Force Design Analyst

The Work-Life Group•Washington, VA

10d•$145,000 - $175,000

About The Position

The Force Design Analyst provides analytic support and assists in developing decision support products. The role supports analysis, assessment, and development of future Special Operations Forces (SOF) force structure and capabilities. It contributes to new special operations operating concepts, concepts of operation (CONOPS), force design concepts, concept required capabilities, and capability gap assessments. The analyst translates strategic guidance from the National Defense Strategy and other key documents into concrete force design concepts and resource-informed operational plans. The position develops and evaluates alternative force design options using analytical models and data-driven assessments, contributes to modeling and simulation analyses, and analyzes existing and proposed force structures to identify strengths, weaknesses, and capability gaps. It supports operational analyses to determine how forces should be organized, equipped, and employed to achieve strategic objectives. The analyst prepares and presents reports, briefings, and recommendations to senior leaders on force structure, risk, and capability trade-offs; facilitates wargames, workshops, and Integrated Product Teams (IPTs); researches emerging technologies and their potential effects on force design; and drafts requirements documents and proposals supporting the programming and acquisition of new SOF capabilities. The position requires a thorough understanding of current and future threats, geopolitical trends, and military doctrine. An active Top Secret clearance with SCI eligibility is required. The role offers an annual pay range of $145,000 to $175,000 and is benefits-eligible.

Requirements

Active Top Secret security clearance with SCI eligibility.
Master's degree in a relevant field, such as National Security Studies, Military Science, or Business Administration; a bachelor's degree with 15 years of directly relevant experience may be substituted.
At least 10 years of experience in force development, force design, or strategic/operational planning within the Department of War (DOW).
Demonstrated expertise in the Joint Strategic Planning System (JSPS), defense acquisition and resourcing processes, and development of formal military requirements documents.
Deep understanding of SOF culture, capabilities, and operational employment.
Ability to analyze complex strategic problems, synthesize information from multiple sources, and develop innovative, data-driven recommendations.
Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, including experience briefing General/Flag Officers or senior civilian equivalents.
Experience leading and facilitating multi-stakeholder working groups and integrated product teams (IPTs).
Proficiency with data analysis or modeling tools to support force structure and capability trade-off decisions.

Responsibilities

Provide analytic support and assist in developing decision support products.
Assist with analysis, assessment, and development of future SOF force structure and capabilities.
Contribute to special operations operating concepts, CONOPS, force design concepts, concept required capabilities, and capability gap assessments.
Translate strategic guidance into force design concepts and resource-informed operational plans.
Develop and evaluate alternative force design options using analytical models and data-driven assessments.
Provide inputs to modeling and simulation analyses to assess force structures and concepts of operation.
Analyze existing and proposed force structures to identify strengths, weaknesses, and capability gaps.
Support operational analyses of how forces should be organized, equipped, and employed to achieve strategic objectives.
Prepare and present reports, briefings, and recommendations to senior leaders on force structure, risk, and capability trade-offs.
Facilitate wargames, workshops, and Integrated Product Teams (IPTs) to explore and validate force design concepts.
Research and evaluate emerging technologies and their potential impact on force design.
Draft requirements documents and proposals supporting the programming and acquisition of new SOF capabilities.
Maintain understanding of current and future threats, geopolitical trends, and military doctrine.