ARA‘s ISR division is looking to hire a Principles of Decontamination Course Manager/ Decontamination SME. As the Principles of Decontamination Course Manager, you will lead the planning and management of DTRA’s Principles of Decontamination (PoD) Course. You will provide comprehensive support throughout the entire planning, conduct, and follow-up of the course.

Principles of Decontamination Course Manager/ Decontamination SME Responsibilities: 

Must be in near continuous communication with personnel supporting the course and adapt workloads to accomplish multiple deadlines, provide direction and judgement, and evaluate employee, subcontractor, and consultant performance. Serves as the Subject Matter Expert (SME) on the US DoD doctrine, TTPs, and SOPs required to conduct decontamination of personnel and casualties, with an emphasis on chemical and biological threat agents. Serve as an expert in the use of chemical and biological detection equipment, analytical equipment, and other mission-essential gear. Provide training to military and/or civilian personnel on the selection, preparation, and application of a variety of decontamination media for physical removal and neutralization of simulated chemical and biological contaminants. Serve as a SME on chemical warfare agent detection equipment to include basic instrument maintenance, operational theory, and interpretation of instrument outputs / responses to both simulant and live agent chemical challenges. Instruments will include currently fielded US DoD equipment (e.g. M8 & M256A2 CDK, JCAD, RMX - Raman, FTX - FTIR, MX908 HPMS) and select nonstandard detection equipment (e.g. multi-gas - 4 gas detector w/ PID, colorimetric test papers and length of stain tubes). Serve as a SME on biological warfare agent detection equipment to include basic instrument maintenance, operational theory, and interpretation of instrument outputs / responses to both simulant and live agent biological challenges. Instruments will include currently fielded US DoD equipment (e.g. immunoassays, PCR analysis, and mass spectrometry equipment). Serve as a SME on Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) / Individual Protective Technologies (IPT) to include knowledge of protective fabrics, to include permeation resistance to traditional and emerging threats. Serve as a SME on decontamination of live chemical and biological warfare agents and the physical removal techniques utilized by US DoD personnel. Serve as a SME on neutralization media application and evaluation utilizing US DoD specific solid and liquid decontaminants. Serve as a SME on respiratory protection to include air purifying respirators (APR), powered air purifying respirators (PAPR), canister function, break through, and proper respiratory PPE / IPT selection based established threat agent. Update PoD Course Program of Instruction annually or more, as required. Maintain proficiency on all chemical and biological mission-essential equipment. Serve as a SME on applying the essential techniques of the Joint Trauma Systems (JTS) Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPG) MARCHE2 process.

Offer is contingent upon contract award.

Principles of Decontamination Course Manager/ Decontamination SME Required Qualifications:

US citizen with a minimum Secret Clearance required to start. Must be able to obtain a Top-Secret clearance. Bachelor's Degree or higher with 10 to 12 years of experience OR 18 years of professional experience in lieu of a degree Must be able to obtain a US Passport Knowledge of chemical warfare agents, their synthesis, exposure routes, signs, and symptoms, and their mode of transmission. Knowledge of biological warfare agents, their synthesis, exposure routes, signs, and symptoms, and their mode of transmission. Experience as a hazardous materials (HAZMAT) Technician, US Army Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear Specialist (MOS 74D), or a graduate of advanced chemical and biological warfare agent training is highly desired. Experience as an instructor at a training command or in an operational unit’s training department, to include development and delivery of training curriculum is highly desired. Oversee the movement, distribution, and storage of both durable and expendable course equipment. Experienced with practical application of CBRN-related skills, to include operating in contaminated environment and employment of CBRN PPE. Physically capable of working extended periods in SCBA and fully encapsulating Personal Protective Equipment for up to eight (8) hours or more per day. Knowledge of Gas-Chromatograph Mass Spectroscopy, Photoionization detectors, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometry, RAMAN Spectrometry, Polymerase Chain Reaction, and sample collection and management. Experience in the use of these technologies in a real-world operational or training environment is highly desired. Knowledge and experience in principles of Research, Development, Testing & Evaluation of chemical and biological sensors, detectors, and field confirmatory equipment is highly desired. Knowledge of decontamination doctrine as outlined in current DoD publications to include: Joint Publication 3-11, Operations in Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear Environments (28 October 2020) FM 3-11, Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear Operations (May 2019) ATP 3-11.32 / MCRP 10-10E.11 / NTTP 3-11.27 / AFTTP 3-2.46, Multi-Service Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures for Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear Protection (24 January 2024) ATP 3-11.33 / MCRP 10-10E.12 / NTTP 3-11.26 / AFTTP 3-2.60, Multi-Service Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures for Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear Contamination Mitigation (24 January 2024) ATP 3-11.74 Chemical, Biological, Radiological, And Nuclear Platoons (15 April 2021) Work in an office and field environment Possess effective oral and written communication skills, and proficient in using the Microsoft Office Suite of tools. Emphasis placed on PowerPoint, Word, Excel, and Visio. Shall be able to travel worldwide on short notice and work non-standard hours. This includes obtaining the required immunizations. Shall be able to perform duties in all weather and climate conditions and be capable of carrying loads of up to 60 pounds over uneven terrain. Shall be capable of flying in utility helicopters for extended periods of time and be available for expeditious foreign travel for extended periods of time.

Principles of Decontamination Course Manager/ Decontamination SME Preferred Qualification:

Active Top Secret clearance

Who is ARA?

Do you want to work for a purpose? Applied Research Associates, Inc. (aka ARA) is an employee-owned international research and engineering company. We have been providing technically superior solutions to complex and challenging problems in the physical sciences since 1979. ARA has over 2,271 employee-owners and continues to grow rapidly. Together, our offices throughout the U.S. and Canada provide a broad range of technical expertise in defense, civil, and health technologies, computer software and simulation, systems analysis, environmental technologies, and testing and measurement.

ARA also prides itself, on having a challenging culture where innovation & experimentation are the norm. The motto, “Engineering and Science for Fun and Profit” sums up the ARA experience. Employee ownership ensures you have a voice with what happens in the company. We are also very proud of our Women’s Initiative Network (WIN), whose purpose is to motivate, support, and encourage professional career development for women to maximize career and professional accomplishments.

To find out more about what the Intelligence, Surveillance & Reconnaissance Division has to offer, visit our website at: https://www.ara.com/benefits/