Supervisory Program Analyst (Director, Strategy, Policy, and Future Concepts)

Office of the Secretary of Defense•Arlington, VA

About The Position

This position is located in the Secretariat for Special Operations (SSO), within the Office of the Assistant Secretary of War for Special Operations and Low-Intensity Conflict (OASW(SO/LIC)). Under the authority of 10 U.S.C. Sections 138 and 167, the Assistant Secretary of War for Special Operations and Low-Intensity Conflict serves as the principal civilian advisor and assistant to the Secretary of War. The role is identified as Director, Strategy, Policy, and Future Concepts. The incumbent directs the directorate’s analytical and policy programs, including setting priorities, assigning work, evaluating employee performance, and managing resources. The position leads complex studies of Special Operations Forces (SOF) strategies, force design, and policies, and develops methods for assessing effectiveness and future mission requirements. It also develops strategic guidance, policy recommendations, and future operational concepts to align SOF capabilities, force structure, and global posture with national defense priorities. The incumbent evaluates proposals from military commands and interagency stakeholders, identifies policy conflicts and capability gaps, and recommends solutions related to long-term force sustainability and modernization. The role represents the organization in Department-level and interagency forums, coordinates stakeholder positions, and oversees briefings, issue papers, and decision memoranda for senior leaders. The incumbent must be able to obtain and maintain a TOP SECRET security clearance with SCI and SAP components. Work outside normal duty hours, including evenings, weekends, holidays, or overtime, may be required.

Requirements

U.S. citizenship is required.
Males born after December 31, 1959, must be registered or exempt from Selective Service.
Must be determined suitable for federal employment.
Must participate in the direct deposit program.
Must successfully complete a probationary or trial period if required; the posting specifies a one-year probationary period as a condition of employment.
Subject to pre-employment and random drug testing.
Subject to the DoD Priority Placement Program.
Must be able to obtain and maintain a TOP SECRET security clearance with SCI and SAP components.
At the GS-15 level, one year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-14 in the Federal service, including: supervising or leading multidisciplinary analytical teams on complex defense or national security studies; directing strategic assessments using quantitative and qualitative methods to evaluate SOF or joint military strategy, force design, global posture, or future capability requirements; and translating analytical findings into defense policy, strategic guidance, and senior-leader decision documents while representing an organization in senior defense or interagency forums to negotiate positions and resolve policy or resource conflicts.
All qualification and education requirements must be met by the announcement closing date and documented in the resume. The resume may not exceed two pages.
Time-in-grade requirements must be met by the announcement closing date and documented in the resume.
Education cannot be substituted for experience.

Responsibilities

Directs the directorate’s analytical and policy programs; establishes priorities, assigns work, evaluates employee performance, and manages resources to accomplish organizational objectives.
Leads complex studies of SOF strategies, force design, and policies, developing quantitative and qualitative methods to assess effectiveness and future mission requirements.
Develops strategic guidance, policy recommendations, and future operational concepts to align SOF capabilities, force structure, and global posture with national defense priorities.
Evaluates proposals from military commands and interagency stakeholders, identifies policy conflicts and capability gaps, and recommends solutions to support long-term force sustainability and modernization.
Represents the organization in Department-level and interagency forums, coordinates competing stakeholder positions, and oversees preparation of briefings, issue papers, and decision memoranda for senior leaders.