Nuclear Stockpile Stewardship Subject Matter Expert (SME)

ANSER; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 119,000 - 172,000; Full time

Job summary

ANSER seeks an experienced Nuclear Stockpile Stewardship SME to advise the AF/A10 and support sustainment, safety, security, and reliability of the U.S. nuclear stockpile.

You will provide technical and analytical support across policy development, program oversight, and stakeholder coordination within the nuclear enterprise. This full-time, onsite role is based in the National Capital Region, including the Pentagon and Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling in Washington, DC, with responsibilities

Qualifications

• Active TS clearance with eligibility for SCI.
• Bachelor’s degree in international relations, political science, national security studies, or a related field.
• Minimum of 15 years of professional experience in national security.
• Demonstrated knowledge of nuclear stockpile stewardship requirements across National, DoD, Joint, and Service levels.
• Ability to travel domestically and internationally as required.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the government’s primary point of contact and provide guidance on all nuclear stockpile stewardship requirements.
• Provide subject matter expertise on the current and projected nuclear stockpile, including warheads, bombs, and delivery systems across National, DoD, Joint, and Service levels.
• Review, analyze, and recommend actions related to nuclear stockpile sustainment, life extension programs, and modernization initiatives.
• Coordinate with key stakeholders across DoD and non-DoD organizations, including OSD, Joint Staff, Navy, NNSA, national laboratories, and production facilities.
• Support the annual Nuclear Weapons Stockpile Memorandum (NWSM) process and contribute to the Stockpile Stewardship and Management Plan (SSMP).
• Assess nuclear weapon system development, acquisition, and deployment to ensure alignment with national strategy and stockpile requirements.
• Participate in technical discussions, working groups, conferences to represent Air Force equities within the nuclear enterprise.
• Analyze and interpret nuclear weapons effects data, test results, and scientific assessments to inform Air Force policy and operational planning.

Skills

TS Clearance

SCI eligibility

Analytical thinking

Travel flexibility

Education

Bachelor’s degree in international relations/political science/national security studies

Job description

Company Overview

ANSER enhances national and homeland security by strengthening public institutions. We provide thought leadership for complex issues through independent analysis, and we deliver practical, useful solutions. ANSER values collaboration, integrity, and initiative and we are client focused in all that we do. Because we were established for the purpose of public service and not for profit, we measure our success in the impact of our service.

Company Overview

ANSER enhances national and homeland security by strengthening public institutions. We provide thought leadership for complex issues through independent analysis, and we deliver practical, useful solutions. ANSER values collaboration, integrity, and initiative and we are client focused in all that we do. Because we were established for the purpose of public service and not for profit, we measure our success in the impact of our service.

Position Summary

ANSER is seeking an experienced Nuclear Stockpile Stewardship Subject Matter Expert (SME) to support the Air Force Deputy Chief of Staff for Strategic Deterrence and Nuclear Integration (AF/A10). In this role, you will serve as a primary advisor on matters related to the sustainment, safety, security, and reliability of the U.S. nuclear stockpile. You will provide critical technical and analytical support across policy development, program oversight, and stakeholder coordination within the nuclear enterprise.

This position is full-time onsite within the National Capital Region, including the Pentagon and Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling in Washington, DC.

Day To Day Responsibilities

• Serve as the government’s primary point of contact and provide guidance on all nuclear stockpile stewardship requirements.
• Provide subject matter expertise on the current and projected nuclear stockpile, including warheads, bombs, and associated delivery systems, across National, DoD, Joint, and Service levels.
• Review, analyze, and recommend actions related to nuclear stockpile sustainment, life extension programs, and modernization initiatives.
• Coordinate with key stakeholders across DoD and non-DoD organizations, including the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD), Joint Staff, Navy, National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), national laboratories, and production facilities.
• Support the annual Nuclear Weapons Stockpile Memorandum (NWSM) process and contribute to the development of the Stockpile Stewardship and Management Plan (SSMP).
• Assess nuclear weapon system development, acquisition, and operational deployment to ensure alignment with national strategy and stockpile requirements.
• Participate in technical discussions, working groups, conferences, and other forums to represent Air Force equities within the nuclear enterprise.
• Analyze and interpret nuclear weapons effects data, test results, and scientific assessments to inform Air Force policy and operational planning.

Required Qualifications

• Active Top Secret (TS) security clearance with eligibility for Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI).
• Bachelor’s degree in international relations, political science, national security studies, or a related field.
• Minimum of 15 years of professional experience in national security.
• Demonstrated knowledge of nuclear stockpile stewardship requirements across National, DoD, Joint, and Service levels.
• Experience coordinating with DoD and non-DoD organizations involved in the nuclear enterprise, including nuclear weapons systems and stockpile management.
• Strong analytical, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to travel domestically and internationally as required.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working in complex environments with multiple stakeholders and points of contact.
• Demonstrated experience developing executive-level briefings and drafting informational, point, white, and decision papers, as well as preparing senior leaders for public engagements.
• Familiarity with the DoD and NNSA Planning, Programming, Budgeting, and Execution (PPBE) process as it relates to the nuclear enterprise.

Understanding of nuclear weapon system lifecycle phases, from concept development through dismantlement.

Individual salaries are determined by a variety of factors including but not limited to: business considerations, local market, internal equity, candidate qualifications such as skills, education and experience. ANSER provides employees benefits to support all aspects of their life including health, financial and well-being. For more information, please visit: http://www.anser.org

Full-Time Salary Range For This Position

$119,000—$172,000 USD

In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), if you have a disability and would like to request an accommodation in order to apply for a position with ANSER, please call 703-416-2000 or e-mail [e-mail]

ANSER is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We seek individuals from a broad variety of backgrounds with varying levels of experience who have a desire to do meaningful work. We recruit, employ, train, compensate, and promote regardless of race, color, gender, religion, national origin, ancestry, disability, age, veteran status, sexual orientation or any other characteristic protected by law.