The Strategic Planner SME supports the Agency Director by translating complex national security guidance, policy, and strategic directives into actionable joint operational plans that advance Department of War (DoW) mission readiness. The SME will analyze evolving geopolitical and operational threat environments, assess force structure and resource requirements, integrate intelligence into planning efforts, and coordinate cross-functional activities to maintain alignment between strategic objectives and operational execution. The ideal candidate brings deep expertise in the Joint Planning Process (JPP), intelligence integration, strategic assessment, risk analysis, and senior leader decision support. This individual must be able to synthesize complex, multi-source information into clear planning recommendations and executive-level products for senior military and government leadership.
Key Responsibilities:
Serve as a senior strategic planning advisor to the Agency Director and executive leadership on national security priorities, operational readiness, and long-range planning.
Translate national-level guidance, policy, and strategic directives into actionable joint operational plans, objectives, requirements, and planning priorities.
Lead and support Joint Planning Process activities, including mission analysis, course of action development, comparison, recommendation, and plan refinement.
Analyze geopolitical, military, intelligence, and operational developments to assess emerging threats, risks, opportunities, and implications for agency missions.
Integrate intelligence assessments, operational data, and partner inputs into strategic and operational planning efforts.
Assess force structure, capability, manpower, readiness, and resource requirements necessary to support current and future mission objectives.
Develop rigorous risk assessments addressing operational, strategic, resource, capability, and mission execution considerations.
Coordinate planning activities across operational, intelligence, policy, technical, resource, and other cross-functional stakeholders to maintain strategic alignment.
Develop and evaluate strategic options, courses of action, planning assumptions, decision points, and recommendations for senior leaders.
Produce and deliver executive briefings, planning products, assessments, and decision-support materials that synthesize complex information into clear and actionable recommendations.
Required Qualifications:
20+ years of professional experience in strategic planning, joint operational planning, national security, military operations, intelligence, or a related mission environment. Demonstrated mastery of the Joint Planning Process and experience developing or supporting joint operational plans.
Experience translating national security strategy, policy, or senior leader guidance into operational objectives, plans, and requirements.
Demonstrated experience integrating intelligence into strategic and operational planning.
Strong understanding of geopolitical threats, military capabilities, force posture, readiness, and operational risk.
Experience assessing force structure, resource requirements, capability gaps, or mission readiness.
Demonstrated ability to conduct structured risk assessments and evaluate strategic and operational tradeoffs.
Experience coordinating complex planning efforts across multiple organizations, functional areas, or mission partners.
Proven ability to synthesize large volumes of multi-source information into concise, decision-ready assessments and recommendations.
Strong written and verbal communication skills, including experience preparing and presenting executive-level briefings for senior military or government leaders.
Ability to operate independently and exercise sound judgment in high-tempo, ambiguous, and sensitive mission environments.
Preferred Qualifications:
Experience within the DoW, Joint Staff, Combatant Commands, Defense Agencies, Service headquarters, Intelligence Community, or other national security organizations.
Experience supporting flag/general officers, Senior Executive Service leaders, agency directors, or equivalent senior decision-makers.
Experience with campaign planning, contingency planning, deliberate planning, crisis action planning, or global force management.
Experience developing strategic estimates, planning guidance, executive decision papers, or senior leader planning products.
Educational Requirements:
Bachelor's degree in business, technology, engineering, national security, international relations, public policy, economics, or a related field; equivalent commercial, government, military, or technical experience may be considered in lieu of a degree.
Clearance Requirements:
Current TS/SCI clearance required. The pay range for this position is $180,000/year to $230,000/year; however, base pay offered may vary depending on established government contract ranges, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience, and other factors. MTSI offers a full range of medical benefits, 401k, ESOP, paid time off, and other benefits, dependent on the position offered. Base pay information is based on market location. Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis. This posting will be renewed periodically until the position is filled.#LI-LS1#mtsi#100esop#defenddifferently
