Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) Security Cooperation, Training, & Exercise Integration Planner

Forge Group, LLC•Arlington, VA

3d•$100 - $135

About The Position

Forge Group, LLC is seeking a proactive, operationally minded WPS Security Cooperation, Training, & Exercise Integration Planner to provide operational planning, exercise integration, partner-nation capacity building, and analytical support to an operational-echelon Theater Army or Service Component Command headquarters. The role is intended for a mid-career national security professional, former military staff officer, or security cooperation specialist who can translate strategic guidance into military-to-military engagements and bilateral initiatives with strategic partners. The position operates at the intersection of operational planning, security cooperation, and civil-military coordination, supporting implementation of the Women, Peace, and Security Act of 2017 (P.L. 115-68). Its focus is operational execution with international partners: integrating WPS requirements into bilateral and multilateral military exercises, supporting regional capacity-building events, coordinating with partner-nation defense institutions and their WPS National Action Plans, and addressing human-rights requirements and staff authorizations for partner-facing engagements. A working knowledge of military staff battle rhythms, civil-military coordination, and security dynamics in the Americas and Western Hemisphere is important. Spanish proficiency is highly desired in the role description and listed as required among the highly desired qualifications. The planner supports security cooperation events and staff talks, partner defense-institution capacity building, theater security cooperation activities, exercise design and execution, instructional events, reporting, and senior-leader decision support. The role also coordinates with U.S. and partner stakeholders and contributes operational data and reporting to meet statutory and departmental WPS requirements. The position is full-time, based in Arlington, Virginia, and requires approximately 25–35% CONUS and OCONUS travel.

Requirements

U.S. citizenship.
Active Top Secret security clearance and ability to obtain and maintain a Top Secret/Sensitive Compartmented Information clearance.
Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in International Relations, Latin American Studies, National Security Studies, Political Science, Security Cooperation, or a related field.
Five to eight years of professional experience in the DoD, a military service component command, theater army, interagency, or defense security cooperation ecosystem.
Willingness and ability to travel CONUS and OCONUS approximately 25–35% for exercise planning conferences, partner-nation engagements, and mobile educational events.
Ability to perform the essential duties satisfactorily, with reasonable accommodations available as applicable.
Ability to read, analyze, and interpret business and professional publications, technical procedures, and governmental regulations; write reports, proposals, correspondence, and procedure manuals; and present information effectively.
Ability to apply fractions, percentages, ratios, and proportions to practical situations.
Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, draw valid conclusions, and make sound decisions based on information.
Physical ability to regularly sit, talk, type, or hear, and frequently walk, handle or feel objects, and reach with hands and arms.

Nice To Haves

Demonstrated knowledge of the Women, Peace, and Security Act of 2017 (P.L. 115-68), military implementation of WPS requirements, and application of civilian-environment information to military operations.
Direct experience with the Joint Event Life Cycle or military exercise design, including writing scenario injects, coordinating training objectives, or supporting white-cell or green-cell execution.
Professional working proficiency or fluency in Spanish (speaking, reading, and listening) to support partner-nation coordination, bilateral working groups, and bilingual instructional workshops.
Military or civilian background in Civil Affairs, Civil-Military Operations, Defense Support of Civil Authorities, or Foreign Area Officer functions.
Hands-on experience with theater staff battle rhythms (G-3, G-5, G-7, or G-9) and security cooperation administrative workflows such as Socium, country clearances, and Leahy vetting coordination.
Experience working with Latin American, Central or South American, and Caribbean partner nations, including familiarity with regional security challenges, transregional threats, and partner military structures.
Familiarity with Western Hemisphere security cooperation training and education centers, defense academies such as the Inter-American Defense College, or partner-nation professional military education institutions.
Master’s degree completed or in progress in International Affairs, Security Studies, or Inter-American Defense and Security.

Responsibilities

Plan, synchronize, and coordinate security cooperation events, bilateral staff talks, defense institutional capacity-building activities, and theater security cooperation activities with regional partner nations.
Analyze and integrate partner nations’ WPS National Action Plans, regional human-rights frameworks, and defense modernization roadmaps into theater campaign planning, security force assistance initiatives, and security cooperation event design.
Navigate component, Combatant Command, and interagency processes to authorize and execute international engagements, including country-clearance coordination, Leahy human-rights vetting data tracking, Title 10 authority compliance, and Socium entries.
Plan, design, and integrate WPS operational considerations and sociocultural factors across the Joint Event Life Cycle for command post, field training, and tabletop exercises with regional partner nations.
Develop Master Scenario Events List injects, situational vignettes, and operational dilemma scenarios addressing civilian protection, displaced populations, gender-based violence prevention, civilian-environment considerations, and civil-military interaction during humanitarian assistance, disaster relief, and crisis response operations.
Apply Civil Affairs and civil-military cooperation methodologies to connect military plans with civilian stakeholders, including NGOs, intergovernmental bodies, and international partner agencies.
Support instructional delivery, seminar facilitation, and academic exchanges for multinational seminars, mobile training engagements, and regional defense education institutes.
Administer course surveys and participant evaluations; compile output summary reports, trend analyses, and metric deliverables for the Joint Staff and command leadership.
Provide other related planning, analytical, and execution support as directed by the local representative of the COR and within the scope of the PWS.
Draft decision papers, executive summaries, information memoranda, and briefing decks for General/Flag Officers and Senior Executive Service leaders on theater campaign plans, contingency assessments, and crisis-response posture.
Collect, collate, validate, and draft quantitative and qualitative operational data for annual statutory WPS reporting and departmental policy requirements.
Coordinate with Combatant Command WPS Advisors, Joint Staff DDCTIC counterparts, Service Component Focal Points, and interagency stakeholders to maintain operational unity of effort.

Benefits

Complete flextime.
401(k) with employer matching.
Medical, dental, and vision healthcare.
Health Savings Account and pre-tax premium options.
Supplementary healthcare and family support.
Extended short-term and long-term disability.
Healthcare insurance deductible paydown.
Health and wellness programs.
Tuition reimbursement, student loan repayment, and education and training stipends.
Cell phone and internet stipends.
College savings plans with employer contributions.
Alternative work locations and telecommuting.
Employee referral awards.
Retention, signing, and performance bonuses.
Commuter benefits.
Paid sabbatical.