Senior Program Analyst (Arlington)

The opportunity

CREC seeks a Senior Program Analyst who enjoys moving from raw data to clear, useful findings. You will support research and technical assistance projects across our portfolio, with a concentration in manufacturing, supply chains, and the defense industrial base, including work supporting the federal Manufacturing Technology (ManTech) and Industrial Base Analysis and Sustainment (IBAS) programs.

This role combines hands-on analysis with practical delivery. You will clean and analyze data, build charts and tables, and explain what the results mean for clients. Your work will appear in published reports and client presentations. Senior staff will provide training and mentoring as you build expertise. No security clearance is required. Because the position supports Department of Defense projects that may involve export-controlled information, you must be a U.S. person (a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident) .

What you will do

• Collect, clean, document, and analyze regional economic, labor market, and industry data from sources such as the Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Census Bureau, and Bureau of Economic Analysis.
• Support supply chain and industrial base studies through supplier identification, industry mapping, and demand-and-supply analysis.
• Create accurate, accessible charts, tables, maps, and written summaries for client deliverables and presentations.
• Draft sections of research reports and technical assistance materials with guidance from project leads.
• Support project delivery through scheduling, meeting notes, quality checks, and coordination with partners and clients.
• Build working knowledge of manufacturing, supply chain, and defense-related data through project experience, training, and mentoring.

What you bring

Required qualifications

• A bachelor's degree in engineering, business, finance, economics, data science, logistics, or a closely related field.
• Proficiency in Excel and working knowledge of at least one analytical tool such as R, Python, or SQL.
• Strong writing skills, sound judgment, and close attention to detail.
• A clear interest in manufacturing, supply chains, regional economies, and applied research.

Preferred qualifications

• Experience in or exposure to defense manufacturing, defense acquisition, or military logistics.
• A master's degree in a related field.
• Experience with federal statistical data systems, GIS, or data visualization tools.
• Interested in the work but missing a preferred qualification? We encourage you to apply if you meet the required qualifications and believe you can contribute to CREC's mission.

Compensation and benefits

The salary range for this position is $70,000 to $85,000, depending on experience and education. Regular, full-time employees are eligible for a benefits package that currently includes:

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance, with an HSA option and CREC contributions for employees enrolled in the high-deductible medical plan.
• A 401(k) retirement plan with employer contributions after the eligibility period.
• Fifteen days of paid personal leave annually during the first three years, plus 13 paid holidays.
• Company-paid short-term disability and term life and accidental death and dismemberment insurance.
• A dependent care flexible spending plan, pre-tax commuting assistance, and eligibility for Public Service Loan Forgiveness.

Location and selection process

This regular, full-time position is based in Arlington, Virginia, in the Washington, DC metropolitan area. In-office expectations are four days per week during a 90-day probationary period and three days per week thereafter. Project-related travel is required. The selection process includes a brief take-home data exercise. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis.

How to apply

Send your application materials to

About CREC

The Center for Regional Economic Competitiveness (CREC) is a 501(c)(3) research nonprofit founded in 2000. We help U.S. regions compete by putting data about regional economies and labor markets to work in economic and workforce development decisions. Our current portfolio includes a multi-year cooperative agreement with the Department of Defense Manufacturing Technology (ManTech) Program and analytical support to the Industrial Base Analysis and Sustainment (IBAS) Program: data-heavy studies of the defense manufacturing base and its supply chains.

Learn more about our work at creconline.org.

Equal opportunity

CREC is an equal opportunity employer committed to maintaining a non-discriminatory, diverse work environment.