Supervisory Program Analyst (Director, Strategy, Policy, and Future Concepts)

Office of the Secretary of Defense; Arlington (VA); On-site; USD 169,000 - 197,000; Full time

Job summary

Office of the Secretary of Defense in Arlington, Virginia, is seeking a Supervisory Program Analyst (Director, Strategy, Policy, and Future Concepts) for the Secretariat for Special Operations (SSO) within the Office of the Assistant Secretary of War for Special Operations and Low-Intensity Conflict (OASW(SO/LIC)).

The role directs analytical and policy programs, leads complex studies of SOF strategies, develops strategic guidance, evaluates proposals, and represents the organization in

Responsibilities

• Directs the directorate's analytical and policy programs, establishes priorities, assigns work, evaluates employee performance, and manages resources to accomplish organizational objectives.
• Leads complex studies of Special Operations Forces (SOF) strategies, force design, and policies, developing quantitative and qualitative methods to assess effectiveness and future mission requirements.
• Develops strategic guidance, policy recommendations, and future operational concepts to align SOF capabilities, force structure, and global posture with national defense priorities.
• Evaluates proposals from military commands and interagency stakeholders, identifies policy conflicts and capability gaps, and recommends solutions to support long-term force sustainability and modernization.
• Represents the organization in Department-level and interagency forums, coordinates competing stakeholder positions, and oversees preparation of briefings, issue papers, and decision memoranda for senior leaders.

Job description

Supervisory Program Analyst (Director, Strategy, Policy, and Future Concepts)

• Hiring Agency: Office of the Secretary of Defense
• Department: Department of Defense
• Hiring Path: Fed Internal Search
• Number of Openings: 1
• Security Clearance: Sensitive Compartmented Information

This position is located in the Secretariat for Special Operations (SSO), within the Office of the Assistant Secretary of War for Special Operations and Low-Intensity Conflict (OASW(SO/LIC)). Under the authority of 10 U.S.C. Sections 138 and 167, the ASW (SO/LIC) serves as the principal civilian advisor and assistant to the Secretary of War.

Key Responsibilities

Incumbent typical work assignments may include the following: Directs the directorate's analytical and policy programs, establishes priorities, assigns work, evaluates employee performance, and manages resources to accomplish organizational objectives. Leads complex studies of Special Operations Forces (SOF) strategies, force design, and policies, developing quantitative and qualitative methods to assess effectiveness and future mission requirements.

Develops strategic guidance, policy recommendations, and future operational concepts to align SOF capabilities, force structure, and global posture with national defense priorities. Evaluates proposals from military commands and interagency stakeholders, identifies policy conflicts and capability gaps, and recommends solutions to support long-term force sustainability and modernization.

Represents the organization in Department-level and interagency forums, coordinates competing stakeholder positions, and oversees preparation of briefings, issue papers, and decision memoranda for senior leaders.

Requirements & Education

Education cannot be substituted for experience.

Which agency is hiring for this position?

This position is with Office of the Secretary of Defense, Department of Defense.

What is the salary for this position?

The posted pay range is $169279 – $197200/yr.

What security clearance is required?

This position requires a Sensitive Compartmented Information security clearance.

What is the application deadline?

Applications close on 2026-11-06.

Who is eligible to apply?

This position is open under the 'Fed Internal Search' hiring path.