Senior Maritime Readiness & Exercise Planning SME

Tech-Marine Business, Inc.; Washington; On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

PAE Maritime is seeking a Wartime Readiness and Exercise Planning SME to serve as the senior technical authority for design, coordination, execution, and evaluation of wartime readiness and exercise planning activities in a maritime context.

The role provides SME guidance on force generation, activation, mobilization, and deployment to ensure alignment with CCMD requirements and Naval doctrine, while leading OPTs and coordinating with joint and coalition partners to strengthen overall readiness.

Qualifications

• 10–15 years of progressive experience in global operations planning and exercise management.
• Subject matter expertise in wartime readiness, contingency planning, force generation, and exercise design.
• Strong understanding of OPT frameworks, including their structure, effectiveness measures, and execution.
• In-depth knowledge of the Naval Planning Process and its application to maritime operations.
• Experience operating at or supporting a major command, numbered fleet, or equivalent maritime operational level.
• Ability to develop and refine operations, mobility, contingency, and wartime readiness plans.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills for briefing senior leaders.
• Bachelor's in National Security or related field; Master's preferred; professional military education desired.
• U.S. citizenship and ability to maintain a Secret clearance.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary SME for wartime readiness and exercise planning at the PAE Maritime level, advising leadership on force generation, activation, mobilization, and deployment operations.
• Design, develop, coordinate, and evaluate complex wartime contingency plans, deployment readiness exercises, and joint/combined training scenarios.
• Lead and facilitate Operational Planning Teams (OPTs), ensuring effectiveness and disciplined execution per the Naval Planning Process.
• Align requirements with force-sourcing solutions; manage UTC posturing, deployment data, and readiness reporting.
• Oversee the creation, review, and revision of wartime readiness plans.
• Ensure all frameworks adhere to DoW, Joint, and Navy/Marine Corps doctrine and directives.
• Conduct after-action reviews, lessons learned analyses, and continuous process improvement.
• Coordinate with joint, interagency, and coalition partners to synchronize planning efforts.
• Provide expert recommendations on readiness posture, exercise design, and operational risk to senior leadership.
• Support development of metrics, briefings, and decision support products related to wartime readiness and exercise outcomes.

Skills

Global operations planning

Exercise management

Strategic advisory

Leadership of OPTs

Education

Bachelor's degree in National Security or related field

Master's degree preferred

Job description

PAE Maritime is seeking a Wartime Readiness and Exercise Planning SME to serve as the senior technical authority for design, coordination, execution, and evaluation of wartime readiness and exercise planning activities in a maritime context.

The role provides SME guidance on force generation, activation, mobilization, and deployment to ensure alignment with CCMD requirements and Naval doctrine, while leading OPTs and coordinating with joint and coalition partners to strengthen overall readiness.