Exercise Coordination & Warfare Development Analyst

Ironclad Defense Works; Norfolk (VA); On-site; USD 115,000 - 135,000; Full time

Job summary

Ironclad Defense Works is seeking an Exercise Coordination & Warfare Development Analyst to support NATO Allied Command Transformation in Norfolk, Virginia. This role focuses on synchronizing exercise planning, developing campaign plans, and converting lessons into actionable recommendations.

You will coordinate across NATO organizations, prepare staff products, and contribute to Audacious Training initiatives while maintaining active security clearances and working on-site in Norfolk, VA.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree (or equivalent) in International Relations, Defense/Strategic Studies, Political Science, Emergency Management, or related field.
• At least five years of experience in military exercise planning, collective training, or defense transformation initiatives.
• Familiarity with NATO exercise‑planning processes and governing documents.
• Knowledge of NATO concepts such as the Warfighting Capstone Concept and Warfare Development Agenda.
• Ability to produce professional planning documents, reports, campaign plans, and related staff products.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and collaborative platforms.
• Strong organizational and project‑management skills.
• Experience coordinating with multinational or interagency partners.

Responsibilities

• Support integration of Warfare Development priorities, Multi‑Domain Operations objectives, and future warfighting requirements across NATO’s exercise enterprise.
• Assist with governance, synchronization, and strategic alignment of NATO exercise activities.
• Participate in planning conferences, workshops, and coordination events.
• Support development, refinement, and documentation of exercise‑related campaign plans, concepts, and supporting products.
• Use NATO exercises to identify capability gaps, refine concepts, assess emerging capabilities, and support future force development.
• Support Warfare Development in Exercises and Warfare Development Exploitation Team activities.
• Assist with integration of Audacious Training Lines of Effort, including enhanced realism, technology and innovation, and lessons learned.
• Support integration of AI‑enabled capabilities, experimentation, innovation initiatives, and JATEC participation in NATO exercises.
• Support after‑action reviews and lessons‑learned processes and draft formal reports and recommendations.
• Contribute to rolling programs of work for Warfare Development in Exercises and related initiatives.
• Coordinate with NATO organizations including SHAPE, JWC, JFTC, JATEC, JALLC, partners, and external stakeholders.

Skills

Excellent written and verbal comms

Strong organizational and project‑mgmt

Microsoft Office & collaboration tools

Multinational/interagency coordination

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s in IR/Defense/Political Science/Emergency Management or related field, or equivalent experience

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Exercise Coordination & Warfare Development Analyst

Location: Norfolk, Virginia

Work Arrangement: Full-time, on-site

Travel: Up to 30 days annually, including international travel

Clearance: ACTIVE SECRET CLEARANCE FROM U.S. OR NATO MEMBER NATION REQUIRED

The Opportunity

Ironclad Defense Works is seeking an Exercise Coordination & Warfare Development Analyst to support NATO Allied Command Transformation in Norfolk, Virginia. This role will support the Exercise Coordination and Alignment Branch (ECAB) in integrating Warfare Development priorities, Multi-Domain Operations objectives, future warfighting requirements, and transformation initiatives across NATO’s exercise enterprise.

This role requires a professional who will help synchronize exercise-related planning across NATO organizations, support development of campaign plans and concepts, contribute to Warfare Development in Exercises and Audacious Training initiatives, assess exercise outcomes, and convert lessons and observations into actionable recommendations. The candidate must possess strong military exercise-planning experience, familiarity with NATO training and transformation processes, and the ability to coordinate effectively across multinational and interagency stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities

• Support integration of Warfare Development priorities, Multi-Domain Operations objectives, and future warfighting requirements across NATO’s exercise enterprise.
• Assist with governance, synchronization, and strategic alignment of NATO exercise activities.
• Participate in planning conferences, workshops, and coordination events.
• Support development, refinement, and documentation of exercise-related campaign plans, concepts, and supporting products.
• Use NATO exercises to help identify capability gaps, refine concepts, assess emerging capabilities, and support future force development.
• Support Warfare Development in Exercises and Warfare Development Exploitation Team activities.
• Assist with integration of Audacious Training Lines of Effort, including enhanced realism, technology and innovation, and lessons learned.
• Support integration of AI-enabled capabilities, experimentation, innovation initiatives, and JATEC participation in NATO exercises.
• Support after-action review and lessons-learned processes and draft formal reports and recommendations.
• Contribute to rolling programs of work for Warfare Development in Exercises and related initiatives.
• Coordinate with NATO organizations including SHAPE, JWC, JFTC, JATEC, JALLC, partners, and external stakeholders.
• Track and report ECAB contributions to NATO-level exercise and training guidance.
• Maintain records, schedules, and document repositories.
• Provide regular progress updates to project leadership and the COTR.
• Support the Branch Head and represent ECAB at meetings and conferences as required.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or master’s degree in International Relations, Defense/Strategic Studies, Political Science, Emergency Management, or a related field, or equivalent relevant professional experience.
• At least five years of experience in military exercise planning, collective training, or defense transformation initiatives.
• Familiarity with NATO exercise-planning processes and governing documents.
• Knowledge of relevant NATO concepts and guidance such as the NATO Warfighting Capstone Concept, Warfare Development Agenda, Bi-SC Collective Training & Exercises Directive, and SACEUR’s Guidance on Education, Training, Exercises, and Evaluation.
• Demonstrated ability to produce professional-level planning documents, reports, campaign plans, and related staff products.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and collaborative platforms.
• Strong organizational and project-management skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Experience coordinating with multinational or interagency partners.

Preferred Qualifications

• Direct experience supporting NATO Allied Command Transformation, Allied Command Operations, or another NATO command or organization.
• Experience supporting NATO exercises, collective training, or transformation initiatives.
• Familiarity with Warfare Development in Exercises, Warfare Development Exploitation Teams, or Audacious Training.
• Experience supporting Multi-Domain Operations or future warfighting initiatives.
• Experience with NATO Joint Warfare Centre, Joint Force Training Centre, Joint Analysis and Lessons Learned Centre, or Joint Analysis Training and Education Centre activities.
• Experience conducting or supporting after-action reviews and lessons-learned processes.
• Experience developing exercise campaign plans, concepts, planning products, or strategic guidance.
• Familiarity with experimentation, emerging technologies, AI-enabled capabilities, or innovation within military exercises.
• Experience briefing or coordinating with senior military and civilian stakeholders.

Clearance

This position requires an active National SECRET (or higher) security clearance from the U.S. or a NATO member nation. Applicants who do not possess the clearance specified above cannot be considered at this time.

Compensation

Compensation for this position ranges from $115,000 - $135,000 annually. Final salary will be based on factors such as experience, education, skills, qualifications, location, contract requirements, and overall affordability.

Eligible full-time employees may also receive a comprehensive benefits package, including medical and dental insurance, retirement benefits, paid leave, and professional development opportunities.

Ironclad Defense Works is an Equal Opportunity Employer.