Office Administrator

The Strategic, Operations, Analysis and Research (SOAR) sector of Applied Research Associates, Inc. (ARA) is seeking a proactive, organized, and customer-focused Office Administrator to join our Business Operations team. This is a highly visible role that serves as the hub of our office, helping ensure day-to-day operations run smoothly while providing exceptional support to employees, leadership, customers, and visitors. The ideal candidate enjoys variety, manages changing priorities with confidence, takes initiative, and is known as a dependable team player who enjoys helping others succeed.  If you’re someone who takes pride in being the person others can count on, we’d love to hear from you

This is a full-time, on-site position, Monday through Friday, 8:00am – 5:00pm.  Regular on-site attendance is an essential function of the role.  The position will initially support our Eisenhower office before transitioning to our new Walker Lane office following our planned office relocation.

• Own the day-to-day operations of the office, ensuring a professional, organized, and welcoming environment.
• Manage office supply inventory and ordering.
• Coordinate facilities requests, office maintenance, mail distribution, shipping, and vendor support.
• Manage office phones and serve as a resource for general office operations.

• Serve as the primary receptionist by welcoming visitors, answering and directing incoming phone calls, and ensuring every guest has a professional, positive experience.

• Provide administrative support to leadership and project teams.
• Coordinate meeting logistics, including conference rooms, calendars, and catering.
• Assist with clerical projects and government inventory activities.
• Maintain department files, records, and correspondence.

• Reconcile purchase card transactions and maintain supporting documentation.
• Assist with invoice processing, expense tracking, and other accounting tasks.
• Enter and maintain accurate data within company systems.

• Coordinate and support employee engagement activities, including holiday celebrations, potlucks, employee events, meetings, and other office functions.
• Manage event logistics, including catering, supplies, setup, decorations, and coordination with internal teams and vendors.

• Partner with Human Resources, Accounting, Security, and other internal departments to support daily business operations.
• Assist with special projects and provide administrative support across multiple functional areas as business needs evolve.

• 4+ years of progressively responsible administrative, office management, customer service, or related experience.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, including Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint, and SharePoint.
• Outstanding organizational and multitasking skills with the ability to prioritize competing deadlines.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong customer service skills with a friendly, professional, and welcoming demeanor.
• Demonstrated initiative, attention to detail, strong problem-solving skills, and the ability to work both independently and collaboratively.
• Ability to occasionally lift and move office supplies and packages weighing up to 25 pounds.
• High school diploma or equivalent required; additional administrative or business-related education is a plus.
• U.S. Citizenship required.
• Ability to obtain, at a minimum, a Department of Defense (DoD) Secret security clearance.