NATO Exercise & Warfare Development Specialist

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

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.