Military Partnerships Analyst

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.

SPAs NATO Allied Command Transformation Group within JOID provides capability development, portfolio management, program management, quality management, cost estimation analysis, standardization, reporting, software solutions and information management, and capability management support. We also provide an improved capability requirements capture process, including the generation, documentation and tracing of user requirements, with appropriate technical scrutiny, over the entire lifecycle of the requirements from capability definition through capability realization and capability usage.

We have a near-term need for a Military Partnerships Analyst to provide onsite support out of Norfolk, VA.

The candidate will support the Partnerships Branch in advancing NATO's partnership objectives and contribute to HQ SACT's central coordination of partnerships-related activities. Working across HQ SACT Directorates and Branches, ACO/SHAPE, NATO Headquarters, Partner Nations, and relevant International Organizations, the candidate will help coordinate partnership work strands, activities, Programs of Work, exercises, experiments, training, education, and engagement opportunities. Responsibilities include developing briefings, point papers, speaking notes, reports, decision-support products, and Key Leader Engagement materials, as well as contributing to NATO military partnership policies, directives, concepts, processes, and procedures. The position will also support corporate memory, knowledge and information management, lessons identified, document traceability, and quality assurance while ensuring compliance with applicable NATO security, releasability, and information-management requirements. With a specific focus on Partnerships Strategy, Concept Development, Policy, and Analysis, the candidate will advise internal stakeholders on the strategic value, scope, risks, and opportunities associated with NATO military partnerships and identify opportunities for Partner engagement across ACT work strands. The role will contribute to the development of policies, concepts, studies, reports, and military advice addressing the long-term evolution of NATO military partnerships and their relationship to NATO defence policies, cooperative programs, and transformation priorities. The candidate will lead or support partnership-related concept development, including strategic engagement and "out-partnering" concepts, and contribute to relevant concept development and experimentation activities. Responsibilities will also include integrating Partner perspectives into long-term military transformation, strategic foresight, future force design, red teaming, wargaming, and Long-Term Military Strategic Shaping activities, where appropriate. Will conduct geopolitical, regional, and strategic analysis of Partner Nations and partnership frameworks within an assigned portfolio to inform ACT planning, engagement activities, and senior leader decision-making. The position will identify ACT programs, experiments, exercises, studies, training events, and other activities that offer opportunities for Partner participation and assess which Partner Nations may contribute to or benefit from those activities. Capture best practices, lessons learned, engagement outcomes, key decisions, recurring requirements, and continuity information to strengthen branch efficiency and institutional knowledge. The role may require representation at meetings, conferences, workshops, exercises, and other engagements within and outside NATO boundaries, with anticipated travel of up to 30 days per year.

Required:

• Master's degree or higher in international relations, international security, international development, military studies (including military technology or operations research), foreign policy, public affairs, political science, or related discipline; or have attended a NATO or national military staff college (OF-3 level or higher).
• 5+ years of experience, including experience working in the field of foreign/international security/international cooperation/defense/military affairs.
• Experience working within NATO Enterprise (preferred); or other International Organization (in a Defense or Security-related position); or within a national mission, delegation, or embassy to an IO (in a Defense or Security-related position).
• Demonstrate a working knowledge of NATO Partnerships, security sector reform/defense and security capacity building, defense planning, or military capability development/military applications of operations research.
• Demonstrate experience in drafting for and/or briefing senior leaders/decision makers (FOGOs or civilian equivalent), ideally at Strategic Level or above.
• Active NATO or National Secret security clearance.
• Valid NATO Nation passport with no travel restrictions to NATO nations.
• Able to work fully onsite based on clients needs.