Counter-Narcotics Operations Lead
About The Position
The Counter-Narcotics Operations Lead provides dedicated operational, strategic, and programmatic leadership supporting the USCENTCOM J3 Interagency Action Group (JIAG). The role leads efforts to integrate DoD capabilities with interagency partners—including law enforcement, intelligence community agencies, and diplomatic missions—to disrupt, dismantle, and defeat illicit narcotics networks and associated transnational threat finance in the CENTCOM Area of Responsibility (AOR). The lead oversees operational planning, interagency synchronization, resource tracking, and mission-execution milestones. The position calls for familiarity with joint staff processes, DoD counter-narcotics funding and authorities, and collaboration across federal law enforcement and foreign partner environments. Responsibilities also include program management, operational coordination, mission support, and compliance with security and information-handling requirements. Work is primarily in a fast-paced SCIF/headquarters office setting at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Florida. Periodic shift work or irregular hours may be required during operational surges and contingencies. Travel is up to 25% within the Continental United States.
Requirements
- Active Top Secret/Sensitive Compartmented Information (TS/SCI) clearance.
- Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution in International Relations, National Security Studies, Criminal Justice, Business Administration, Project Management, or a related field.
- Eight to ten years of professional experience in program/project management, military operations, defense intelligence, or federal law enforcement.
- Three to five years of direct support for counter-narcotics, counter-threat finance, transnational organized crime, or interagency operations within a Combatant Command, Joint Task Force, or federal agency.
- Demonstrated experience working in a Joint Staff environment, such as J3, J2, or J5, and drafting executive-level operational briefings.
- Willingness and ability to pass a Counterintelligence Polygraph examination if required by command directive.
- Ability to coordinate complex cross-functional initiatives across organizations with differing cultures and statutory authorities.
- Exceptional oral and written communication skills, including the ability to condense complex intelligence and operational data into clear executive summaries.
- Strong command of Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), SharePoint, and military command-and-control or portal systems.
- High discretion, sound judgment, and rigorous adherence to operational security protocols.
Nice To Haves
- Master’s degree in a relevant discipline, or a combination of extensive operational military/interagency experience and specialized training.
- Prior operational familiarity with the USCENTCOM AOR, its key transit routes, and illicit threat networks.
- Experience with DoD counter-narcotics funding cycles, building partner capacity programs, or Foreign Military Sales/Drawdowns.
- Project Management Professional certification or Defense Acquisition University Program Management Level II/III.
- Completion of a Joint Staff or Service Staff Officer course.
Responsibilities
- Serve as the primary contractor lead and interface to CENTCOM J3 JIAG leadership, aligning program objectives with operational requirements.
- Monitor and manage task orders, deliverables, operational timelines, and mission milestones for counter-narcotics and counter-transnational organized crime initiatives.
- Identify operational risks, develop mitigation strategies, and recommend resource allocations across the CENTCOM AOR.
- Prepare, review, and present executive briefings, operational summaries, decision memorandums, and quarterly program reviews for senior military and civilian leaders.
- Coordinate operational planning and intelligence-led initiatives between CENTCOM directorates and interagency partners, including DEA, FBI, HSI, Department of State/INL, Treasury/OFAC, and JIATF-W/JIATF-S.
- Facilitate information sharing, operational debriefs, and threat-network targeting synchronization across interagency working groups, operational planning teams, and foreign partner liaisons.
- Provide subject matter expertise on DoD counter-narcotics authorities and interagency standard operating procedures.
- Monitor narcotics trafficking patterns, precursor chemical diversion, and related illicit threat finance networks in Central/South Asia, the Middle East, and maritime transit routes in the Gulf of Oman and Arabian Sea.
- Oversee program-level administrative workflows, classified document handling, and operational scheduling within SCIFs.
- Coordinate logistics, partner nation engagement visits, interagency conferences, and multilateral working group sessions.
- Ensure compliance with DoD security guidelines, classification markings, OPSEC regulations, and interagency information-handling caveats.
Benefits
- Flexible time off benefit.
- Learning resources and learning and development opportunities.
- Healthcare, wellness, financial, retirement, family support, continuing education, and time off benefits.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
