Senior Strategic Planner

*** All eligible interested applicants MUST forward their 2-page resume directly to David Farmer at [email protected] no later than COB 28 Aug 2026. ***

Position: Senior Strategic Planner

Series/Grade: NH-0301-III (GS 13 Equivalency)

Value of Position: ** $90,925 - $118,204 (without locality)

Org: USSPACECOM/J59

Location: Redstone Arsenal, Alabama

Suspense: Resumes from interested candidates are due by COB 28 Aug 2026

PCS Entitlements: May be offered

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: May be offered

Telework: Situational Only

The United States Space Command (USSPACECOM) in Redstone Arsenal, Alabama is searching for a Senior Strategic Planner within the War Plans Division. Come join our amazing team who helps to ensure there is never a day without space!

Description of Position: Serves as the Senior Strategic Planner for the War Plans Division within the Strategy, Plans and Policy Directorate (J5). You will serve as the principal subject matter expert and strategic guide for joint operational planning and space operations, directly advising the Director of Strategy, Plans and Policy and the Commander. In this critical role, you will lead the development, synchronization, and execution of complex contingency, and bi-national plans (OPLANs, CONPLANs) across the DoW, interagency, and international communities utilizing frameworks such as JOPES, APEX, and Joint Strategic Planning System. You will direct rigorous technical assessments, wargaming, and crisis action planning to translate national security objectives into actionable military directives, operational concepts, and future capability requirements. Furthermore, you will represent the command at the highest executive levels—including preparing critical strategic briefings for POTUS, SecWar, CJCS, and Congress—while providing authoritative technical leadership, mentorship, and analytical expertise to a diverse, multi-service staff to ensure USSPACECOM's readiness and dominance in the global space domain.

Position Responsibilities:

• Serve as the principal subject matter expert and advisor to the Director of Strategy, Plans and Policy and the Commander. Develop and advocate for contingency plans, ensuring alignment with national security goals, and deliver strategic briefings to the highest levels of government, including POTUS, SecWar, and the CJCS.
• Represent USSPACECOM at the executive, flag-officer, and international levels. Synchronize operational planning with other Combatant Commands, the Joint Staff, OSW, interagency partners (e.g., Department of Commerce), and foreign militaries to support bi-national agreements and the National Planning System.
• Direct the execution of the Joint Planning Process (JPP), JOPES, and Crisis Action Planning (CAP). Lead cross-command working groups to develop, document, and validate mission-responsive OPORDs, OPLANs, and CONPLANs encompassing both defensive and offensive space operations.
• Conduct and lead analytical studies, technical assessments, wargames, and exercises to evaluate space operations courses of action (COAs). Translate complex technical and performance data into actionable commander estimates and future operational concepts for the Future Plans Cell (FPC) and Battle Staff.
• Act as the command lead for the Adaptive Planning and Execution (APEX) Initiative and coordinate future capability requirements through the JCIDS process. Formulate command positions on national strategies, review Joint doctrine (e.g., JP 5-0), and prepare operational inputs for Senate and Congressional testimony.
• Provide authoritative guidance, technical training, and strategic insight to a diverse, joint staff comprising US Army, US Marine, US Navy, US Air Force, and US Space Force personnel. Foster continuity of concepts and innovative problem-solving across war plans development teams.

Desired Skills/Expertise:

• Mastery knowledge of the missions, roles, functions, organizational structures, and operation of the DoW, CCMD, Joint Staff, and Service missions and organization to provide command level staff guidance, and effectively synchronize theater and global campaign planning to set conditions for execution of contingency plans.
• Mastery knowledge of large, complex organizations that provide component, space operations, command and control support, mission support, base infrastructure, and other factors critical to combatant command operations within the homeland and abroad.
• Previous experience at a Combatant Command and/or Service/The Joint Staff/OSD-level staff is highly desired.
• Mastery knowledge of the policies, principles, concepts, guidance, procedures, techniques, and methodologies pertaining to joint operational planning at the strategic and operational levels of war.
• Mastery knowledge of the President’s National Security Strategy, Contingency Planning Guidance, Unified Command Plan, the SecWar’s National Defense Strategy, the CJCS National Military Strategy, The National Response Framework, and related National and DoD strategic guidance related to national security.
• Advanced skill sufficient to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing; negotiate complex issues; and maintain good working relationships with diverse groups and executive-level command management.
• Ability to recognize and analyze complex analytical problems, conduct research, summarize results, and make appropriate recommendations for resolution.
• Ability to gather, assemble, and analyze facts; draw conclusions; conduct analysis; devise recommended solutions; and package the entire process in briefings, papers, or reports suitable for top management use and decision-making.

Conditions of Employment:

• Must be able to obtain and maintain a TS/SCI Security Clearance.
• Position requires drug testing.
• Occasional travel away from regular duty location may be required.
• May be required to work irregular duty hours including evenings, weekends, and/or holidays.

**Value of Position (VOP): If your current basic salary is within the band, but above the stated VOP, your basic salary will not be reduced if you are selected for the position.

For questions regarding this position, please contact Mr. David Farmer at (719)552-7458. All eligible interested applicants must forward their 2-page resume directly to David Farmer at [email protected] no later than COB 28 August 2026.