Irregular Warfare Subject Matter Expert (SME)

Systems Planning and Analysis, Inc. (SPA) delivers high-impact, technical solutions to complex national security issues. With over 50 years of business expertise and consistent growth, we are known for continuous innovation for our government customers, in both the US and abroad. Our exceptionally talented team is highly collaborative in spirit and practice, producing Results that Matter. Come work with the best! We offer opportunity, unique challenges, and clear-sighted commitment to the mission. SPA: Objective. Responsive. Trusted.  

The Joint, Office of the Secretary of Defense, Interagency Division provides expert support services to a range of customers spanning across the Department of Defense, Federal Civilian, and international markets. JOID provides a diverse portfolio of analytical and programmatic capabilities to help our customers make informed decisions on their most challenging issues.

The Acquisition and Technology Analysis Group within JOID specializes in the application of multi-disciplinary analytic skills to support multiple clients within the Department of Defense (DoD). These clients include the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering (OUSD(R&E)), Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment (OUSD(A&S)), DARPA, the Joint Staff, and USINDOPACOM.  SPA provides critical decision support to enabling and executing a strategy of technological superiority and enabling the delivery and sustainment of secure, resilient, and preeminent capabilities to the warfighter quickly and cost effectively. Our team of experienced military, technical, and operations research analysts is skilled in evaluating military problems, identifying the driving factors, devising innovative approaches, collecting applicable data, developing necessary software tools, and performing thorough and timely assessments to inform technology and acquisition governance decisions to ensure U.S. military forces retain military superiority in the future.

We have a near-term need for an Irregular Warfare Subject Matter Expert (SME) to provide onsite support out of Alexandria, VA.

The Irregular Warfare Subject Matter Expert (SME) is responsible for providing expert-level support for Irregular Warfare (IW) assessments, integration, and related activities such as strategic planning, foreign internal defense, counterterrorism, counterinsurgency, unconventional warfare, and stability operations. The SME will research, analyze, and assess IW topics to develop reports, briefings, and actionable recommendations for senior General Officer/Flag Officer (GO/FO) and Senior Executive Service (SES) officials. The role includes extensive collaboration with interagency and multinational partners to align IW activities with strategic objectives, as well as leveraging operational expertise to inform policy development and support decision-making at the highest levels.

Required:

• Master’s degree or higher from an accredited institution with experience conducting assessments and integration of Irregular Warfare (IW) activities, such as strategic planning, foreign internal defense, counterterrorism, counterinsurgency, unconventional warfare, or stability operations.
• 10+ years of experience collaborating with senior General Officer/Flag Officer (GO/FO) or Senior Executive Service (SES) officials on IW-related strategic initiatives.
• Extensive operational expertise in IW, including experience in capability development, operational assessments, or executing IW activities in a mission environment.
• Demonstrated ability to align IW efforts with interagency partners and multinational stakeholders to achieve strategic objectives.
• Expertise in analyzing and assessing IW doctrine, operational strategies, and emerging threats to develop actionable recommendations.
• Proven ability to draft and present executive-level reports, issue papers, and recommendations for senior leaders across DoD and interagency forums.
• Active TS/SCI security clearance.
• Able to work fully onsite based on client needs.

Desired:

• Experience engaging with multinational partners and coordinating IW efforts across diverse organizations to achieve global operational synchronization.
• Demonstrated expertise in developing and executing Table-Top Exercises (TTX) or wargames focused on IW topics, including scenario creation and post-execution assessments.
• Experience drafting strategic documents, policy memoranda, or decision briefs for senior leaders to ensure actionable guidance on IW topics and activities.