of individual tasks

Preferred Skills And Experience

• Demonstrated expertise with federal and non‑federal government project management, contracting, and purchasing procedures.
• Experience with the following software:
  • Deltek CostPoint
  • Adobe Suite
  • Workday Adaptive Planning
  • Microsoft SharePoint
  • Microsoft Power Platform

The anticipated salary range for this position is $62,500 to $75,000, depending on experience. ARA also offers competitive benefits that address our employees’ needs now and in the future. Learn more about each of our benefits at https://www.ara.com/benefits/.

About ARA

ARA 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 more than 2,200 professionals and continues to grow. ARA offices throughout the United States and Canada provide a broad range of technical expertise in civil technologies, computer software and simulation, defense technologies, systems analysis, environmental technologies, and testing and measurement. The corporation also provides sophisticated technical products for pavement analysis, environmental site characterization, and robotics.

At ARA, employees are our greatest assets. The corporation realizes that employee ownership spawns 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.