Operational Psychologist, National Security

CACI; Fort Meade (MD); On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

CACI seeks an Operational Psychologist to join a team delivering advisory, training, and operational support for national security. The role emphasizes behavioral science to influence targets and support mission-critical objectives across diverse commands.

Required TS/SCI clearance with Poly, MA/MS in a related field, and 5+ years in military operational planning or assessments. You will apply behavioral models, conduct audience analysis, and develop MOEs while adhering to ethical standards.

Qualifications

• Active TS/SCI clearance with CI Poly.
• MA/MS in a relevant field (e.g. behavioral sciences, neuroscience, psychology, social science).
• 5 years' experience supporting military operational planning and/or assessments (7 years with BA/BS) for OIE, IW, Sensitive Activities, or compartmented activities.
• Demonstrated experience briefing or delivering written concepts to executive/senior-level (GO/FO/SES) decision makers.
• Demonstrated expertise applying behavioral models, scientific theory, and data analysis to military operations and assessments for OIE, IW, and/or Sensitive Activities.
• Demonstrated experience designing, administering and/or evaluating research instruments and activities in support of military operations.

Responsibilities

• Supports OIE (including Psychological Operations), IW, and Sensitive activities by applying behavioral science principles to develop, target, and influence individuals, groups, or organizations to accomplish tactical, operational, or strategic objectives
• Advises on target audience analysis including development of themes and messages; identification of psychological vulnerabilities, strengths, susceptibilities; decision making style; and assessment criteria refinement
• Develops measures of effectiveness (MOE) to systematically assess and report the impact of operations on targets, target audiences
• Facilitates and supports development of intelligence requirements to identify and evaluate relevant enemy capabilities, personality/decision making characteristics, and intentions.
• Performs behavioral assessment of relevant targets using empirically supported theoretical orientations, perspectives, or modalities ( e.g. trait/motivational, cognitive behavioral, psychodynamic) adapted for observable operational environments
• Develops personalized influence tactics by synthesizing digital phenotyping, neuroscience, or cyberpsychology to create actor-specific behavioral models
• Maintains and actively applies current psychological research as a practitioner to ensure scientific rigor is integrated into all operational psychology tactics, techniques, and procedures
• Maintains current professional ethical standards
• Integrates intelligence, assessment, and feedback to refine OIE approaches and adapt to changing information conditions.
• Supports OIE exercises, experiments, and wargaming to test assumptions and validate psychological effects.
• Produces decision-quality OIE planning products, assessments, and briefs incorporating operational psychology insights.

Skills

Briefing experience

Behavioral models

Data analysis

Operational psychology

Military operations

Education

MA/MS in behavioral sciences or psychology

PhD in relevant field

Tools

AI/ML tools

Job description

CACI seeks an Operational Psychologist to join a team delivering advisory, training, and operational support for national security. The role emphasizes behavioral science to influence targets and support mission-critical objectives across diverse commands.

Required TS/SCI clearance with Poly, MA/MS in a related field, and 5+ years in military operational planning or assessments. You will apply behavioral models, conduct audience analysis, and develop MOEs while adhering to ethical standards.