Cybersecurity Defense Planning Analyst - Senior Associate

Lafayette Group; Washington (District of Columbia); Hybrid; USD 65,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

Lafayette Group is seeking qualified and team-oriented professionals to support national cybersecurity programs for federal government clients. The Cybersecurity Defense Planning Analyst collaborates with partners on cyber operational planning, information sharing networks, and engagements to strengthen national cyber defense.

This role involves leading stakeholder engagements, developing defense plans, conducting policy research, and delivering high-quality written work.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in a relevant field.
• 3+ years of experience in management consulting, communications, homeland security, or similar.
• Existing TS-SCI clearance.
• Experience with stakeholders, especially private sector cybersecurity partners.
• Experience developing and executing strategic plans with actionable objectives.
• Excellent oral and written communication; diplomacy and listening.
• Analytical and critical thinking skills; open-minded problem-solving.
• Ability to think conceptually and strategically; quick learner.
• Ability to network with staff at all levels including senior leadership.
• Experience managing multiple milestones and work products using PM best practices.
• Experience creating briefing materials and analyzing trends in large data sets.
• Understanding complex cybersecurity program policies and directives.
• Experience presenting project status and next steps.
• Strong cultural fit with Lafayette Group.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite.
• Ability to provide hybrid in-person support (1-2 days/week) in Arlington, VA.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with a team of Analysts, Managers, and SMEs to solve national cybersecurity challenges.
• Build strong client relationships and design solutions meeting client needs.
• Support cyber defense plans uniting partners in structured collaborations.
• Implement engagement strategies, plan meetings, and coordinate communications.
• Identify and implement improved project processes for efficiency and impact.
• Collect and analyze data and user feedback on engagement tools.
• Conduct qualitative and quantitative research to identify themes and trends.
• Develop and deliver high-quality products meeting client requirements on schedule.
• Assist with client engagement: lead meetings, plan data gathering, and develop recommendations.
• Contribute to written work: strategic plans, assessments, reports, talking points, white papers.

Skills

TS-SCI clearance

Bachelor's / Master’s degree

Strategic planning

Stakeholder engagement

Communication skills

Policy research

Data analysis

Project management basics

Hybrid work in Arlington

Microsoft Office

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree

Job description

Job Description

Cybersecurity Defense Planning Analyst – Senior Associate

Job Summary:

Lafayette Group is seeking qualified and team-oriented individuals to work with federal government organizations in support of national cybersecurity programs. The Cybersecurity Defense Planning Analyst is part of a team focused on ensuring effective collaboration with industry partners on cyber operational planning and defense. This position works directly with company and federal leads to support partner collaboration and coordination, including strategic and operational planning, developing and enhancing information sharing networks, and leading engagements designed to support robust national cyber defense. Daily tasks may include providing support to or leading stakeholder engagements, developing and implementing cyber defense plans, and conducting policy research and analysis.

Role

This position will:

• Work on a team of Program Analysts, Managers, and Subject Matter Experts to help clients solve nationally significant cybersecurity challenges.
• Build strong relationships with clients and stakeholders; design solutions that meet client needs while addressing stakeholder concerns.
• Support cyber defense plans that will unite relevant partners into structured collaborative efforts to address share cybersecurity challenges and goals
• Implement robust engagement strategies to cultivate effective cybersecurity partnerships, including meeting planning and coordination, leveraging tools to improve communication outcomes, and integrating partners into client initiatives.
• Identify, recommend, and implement new project processes or update/improve current processes for greater efficiency and/or impact.
• Support the collection and analysis of data and user feedback regarding the effectiveness and reach of engagement tools and strategies.
• Perform qualitative and quantitative research and analysis in support of projects to identify key themes and trends.
• Develop and deliver high-quality products that meet client requirements on schedule.
• Assist with client engagement and support, including preparing for and leading meetings, facilitating planning and data gathering sessions, and developing recommendations for plans, documents, and reports to support client needs.
• Support the development of high-quality written work products within and across areas of responsibility, including strategic plans, assessments and reports, presentations, talking points, fact sheets, and white papers.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree
• 3+ year experience in management consulting, communications, homeland security, or a similar field
• Existing TS-SCI clearance
• Experience working with relevant stakeholder groups, particularly private sector cybersecurity partners
• Experience supporting the development and/or execution of strategic plans, including translating high-level goals into actionable objectives and activities, and sequencing activities appropriately
• Possession of excellent oral and written communication skills; diplomacy and excellent listening skills
• Possession of excellent analytical and critical thinking skills with the ability to remain open-minded, flexible and curious in problem-solving approach
• Ability to think conceptually and strategically and learn quickly
• Ability to build relationships and network effectively with all levels of staff, including senior leadership both internal and on the client site
• Experience managing multiple project milestones, components, and work products in line with industry recognized project management best practices
• Experience developing briefing materials, analyzing trends in large information sets, and providing basic recommendations on business processes and workflows
• Ability to understand complex cybersecurity program policies/plans/directives, and then apply knowledge to project activities
• Experience contributing to oral discussions, presenting project status, and actioning next steps
• Strong cultural fit and value alignment with Lafayette Group, Inc.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite
• Ability to provide hybrid in-person support (1-2 days/week) in Arlington VA

Desired Qualifications:

• Experience providing consulting services to the government
• PMP or Agile certification
• Experience with cybersecurity, cyber defense, cyber threat intelligence, and/or national-level homeland security policy
• Experience with data analytics and display

Location:

Arlington, VA

Salary Range

$65.000-85,000

LGI carefully considers various factors when determining salary, including but not limited to education and training, professional experience, knowledge, skills and competencies, licensure and certifications, contract-specific affordability, and organizational requirements. New employees are not usually hired at the top of the estimated salary range and salary decisions depend on the circumstances and factors for each case. Salary is only one aspect of LGI’s generous total compensation package.

Federal Contracts:

This position involves working on federal contracts that require all workers on the contract to be U.S. Citizens. Additionally, some contracts may require the ability to obtain a security clearance.

LGI is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, we will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations for the hiring process. If reasonable accommodation is needed, please contact [e-mail].

Lafayette Group provides equal employment opportunities to all persons and prohibits employment decisions based on race, religion, color, creed, national origin, sex, age, disability, political affiliation, protected veteran status, or sexual orientation.

Equal Opportunity Employer, Including disabled and veterans