Career Opportunity for Graduating Seniors in Economics

Entry Level Career Opportunity for Economics Graduates

GRA, Incorporated

Jenkintown, Pennsylvania or Alexandria, Virginia

GRA, Incorporated is currently accepting applications for an entry-level research analyst position. Founded in 1972, GRA is one of the nation's most experienced and well-respected transportation-focused economic consulting firms, with a practice that concentrates on aviation projects. GRA has played a leading role in shaping important industry developments such as airline alliances, airline restructurings, the establishment of new carriers and consolidation within the airline industry. The firm has also contributed significantly to modernizing the regulatory framework for the aviation industry, including economic deregulation, globalization, privatization, mergers, rate-making, and the evaluation of new technologies and distribution channels. GRA’s engagements involve international and domestic clients in both the public and private sectors.

Projects at GRA extend to nearly all economic aspects of the aviation and aerospace industries. Because GRA is a small firm, research analysts gain experience in a wider variety of projects and work areas than is typical in entry level professional positions. GRA research analysts work closely with the firm’s principals and senior professional staff, and GRA encourages – and relies upon – an energetic and collegial work environment.

Some of GRA's recent and past assignments include:

• Developing benefit cost and risk assessment methodologies and analyses for new regulations and investments for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and other government agencies; 
• Crafting cost analysis tools and databases for the FAA, based on detailed flight track records of daily flight activity in U.S. radar-controlled airspace;
• Supporting FAA analysis and oversight of revenues and capital investments throughout the nation’s system of commercial and general aviation airports;
• Conducting airport-related research projects supported by the Airport Cooperative Research Program of the Transportation Research Board, a division of the National Research Council and the National Academies of Science, for the use of the global airport community;
• Contributing to NASA’s aeronautics research and development activities by analyzing the economic context and rationale for NASA research and innovations; 
• Building an optimization tool for scheduling airport passenger and baggage security screening staff at 440 airports, for the TSA; 
• Providing strategic and operational reviews of airline applications to the 9/11 loan guarantee program overseen by the Air Transportation Stabilization Board of the U.S. Department of Treasury; 
• Advising international airlines on operational and financial matters including fleet and route planning, cash flow forecasting, airport relations and competitive analysis. 

To contribute to GRA’s range of assignments and clients, the successful research analyst will need both communications and quantitative skills. Our requirements for the research analyst include a capacity to think analytically, an ability to convey information clearly and concisely, and a demonstrated familiarity with quantitative methods and software tools used to prepare and present quantitative analyses.

GRA offers an excellent compensation and benefits package that compares very favorably to packages offered by other leading consulting and professional organizations. Research analysts frequently plan to pursue graduate work in economics or other fields, and GRA is supportive of the career and educational aspirations of its staff.

GRA’s headquarters office is located in a relaxed setting, in the near northern suburbs of Philadelphia. GRA's offices are a few minutes' walk from a regional rail hub station, providing easy and direct access to Temple University, Center City Philadelphia, Amtrak’s 30th Street Station, the University of Pennsylvania, and Philadelphia International Airport (a GRA client). Some GRA staff choose to reside in Philadelphia’s Center City or University City (which surrounds the campuses of the University of Pennsylvania and Drexel University), and “reverse commute” to our Jenkintown office.

GRA also has an office in Old Town Alexandria, Virginia. This office is steps from the King Street Metro station and approximately 15 minutes from downtown Washington, DC. We may fill this research analyst position at either office, depending on the needs of the firm and the successful applicant.

We encourage successful, highly motivated seniors who are graduating in Economics or related fields and who would like to begin their careers with a position in a fascinating and challenging industry to apply to GRA, Incorporated, for the research analyst opening. Please provide an introductory letter explaining your interest in GRA, a CV or resume, recent academic transcripts (copies are fine), recent examples of your analytic work in economics (such as recent papers on economic topics by you alone, and not by teams of which you were part), and three reference contacts to David Ballard, Senior Economist, at recruitment@gra-inc.com or by surface mail to the address below.

We look forward to hearing from interested applicants. Send application materials to recruitment@gra-inc.com or by mail to:

David Ballard
Senior Economist
GRA, Incorporated
115 West Avenue, Suite 201
Jenkintown, PA 19046
ATTN: Recruiting