Why do you need to choose between doing important work and having a fulfilling life? At Ardent, we have both. Ardent employees are committed to solving our customers’ most difficult problems—and we are committed to the well-being, personal goals, and professional development of our employee. We are “All In.” We put forth our strongest effort possible to get the mission accomplished and we do it together. We respect the skills and experience you bring to the Ardent team. And we provide a rewarding environment to help you succeed. 

We offer highly competitive benefits, professional development opportunities, and an exceptional culture that embraces flexibility, innovation, collaboration, and career growth. A collective service mindset underpins our work, and a shared camaraderie to serve clients, colleagues and our communities set us apart. Our full commitment to being "All In" for our employees and our clients is not just our approach, it is our standard. If this sounds like the perfect fit for you, choose Ardent and make a difference with us. 

Ardent is seeking a Senior Operation Research Specialist to join our team.  

This is a hybrid position located in the Washington DC area. 

Position Description:

Ardent is seeking a highly skilled Senior Operations Research Specialist to join our team. This position requires advanced skills in operations research, systems analysis, and strategic planning to support the agency's mission of enhancing readiness, response, and operational effectiveness. The successful candidate will provide critical insights by applying quantitative and qualitative analysis to complex problems, optimizing operational strategies, and contributing to the development of policies and procedures aimed at improving national security readiness.

The Senior Operations Research Analyst will lead efforts in developing models, simulations, and optimization techniques, working closely with cross-functional teams to deliver actionable recommendations to senior leadership.

Responsibilities and Duties:

  • Operations Research & Systems Analysis:
    • Conduct in-depth operations research, system modeling, and quantitative analysis to identify opportunities for improving DHS operations, capabilities, and decision-making processes.
    • Develop mathematical models, simulations, and optimization techniques to evaluate and improve resource allocation, logistics, and operational efficiency in readiness planning.
    • Apply advanced analytical methodologies to assess complex scenarios, including risk analysis, predictive modeling, and scenario planning.
  • Strategic Readiness Planning:
    • Lead the analysis of readiness gaps and contribute to the development of strategies and initiatives designed to enhance the nation’s readiness and response capabilities.
    • Work with key stakeholders to identify operational needs and propose solutions through data-driven analysis and systems-based approaches.
    • Design and evaluate strategies for resource allocation, workforce optimization, and contingency planning.
  • Leadership & Team Management:
    • Lead teams of junior analysts, providing mentoring, guidance, and training in operations research methods, data interpretation, and problem-solving techniques.
    • Oversee the day-to-day activities of analysts and ensure that analysis efforts align with DHS objectives and deadlines.
    • Manage multi-disciplinary teams in complex, high-stakes environments and ensure alignment with strategic goals.
  • Decision Support & Reporting:
    • Provide senior leadership with actionable, evidence-based recommendations to improve operational efficiency, readiness, and response capabilities.
    • Develop and present clear, concise reports, dashboards, and visualizations to communicate complex analyses to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
    • Lead briefings and presentations to executive leadership, providing clear insights and recommendations on operational matters.
  • Process Improvement & Continuous Assessment:
    • Continuously monitor and assess the performance of existing processes, systems, and models, recommending refinements or improvements based on evolving needs and emerging data.
    • Implement best practices in operations research and ensure that analytical techniques are current, robust, and effective in addressing organizational challenges.
  • Collaboration & Stakeholder Engagement:
    • Engage with internal and external stakeholders, including other government agencies, private sector partners, and subject matter experts, to ensure that analysis aligns with broader national security goals and priorities.
    • Actively contribute to interagency working groups and collaborative efforts to enhance operational readiness and interagency coordination.
  • Research & Development:
    • Stay current with emerging trends in operations research, systems engineering, and analytical methodologies, and incorporate relevant advancements into the DHS operational planning framework.
    • Contribute to the development of new tools, models, and methodologies that enhance the department’s operational capabilities and readiness assessments.

Requirements: 

  • Bachelor’s degree in Operations Research, Mathematics, Industrial Engineering, Statistics, Computer Science, or a related field.
    (Master's degree or PhD in a relevant field is highly preferred.)
  • 6+ years of experience in operations research, quantitative analysis, or a related field, with a proven ability to apply analytical techniques to real-world problems.
  • Expertise in applying advanced operations research techniques (e.g., optimization, simulation, statistical analysis, decision analysis) to support operational decision-making and problem-solving.
  • Proficiency in analytical software and tools (e.g., MATLAB, R, Python, Excel, Arena, AnyLogic).
  • Strong skills in data modeling, risk assessment, and scenario planning techniques.
  • Experience with systems engineering and operational research modeling platforms.
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to present complex technical analyses to a non-technical audience, such as senior executives and policymakers.

Due to the nature of the work we support, all candidates in consideration for this role must be willing to undergo the government issued background investigation process.

Ardent is an equal opportunity employer. We will not discriminate and will take affirmative action measures to ensure against discrimination in employment, recruitment, advertisements for employment, compensation, termination, upgrading, promotions, and other conditions of employment against any employee or job applicant on the bases of race, color, gender, national origin, age, religion, creed, disability, veteran's status, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression.

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