Senior Strategic Program Planner

Pherson•Springfield, VA

2d•Onsite

About The Position

Overview: Pherson is seeking a Sr. Strategic Program Planner to support our Leader Development team at our client site in Springfield, VA. The selected candidate will provide high-level program planning, strategic analysis, and organizational coordination to advance leadership development initiatives. This role will assess program needs, develop implementation strategies, align activities with mission objectives, and advise senior stakeholders on effective resourcing, scheduling, and process improvements. The planner will help ensure program coherence, measure progress, and drive continuous improvement across a dynamic, enterprise-level training environment. This role is expected to become available in February 2026.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in any concentration or field relevant to leadership, strategy, or adult learning.
Minimum 10 years of experience in leader development or a similar strategic role within the DoD or IC, including development of multi-year roadmaps, milestones, and performance indicators.
Proven track record designing and implementing large-scale leadership programs for senior executives and leaders at all levels.
Demonstrated ability to brief senior executives and support high-level decision-making.
Deep understanding of DoD and Intelligence Community culture, operations, and leadership challenges.
Experience managing the design, development, delivery, and evaluation of leadership development programs.
Experience leading cross-functional teams and managing external vendors to deliver strategic learning solutions.
Proven ability to conduct organizational needs assessments, identify competency gaps, and develop targeted learning strategies.
Experience developing and implementing competency models for leadership development.
Demonstrated experience designing and applying program evaluation metrics to measure impact.
Experience creating individualized learning pathways for leaders at all levels.
In-depth knowledge of adult learning theory, instructional design methodologies, and leadership development best practices.
Strong understanding of DoD and IC missions, operations, and culture.
Experience working with executive leadership, mid-level managers, and key influencers.
Experience integrating legacy programs into broader development frameworks and designing communication strategies to promote engagement.

Nice To Haves

Advanced degree in Business Administration, Organizational Leadership, Management, Organizational Development, Human Resources, Education, or related field.
Experience as a military campaign or operational planner, with demonstrated strategic planning expertise.
Data-driven mindset with proficiency in analytics tools (e.g., Excel, Tableau, Power BI) to inform program design and evaluation.
Experience leading organizational change initiatives and cultivating a learning culture.
Demonstrated experience with Human Development Policies and Procedures.
Certification in leadership development methodologies or assessment tools (e.g., 360-degree feedback, MBTI).
Experienced supervisor with deep expertise in IC and DoD leadership and managerial policies.
Experience designing and delivering virtual and blended learning solutions.
Familiarity with competency-based leadership development frameworks.
Experience creating feedback mechanisms to support leadership growth and program refinement.

Responsibilities

Collaborate with senior government leaders and key stakeholders to understand agency-wide strategic goals, translating them into actionable leadership development initiatives.
Identify leadership competencies and skill gaps across organizational levels.
Design and validate competency models that align with mission priorities and future-readiness.
Develop tailored learning journeys for senior executives and emerging leaders, integrating best practices in adult learning and leadership development.
Lead the strategic planning, design, and implementation of multi-year leadership development programs.
Define milestones, success metrics, and performance indicators to ensure measurable impact.
Provide expert guidance to senior leadership on succession planning, organizational effectiveness, and talent strategy.
Serve as a trusted advisor on leadership development policy and practice.
Partner with academic institutions and leadership development experts to incorporate cutting-edge methodologies and expand program reach and relevance.
Integrate components of existing programs (e.g., Leader Advantage Program) into the broader Leadership Development Program.
Advise communication strategies to drive awareness, engagement, and participation across the workforce.
Implement feedback loops and data-driven evaluation systems to assess program effectiveness and inform improvements.
Facilitate collaboration among stakeholders to foster a culture of continuous learning, leadership excellence, and organizational renewal.