Lead Exercise Planner, Mission Delta 3

The United States Space Force (USSF) at Peterson SFB, Colorado Springs, CO is searching for a Lead Exercise Planner, Mission Delta 3 (NH-0301-03, GS-12/13 Equivalent).

Description:
This position serves as a leader and senior Exercise Planner responsible for leading a team in the design, development, coordination, execution, and evaluation of complex Mission Delta, service, joint and combined exercises to support commanders training objectives and strategic priorities. Leads a team in the conceptualization and design of Mission Delta, service, joint exercises based on commander's training objectives, readiness requirements, and strategic guidance. Develops realistic, complex exercise scenarios, injects, training objectives, and evaluation criteria. Oversees the creation of all foundational exercise documents, including Concepts of Operations (CONOPs), Road-to-Crisis (RTC) narratives, and overarching scenario timelines. Ensures scenarios are robust enough to test and validate joint doctrine and operational plans. Chairs and facilitates the full spectrum of planning conferences, including Concept Development, Initial, Mid, and Final Planning Conferences. Coordinates with internal and external stakeholders-including higher headquarters, component commands, and partner nations/agencies-to ensure synchronization of planning efforts, force sourcing, and resource allocation. Manages logistical, administrative, and communication plans for all exercise participants. Resolves conflicts and de-conflicts requirements among multiple planning entities.

Serves as the lead for the Exercise Control Group (ECG) during exercise execution. Manages the dynamic flow of the Master Scenario Events List (MSEL) to guide exercise play, stimulate training audience actions, and ensure training objectives are met. Directs and oversees the functions of training audience controllers, role players, and data collectors. Makes real-time adjustments to the scenario based on training audience performance and changing conditions. Leads the collection, analysis, and synthesis of exercise data to rigorously evaluate the achievement of training objectives. Chairs After-Action Reviews (AARs) and working groups to capture key observations, identify systemic strengths and shortfalls, and distill critical lessons learned. Prepares and delivers high-quality final exercise reports and formal briefings to senior leadership, providing data-driven recommendations to improve doctrine, organization, training, materiel, leadership, personnel, facilities, and policy (DOTMLPF-P). As a Leader, distributes and balances the workload for a team of exercise planners according to priorities, difficulty, and employee capabilities. Provides technical guidance, mentorship, and on-the-job training to team members. Monitors project milestones and work progress, making day-to-day adjustments to ensure the team's goals are met. Provides substantive input to the supervisor on team member performance, training needs, and contributions to mission success. Resolves informal complaints and refers more serious matters to the supervisor.


Key Skills and Abilities:
1. Expert knowledge of the Joint Exercise Life Cycle (JELC) and joint exercise planning processes.
2. Mastery of project management principles to lead complex, multi-faceted projects from concept to completion.
3. Skill in leading, guiding, and mentoring a team of professionals to achieve organizational goals.
4. Ability to facilitate large, diverse groups and build consensus among stakeholders with competing equities.
5. Expert skill in written and oral communication to develop detailed plans and present complex information, analysis, and recommendations to senior leaders.
6. Comprehensive knowledge of joint doctrine, operational planning, and the specific mission areas of the combatant command.
7. Ability to collect, analyze, and synthesize qualitative and quantitative data to support rigorous after-action analysis and reporting.

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs): Your qualifications will be evaluated on the basis of your level of knowledge, skills, abilities and/or competencies as related to the series and grade of the position being filled. Final qualifications determinations will be assessed based on OPM's General Schedule Qualifications Standards found here:

Interviews: You will be contacted by e-mail and/or telephone if your application is identified as qualifying for a position being filled. An interview may be conducted. If interviewed, you will be asked to address the same knowledge, skills, abilities and/or competencies used to initially qualify your application for the position.

Required Documents