Operations Planning SME (Principal Strategist)

About the role

The Operations Planning SME is a principal-level expert Strategist responsible for developing, analyzing and supporting joint operational and strategic plans. The role requires deep knowledge of the Joint Planning Process (JPP), advanced planning concepts and the information technology services of the Defense Information and Systems Agency (DISA), and the ability to advise senior military leaders. The SME works independently with little or no guidance.

Key responsibilities

• Provide expert guidance on the Joint Planning Process and Operational Approach, and lead Joint Planning Groups and Operational Planning Teams through the JPP to develop strategy, OPLANS, orders and directives.
• Develop and present analysis, staff estimates and plan recommendations to senior military and civilian leaders, and author and review planning documents such as technical papers, white papers and Concepts of Operations.
• Support Crisis Action, Future Operations and Deliberate planning for the J3 and J5 Directorates, and compose and disseminate orders and directives (OPORDs, FRAGORDs).
• Lead Mission Analysis, Course of Action development, wargaming and comparison, using Center of Gravity, Lines of Operation and Lines of Effort analysis.
• Coordinate with staff elements, Service Components, Combatant Commands and other agencies, and lead panels, meetings and working groups.

Required profile

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant technical discipline and 15 years of military operational planning experience, or a Master's degree with 10 years of experience; additional experience may substitute for a degree.
• Active TS/SCI security clearance.
• Preferred: JAWS or SAMS graduate, CCMD J3/J5 experience, DoD acquisition or program management background, IAT Level II certification.

Required skills

• Expertise in the Joint Planning Process, from initiation to plan/order development.
• In-depth knowledge of Commander's Estimate, BPLAN, CONPLAN and OPLAN, and campaign, contingency and crisis action planning.
• Mastery of Mission Analysis and Course of Action development.

Pay range: $131,300 - $237,350.