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

Forge Group•Arlington, VA

About The Position

Forge Group, LLC is seeking an 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 / Service Component Command headquarters. The role supports implementation of the Women, Peace, and Security Act of 2017 (Public Law 115-68), translating strategic guidance into military-to-military engagements and bilateral initiatives with strategic partners. It focuses on 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 navigating approvals for partner-facing engagements. The planner works at the intersection of operational planning, security cooperation, and civil-military coordination. The role calls for familiarity with military staff battle rhythms, civil-military coordination mechanisms, and regional security dynamics across the Americas and Western Hemisphere. Professional Spanish fluency is highly desired. The position is based in Arlington, Virginia, is full-time, and requires approximately 25–35% CONUS and OCONUS travel. The listed salary range is $100,000–$135,000 per year. The assigned Forge job title is Project Specialist. Forge describes its culture as people-first and collaborative, with employee input informing corporate action and programs supporting employee well-being and professional growth.

Requirements

U.S. citizenship.
Active Top Secret security clearance and ability to obtain and maintain a Top Secret / Sensitive Compartmented Information (TS/SCI) 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 within 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%.
Ability to perform the essential duties satisfactorily, with reasonable accommodations available for individuals with disabilities.
Ability to read, analyze, and interpret business and professional publications, technical procedures, and governmental regulations; write reports and correspondence; and present information to groups.
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 data.

Nice To Haves

Demonstrated knowledge of Public Law 115-68, military execution 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/green-cell exercise execution.
Professional working proficiency or fluency in Spanish, including speaking, reading, and listening, for partner-nation coordination and bilingual instruction.
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 in G-3 Operations, G-5 Plans, G-7 Exercises, or G-9 Civil-Military, and security cooperation workflows such as Socium, country clearances, and Leahy vetting coordination.
Experience with partner nations in Latin America, Central or South America, and the Caribbean, including regional security challenges 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 in progress or completed 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, and theater security cooperation activities involving 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 staff processes required 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 dilemmas addressing civilian protection, displaced populations, gender-based-violence prevention, civilian-environment considerations, and civil-military interaction during humanitarian assistance/disaster relief and crisis response.
Use Civil Affairs and civil-military cooperation methodologies to connect military plans with civilian equities, NGOs, intergovernmental bodies, and international partner agencies during operations and training events.
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 metrics for submission to 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.
Collect, collate, validate, and draft quantitative and qualitative operational data for annual statutory reporting under P.L. 115-68 and departmental WPS policy guidance.
Coordinate with CCMD 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.
Healthcare, including medical, dental, and vision coverage.
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.