Special Operations Planner Team Lead - Vandenberg SFB with Security Clearance

QinetiQ US; Lompoc (CA); On-site; USD 130,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

QinetiQ US seeks a Senior Special Operations Planner Team Lead to direct a planners team embedded with USSPACECOM (S4S) at Vandenberg AFB, CA. You will own the quality and delivery of planning products and interface with government leadership.

The role requires 15+ years in operational planning, 3+ years in a supervisory capacity, and expertise integrating STO/SAP into joint plans. A TS/SCI clearance is required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant discipline.
• 15+ years of operational planning experience in a special operations, joint, or Combatant Command HQ environment.
• 3+ years of supervisory or team lead experience in a cleared contractor environment.
• Proven experience delivering CONOPs, COAs, and operational orders to senior leadership.
• Direct experience integrating STO/SAP into operational plans at the combatant command level.
• Strong communication with government customers and senior staff.

Responsibilities

• Lead, mentor, and manage a team of Special Operations Planners, ensuring deliverables meet time and scope constraints.
• Interact with COR and government leadership on performance, staffing, and priorities.
• Direct development of JPP, CONOPs, COAs, and operational orders; coordinate across directorates and partners.
• Oversee planning for real-world operations, exercises, and wargames including MSEL design and AARs.
• Ensure OPSEC, classification control (TS/SCI, SAP, ACCM) across all products.

Skills

Team leadership

Operational planning

JPP/CONOPs

Clearance TS/SCI

Education

Bachelor’s degree in strategic studies / political science / aerospace / related field

Master’s degree (preferred) in strategic studies / national security / space policy

Tools

SIPRNet/JWICS

Job description

Position Overview Join us in supporting the United States Space Command (USSPACECOM), one of the nation’s eleven unified combatant commands responsible for space operations critical to joint warfighting. We are seeking an experienced Special Operations Planner Team Lead to serve as the senior contractor lead embedded within U.S. Space Forces (S4S) at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. In this role, you will direct a team of planners supporting USSPACECOM’s most sensitive operational planning requirements, serv e as the primary contractor interface with government leadership, and own the quality and delivery of all planning products. The ideal candidate combines deep operational and STO/SAP planning expertise with demonstrated team leadership in a high-visibility, fast-paced combatant command environment.

Team Leadership & Program Management

Serve as the senior contractor point of contact for all planning support activities, interfacing directly with the Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) and government leadership on performance, staffing, and priorities.

• Lead, mentor, and manage a team of Special Operations Planners – assigning work, monitoring quality, balancing workload, and ensuring all contract deliverables are met on time and within scope
• Conduct performance evaluations, support professional development, and maintain high team morale and retention in a demanding operational environment
• Identify and escalate staffing gaps, resource constraints, and performance issues; coordinate with QinetiQ program management on hiring and personnel actions

Operational Planning

Direct and personally contribute to the development of operational and strategic planning products across the Joint Planning Process (JPP), including CONOPs, COAs, contingency plans, campaign plans, and operational orders.

• Lead integration of Special Technical Operations (STO) and Special Access Program (SAP) capabilities into USSPACECOM operational plans and CONPLANS
• Serve as the senior planning authority for coordination across USSPACECOM Directorates, interagency partners, allied and partner nations, and other Combatant Commands
• Oversee development and delivery of decision-ready products – briefings, staff packages, operational overlays, risk assessments, and planning summaries – for senior and flag-level leadership
• Lead planning support for real-world operations, exercises, and wargames including scenario design, MSEL development, After Action Reviews (AARs), and observer/trainer support

Space Domain & Sensitive Operations Integration

Guide the team’s integration of space control capabilities – including Electromagnetic Support (ES) and Electromagnetic Attack (EA) – into operational plans and ensure deconfliction of sensitive activities.

• Maintain rigorous OPSEC standards and classification management (TS/SCI, SAP, ACCM) across all team products and activities
• Proactively identify planning gaps, risks, and constraints across the portfolio; propose and implement mitigations; keep leadership informed as the operational environment evolves

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant discipline (strategic studies, political science, aerospace/systems engineering, operations research, or related field)
• 15+ years of operational planning experience in a special operations, joint, or Combatant Command headquarters environment
• 3+ years of demonstrated supervisory or team lead experience managing planners or analysts in a DoW or cleared contractor environment
• Proven experience leading planning teams through the full Joint Planning Process (JPP), including delivery of completed CONOPs, COAs, and operational orders to senior leadership
• Direct experience planning or integrating Special Technical Operations (STO) or Special Access Programs (SAP) into operational plans at the combatant command level
• Demonstrated ability to manage competing priorities, communicate clearly with government customers, and hold a team accountable to quality standards under tight deadlines
• Strong written and oral communication skills with a track record of producing and presenting high-quality products to flag/general/senior executive service (SES)-level audiences
• Proficiency with classified systems and environments including SIPRNet and JWICS
• Active Top Secret/SCI clearance required; #qinetiqclearedjob

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in strategic studies, national security affairs, space policy, or a related field
• Prior direct experience supporting USSPACECOM, another Geographic Combatant Command (GCC), the Joint Staff, or SOCOM at the O-6/GS-15 equivalent level or above
• Familiarity with space operations doctrine including JP 3-14 (Space Operations) and JP 5-0 (Joint Planning)
• Completion of a formal STO Planner course (e.g., USASTOPC) and/or Planning and Decision Aid System (PDAS) training
• Prior military service at the O-5/O-6 level or higher, with experience as a Space Operations Officer (FA40), space operations planner, or senior joint staff officer
• Experience managing contract performance, including COR/COTR relationships, deliverable tracking, and contract reporting
• Background in wargame design, modeling and simulation (M&S) tools, or large-scale exercise planning

Pay Transparency

The salary range for this role is $130,000 - $180,000 USD. The salary range provided is a good faith estimate representative of all experience levels. QinetiQ US considers several factors when extending an offer, including but not limited to, the role, function and associated responsibilities, a candidate’s work experience, location, education/training, and key skills.