Senior Strategy, Plans, Exercises, and Policy Planner (CENTCOM Public Affairs Directorate)

Hoplite Group•Tampa, FL

4d•Onsite

About The Position

Hoplite Group is seeking Strategy, Plans, and Policy Planners to support contracted services for the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) Public Affairs Directorate (CCPA). This contract will include executing communication strategies and ensuring accurate, timely information to U.S. and regional audiences. It will employ digital tools to monitor, collect, translate, and analyze traditional and social media across CENTCOM’s 21-nation area of responsibility, supporting senior leader decision-making, correcting misinformation, and aiding counter-propaganda efforts. Services will include strategic communication planning, media engagement, crisis response, training, and quality assurance. The Strategy, Plans, and Policy Planner team will consist of four (4) planners: one Master-level Planner and three Senior-level Planners. These planners will be assigned portfolios in the Middle East, Levant, Central Asia, and Special Missions/Other, subject to changes by the CCPA Director. These areas will always align with the CENTCOM Area of Operations (AOR).

Requirements

Must have a minimum TS/SCI clearance prior to Contract award. Interim clearances will not be considered acceptable.
Graduate of one of the following programs: JAWS, SAMS, SAASS, SAW, MAWS, or Senior Service College equivalent
A bachelor’s degree.
At least 5 years of planning experience.
Minimum of 3 years of planning experience at a Geographic or Functional Combatant Command Headquarters.
At least 5 years of experience in an information-related area (PA, IO, KLE, CA).

Nice To Haves

Preferably completed JPME I.
Preferably have Corporate Marketing or communications experience.

Responsibilities

Lead planning processes for Joint Planning Teams and OPTs, focusing on Mission Analysis, COA Development, Wargaming, COA Comparison, and Decision.
Provide situational awareness to ensure seamless transition from planning to execution.
Support and contribute to exercises and operational planning efforts, working with USCENTCOM Component Commands,other Combatant Commands, and interagency partners.
Provide recommendations to joint planning teams regarding planning, execution systems, and joint doctrine.
Assist with the coordination of USCENTCOM strategies, plans, and policies within the CENTCOM AOR.
Produce draft products for joint planning teams and working group approval, ensuring they align with USCENTCOM leadership priorities.
Provide support for the development and coordination of public affairs strategies and products.
Participate in CENTCOM’s B2C2WG as required, ensuring communication equities are accurately represented.
Maintain situational awareness of CENTCOM's current and future priorities, ensuring timely coordination and integration of public affairs products.
Develop and coordinate Public Affairs Guidance (PPAG), talking points (TPs), and other communication strategies to support CENTCOM’s operational plans.
Establish functional relationships with CENTCOM directorates, such as J3, J5, and others, to ensure proper integration of public affairs elements in operational plans.
Participate in CENTCOM’s B2C2WG organizational construct to track the integration of communication equities into planning efforts.
Coordinate with internal and external stakeholders, including interagency and international partners, to ensure synchronization of information-related capabilities.
Advise leadership on strategic and regional concerns and recommend solutions to enhance communication efforts.
Ensure that all public affairs products are coordinated with higher Public Affairs authorities, subordinate commands, and other government entities for a cohesive communication approach.
Provide crisis and contingency response support as directed by CCPA leadership.
Support emergent 24/7 surge requirements during crises or unforeseen events.
Maintain a TS/SCI clearance and comply with all travel and operational readiness requirements.
Develop, plan, and participate in CENTCOM’s exercise planning conferences, including Initial Planning Conferences (IPC), Main Planning Conferences (MPC), and Final Planning Conferences (FPC).
Provide regular updates on exercise planning and coordination.
Submit After-Action Reports (AAR) following exercises.
Develop and execute Public Affairs strategies.
Write PPAG, TPs, and other communication products to support strategies and operational plans, including Public Affairs Annexes and contributions to USCENTCOM orders.
Coordinate with the CCPA media team to tailor products for media execution.
Provide public affairs support for crisis response and other contingency efforts as directed by CCPA leadership.
search and collect data from diverse sources, including online platforms, databases, publications, and reports.
analyze the collected information to identify trends, patterns, and insights that may be valuable for theorganization. This will involve data analysis, content analysis, or other analytical techniques.
evaluate the credibility and reliability of the information gathered to ensure that accurate andtrustworthy data is used for decision-making.
prepare reports, summaries, or presentations based on analysis to communicate findings to relevant stakeholders within the organization.
continuously monitor sources for new information relevant to the organization and set up alerts or notifications to ensure timely awareness of important developments.
assess potential risks and opportunities based on the information gathered, helping the organization tomake informed decisions and mitigate potential threats.
collaborate with other Specialists or departments within the organization to share insights and coordinate responses to emerging issues.
stay updated on tools and technologies used for information gathering and analysis, suchas data mining software, social media monitoring tools, and analytical platforms.
engage with external stakeholders to exchange information, collaborate on analysis efforts, and build partnerships for mutual benefit.
ensure compliance with legal and ethical standards governing the collection and use ofpublicly and commercially available information, including privacy laws and intellectual property rights.
provide training to colleagues on effective methods for gathering and analyzing publicly and commercially available information or contribute to the development of best practices within the organization.
During crisis situations or emergencies, provide real-time updates and analysis to support decision-making and response efforts.
ensure the accuracy, relevance, and reliability of the information analyzed, employing rigorous quality assurance processes to maintain high standards of data integrity.
participate in strategic planning processes by providing insights and recommendations based on the analysis of publicly and commercially available information, helping to shape the organization's goals and priorities.