Operational Planner

Operational Planner

The Opportunity:

As an expert in defense missions, your unique background inspires you to think bigger, push further, and ask questions others don’t. We need your operational planning expertise and advisory skills to help solve complex mission challenges and deliver solutions that support U.S. Special Operations objectives.

As an Operational Planner, you’ll bring your experience in joint planning, operational coordination, exercise support, and staff integration to work alongside military personnel and mission partners. You’ll support the development, coordination, and refinement of operations, activities, and actions, working group outputs, exercise planning products, and executive-level communications. You’ll help translate strategic guidance and assessment findings into operationally relevant planning inputs that inform partner nation engagement, campaign execution, and senior leader decision-making.

You’ll work across staff directorates and functional teams to synchronize planning efforts, capture operational observations, support after-action analysis, and develop recommendations that improve future engagements. Your ability to operate in a dynamic environment, coordinate across multiple stakeholders, and turn complex information into clear planning products will be critical to mission success.

Join us. The world can’t wait.

You Have:  

• 3+ years of experience supporting operational planning, joint planning, military staff operations, exercise planning, or operations, activities, and actions development

• Experience supporting strategic or operational planning, campaign assessment, or plans development in a joint or special operations environment

• Experience with security cooperation, partner force development, irregular warfare, counterterrorism, or special operations planning

• Knowledge of Africa regional security dynamics, violent extremist organizations, transnational threats, or partner nation operational environments

• Knowledge of Joint Planning Process, Joint Publication 5-0, campaign planning, contingency planning, and operations assessment methodologies

• Ability to develop planning products, decision briefings, strategic estimates, assessments, and commander-ready recommendations

• Ability to coordinate across staff directorates, including components, interagency partners, or partner nation stakeholders

• TS/SCI clearance

• HS diploma or GED
   

Nice If You Have:  

• Experience supporting a Theater Special Operations Command, U.S. Special Operations Command, U.S. Africa Command, or other Geographic Combatant Command

• Experience developing Measures of Performance, Measures of Effectiveness, campaign assessments, or investment-to-effect analysis

• Experience with Microsoft Office, SharePoint, Maven Smart System, Mission Command System - Common Operational Picture, Advana, or other data-enabled planning tools

• Bachelor's in International Relations, Security Studies, Political Science, National Security Studies, Strategy, or a related field preferred; Master's degree in International Relations, Security Studies, Political Science, National Security Studies, Strategy, or a related field a plus

• Completion of Intermediate Level Education, Joint Professional Military Education, Special Operations planning courses, or equivalent civilian planning education

Clearance:
Applicants selected will be subject to a security investigation and may need to meet eligibility requirements for access to classified information; TS/SCI clearance is required. 

Compensation

At Booz Allen, we celebrate your contributions, provide you with opportunities and choices, and support your total well-being. Our offerings include health, life, disability, financial, and retirement benefits, as well as paid leave, professional development, tuition assistance, work-life programs, and dependent care. Our recognition awards program acknowledges employees for exceptional performance and superior demonstration of our values. Full-time and part-time employees working at least 20 hours a week on a regular basis are eligible to participate in Booz Allen’s benefit programs. Individuals that do not meet the threshold are only eligible for select offerings, not inclusive of health benefits. We encourage you to learn more about our total benefits by visiting the Resource page on our Careers site and reviewing Our Employee Benefits page.

Salary at Booz Allen is determined by various factors, including but not limited to location, the individual’s particular combination of education, knowledge, skills, competencies, and experience, as well as contract-specific affordability and organizational requirements. The projected compensation range for this position is $86,800.00 to $198,000.00 (annualized USD). The estimate displayed represents the typical salary range for this position and is just one component of Booz Allen’s total compensation package for employees. This posting will close within 90 days from the Posting Date.

Identity Statement

As part of the hiring process, we will ask you to complete an identity verification process that leverages advanced biometrics and artificial intelligence to ensure authenticity and protect against identity fraud. You are expected to be on camera during interviews and assessments. We reserve the right to take your picture to verify your identity and prevent fraud.

Candidate AI Usage Policy

AI is a part of our daily work at Booz Allen, and we are committed to the responsible and ethical use of AI tools. However, we want to ensure a fair candidate process based on your own skills and knowledge. As part of this commitment, the use of artificial intelligence (AI) or other tools to assist with responses during interviews (whether in-person or virtual) is prohibited unless permission is explicitly provided.

Work Model
Our people-first culture prioritizes the benefits of collaboration, whether it occurs in person or virtually. To support engagement and effective communication, employees working virtually are generally expected to have their cameras on during meetings.

• Remote: If this position is listed as remote, there may still be occasions when you are required to work in person at a Booz Allen or customer facility.

• Hybrid: If this position is listed as hybrid, you will be expected to work from a Booz Allen facility frequently, in alignment with leadership expectations and the needs of the role. You may also be required to work from or visit a customer facility.

• Onsite: If this position is listed as onsite, work will primarily be performed at a Booz Allen office or customer facility, where employees will collaborate directly with colleagues and customers as required by the role.

Commitment to Non-Discrimination

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to disability, status as a protected veteran or any other status protected by applicable federal, state, local, or international law.