NATO Exercise Planning & Alignment Analyst

Arenatechnologies; Norfolk (VA); Hybrid; USD 115,000 - 145,000; Full time

Job summary

Systems Planning and Analysis, Inc. (SPA) is seeking an Exercise Coordination and Alignment Branch (ECAB) Support Analyst to provide on-site support in Norfolk, VA.

The role focuses on coordinating Warfare Development and exercise planning with NATO partners, tracking contributions, and delivering regular progress updates. Ideal candidates have 5+ years in military exercise planning, an active NATO clearance, and the ability to work on-site.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in International Relations, Defense/Strategic Studies, Political Science, Emergency Management, or related field; OR equivalent professional experience.
• 5+ years of experience in military exercise planning, collective training, or defense transformation initiatives.
• Familiarity with NATO exercise planning processes and documents (e.g., NATO Warfighting Capstone Concept, Warfare Development Agenda, Bi-SC Collective Training & Exercises Directive, SACEUR’s Guidance on ETEE).
• Proven ability to draft professional-level planning documents, reports, and campaign plans; proficiency with MS Office Suite and collaborative platforms.
• Strong organizational and project management skills.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Experience coordinating with multinational or interagency partners.
• Active NATO or National SECRET clearance.
• Valid NATO Nation passport with no travel restrictions to NATO nations.
• Able to work fully on-site based on clients needs.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate with NATO organizations (SHAPE, JWC, JFTC, JATEC, JALLC) and partners; track and report branch contributions to NATO-level guidance.
• Maintain schedules, records, and document repositories; provide regular progress updates to the Project Lead and COTR.
• Represent ECAB at meetings and conferences within and outside NATO; travel up to 30 days per year.
• Support governance, synchronization, and strategic alignment through a coordinated, multi-year programme of work.
• Assist with development, refinement, and documentation of exercise-related campaign plans, concepts, and supporting products.
• Support Warfare Development Exploitation by leveraging exercises to identify capability gaps and refine concepts.
• Contribute to future force development through Warfare Development in Exercises (WDiE) and Warfare Development Exploitation Teams (WDETs).
• Assist with integration of Audacious Training Lines of Effort, emerging technologies, AI-enabled capabilities, experimentation, and JATEC participation.
• Support After-Action Reviews (AARs) and lessons-learned activities; develop formal reports and actionable recommendations.

Skills

Drafting documents

Project management

MS Office Suite

Communication skills

Multinational coordination

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent

Master’s degree (preferred)

Tools

MS Office

Collaborative platforms

Job description

Systems Planning and Analysis, Inc. (SPA) is seeking an Exercise Coordination and Alignment Branch (ECAB) Support Analyst to provide on-site support in Norfolk, VA.

The role focuses on coordinating Warfare Development and exercise planning with NATO partners, tracking contributions, and delivering regular progress updates. Ideal candidates have 5+ years in military exercise planning, an active NATO clearance, and the ability to work on-site.