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Institute for Defense Analyses

Engaged employer

Quasi-government - Research Associate Institute for Defense Analyses Employee Review

3.0
7 Apr 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Great mentors, knowledgeable and helpful staff

Cons

Guidelines for promotions are unclear, lack of transparency regarding pay

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Institute for Defense Analyses Response
1mo
Thank you for sharing your feedback. It’s great to hear that our culture of mentorship and support continues to grow among IDA staff. If you’re looking for guidance on promotions, we would encourage you to engage with your Director or HR Business Partner and check out the resources available on the Human Resources section of the IIS (intranet). These resources include the Career Guide, which discusses career paths for both research and operations staff, as well as the Promotion Criteria document, which outlines the exact requirements for promotion within the Research Associate job family. With regards to compensation, IDA is committed to a policy of process transparency, where we openly share with staff information about how IDA administers pay. Employees may find a list of frequently asked questions and answers about compensation on the intranet, including information about our compensation structures, how IDA benchmarks compensation against the market, how individual pay decisions are made, etc. Employees may also find on the intranet a recording of an interview with our HR Director and Compensation Manager answering many compensation questions. External and internal job candidates will also see a salary range included for every posted position. However, if you have questions about your individual pay, you should talk to your Director or HR Business Partner.

Explore other reviews about Institute for Defense Analyses

5.0
26 Mar 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

High-quality mentorship Professional development Exposure to real-world problems

Cons

Restricted or classified work (not so much of a con)

2.0
24 Apr 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Great retirement Good PTO & federal holidays

Cons

Finance “leadership” demonstrates a blatant disregard for its staff. Employee concerns are routinely dismissed, driving unnecessary turnover and leaving the organization in a position that feels increasingly unsustainable. Individuals are consistently pushed beyond reasonable limits, expected to carry the workload of two or three people without support. Performance issues go unaddressed, further compounding the strain on those who are already overextended. At the same time, leadership makes decisions in isolation—despite being new and lacking a meaningful understanding of day-to-day operations—while ignoring the input of those actually doing the work. There is a clear unwillingness to offer even basic accommodations, such as work-from-home flexibility, despite the level of effort and commitment employees continue to demonstrate.

avatar
Institute for Defense Analyses Response
1mo
Thank you for the feedback and we acknowledge your concerns over turnover morale and churn within our Finance team. Your comments will be shared with the appropriate leadership for review. IDA has implemented several methods to express concerns and share your feedback. If those concerns need to be expressed outside of a staff member’s immediate supervisor or outside of your division/directorate, Human Resources Business Partners are always available to listen and support with actionable ideas or to funnel information to more senior leadership if necessary. Additionally, the Office of General Counsel is a resource, and if appropriate, Code of Conduct violations can be reported anonymously via IDA’s intranet. IDA considers teleworking to be a viable, flexible work option when both the employee and the employee’s position are suited to such an arrangement, and when that arrangement is consistent with IDA’s business/sponsor needs. Employees seeking telework arrangements as a workplace accommodation for medical reasons can submit an Accommodation/Adjustment Request Form to HR.
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