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Ascension is seeking an IT Manager-Level Research Analyst to support a federal homeland security client with technology research, business analysis, trend synthesis, dashboarding, and advisory support. This role is designed for a candidate who can translate complex IT research into clear, practical findings that help government managers and leaders evaluate technology priorities, understand emerging trends, and make informed program and operational decisions.

The ideal candidate will have experience analyzing IT products, services, processes, metrics, and roles across areas such as cloud computing, cybersecurity, infrastructure, telecommunications, applications, portfolio management, and mobility. This position is important because the client requires access to timely, unbiased IT research and analysis to support strategic technology planning, executive decision-making, roadmap development, and review of technology strategies, plans, and policies. The SOW specifically requires research support across IT products, services, metrics, roles/functions, current and evolving technology trends, and government trends.

This role is a strong fit for candidates who are detail-oriented, analytical, organized, comfortable working with senior stakeholders, and able to develop concise written products, dashboards, briefings, and recommendations in support of mission-aligned IT decision-making.

Summary of Contractor Role

The IT Manager-Level Research Analyst will support the delivery of research and advisory services for CISA leadership and manager-level users. The analyst will help identify, organize, and synthesize information from online research databases, advisory sessions, workshops, strategy documents, and stakeholder inputs. The role will support the development of written reports, research summaries, technology trend analysis, data-informed briefings, and decision-support materials.

The candidate should bring strong business analysis, data analysis, research, and communication skills. The analyst must be able to work in a remote environment with minimal supervision, manage multiple research assignments, anticipate information needs, and convert technical findings into usable recommendations for government managers and IT stakeholders.

The customer needs someone who can help make research actionable. This means the analyst must not only find and organize information, but also explain what it means, why it matters, what risks or opportunities it creates, and how it may affect technology strategy, operational planning, cybersecurity posture, or mission support.

Tools and processes likely needed include Microsoft Excel, Power BI, PowerPoint, Word, SharePoint, Teams, online IT research platforms, dashboard/reporting tools, structured interview or workshop notes, issue/risk trackers, document review matrices, and recurring advisory-call tracking processes.

Expected Day-to-Day Activities

• Analyze IT research content related to cloud computing, cybersecurity, infrastructure, applications, telecommunications, mobility, portfolio management, and emerging technologies.
• Synthesize research findings into concise written summaries, briefing materials, dashboards, and recommendation papers for government managers and leadership.
• Review technology strategies, plans, policies, and roadmap materials to identify alignment, gaps, risks, dependencies, and areas requiring clarification.
• Develop dashboards, KPI trackers, and research matrices to help organize findings, compare technology options, and support decision-making.
• Coordinate with project managers, senior subject matter experts, and client stakeholders to clarify research priorities and information needs.
• Prepare materials for advisory calls, leadership discussions, workshops, and strategy review sessions.
• Document meeting outcomes, action items, research questions, follow-up tasks, and recommendations.
• Track recurring deliverables, including research reports, advisory call inputs, workshop outputs, and document review comments.
• Translate technical research into plain-language insights that are useful to non-technical and manager-level audiences.
• Identify trends, risks, best practices, and lessons learned from government and industry IT environments.
• Support annual or periodic workshops focused on research priorities, technology roadmaps, and three-to-seven-year planning horizons, consistent with the SOW workshop requirement.
• Assist with development of Section 508-compliant electronic documents, reports, presentations, and support documentation when required by the contract.