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WARGAME ANALYST

Department of Defense
Organization of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
Joint Force Development Directorate (J-7)

Summary

This position is part of the Organization of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The incumbent's duties cover a broad range of responsibilities concerned with planning,
implementing, adjudicating, analyzing, and reporting on conclusions derived from joint wargaming.

Overview

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Accepting applications
Posted today · Apply by 06/12/26
Due by 11:59 p.m. ET on June 12, 2026
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Work site options
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Remote job
No
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Salary
$90,838 - $140,426 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 12 - 13
Promotion potential
13
Pay scale and grade determines the salary of the job.
Work schedule
Full-time
Travel Required
25% or less - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Appointment type
Permanent
Supervisory status
No
Federal service type
This job is in the Competitive Service
Represented by a union
No
Drug test
Yes
Security clearance
Top Secret
Position sensitivity and risk
Special-Sensitive (SS)/High Risk
Jobs require a background check and some require a security clearance. The type depends on the job.
Background check type
Financial disclosure required
No
Some jobs require financial disclosure to identify conflicts of interests.
Announcement number
JCS-26-12975395-MP
Control number
871679200

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

Federal employee means current and former permanent competitive service employees and special authorities (Interchange Agreement agency employees) may apply. Veterans eligibilities include 30% Disabled Vet or more, Individuals with Disabilities means Schedule A, and Veterans Employment Opportunities Act (VEOA) candidates are eligible to apply. Eligible EO 12721 and Military Spouse Preference (MSP) eligible under competitive and non-competitive appointment may apply.

Duties

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As a WARGAME ANALYST at the GS-0301-12/13 some of your typical work assignments may include

GS-12 Duties:

  • Conducts planning in support of the Chairman's Globally Integrated Wargame (GIWG) series examining future concepts and required capabilities.
  • Develops tailored "for wargaming purposes" products designed to guide participants to operationalize elements of current or emerging concepts and concepts of operation (CONOPs), ensuring their validity is rigorously tested within complex, all-domain wargame environments.
  • Supports lifecycle planning including wargame design, analysis plan, facilities requirements, identification of wargame participants,
  • and all supporting functions.
  • In support of the lead GIWG analyst, performs analysis of wargame findings and makes recommendations for reporting, including conclusions from wargames in terms of operating concepts, concept required capabilities, plans, and/or policy.
  • Evaluates wargames, studies, and analysis from OSD, the Services, Combatant Commands, Combat Support Agencies, and/or other agencies to determine findings and organizational learning that are relevant to advancing joint concepts and capabilities.
GS-13 Duties:
  • Conducts lifecycle planning including wargame design, objectives, analytical objectives, analysis plan, facilities requirements,
    identification of wargame participants, and all supporting functions.
  • Develops tailored "for wargaming purposes" products designed to guide participants to operationalize elements of current or emerging concepts and concepts of operation (CONOPs), ensuring their validity is rigorously tested within complex, all-domain wargame environments
  • Plans work, sets priorities, and schedules work as necessary to assure effective and expeditious accomplishment of emergent
    tasks without adverse effect on regular and recurring work.
  • Serves as the primary advisor to the Wargaming Branch Chief on matters related to wargame planning.
  • In support of the lead GIWG analyst, performs analysis of wargame findings and makes recommendations for reporting, including conclusions from wargames in terms of operating concepts, concept required capabilities, plans, and policy.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • Must be a U.S. citizen
  • Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service
  • Resume and supporting documents (See How To Apply)
  • Suitable for Federal employment, determined by a background investigation
  • May be required to successfully complete a probationary period
  • Work Schedule: Full Time
  • Overtime: Occasionally
  • Tour of Duty: Flexible
  • Recruitment Incentives: May be Authorized
  • Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA): Non-Exempt
  • Financial Disclosure: Not Required
  • Telework Eligibility: This position is SITUATIONALLY telework eligible
  • Incumbent may be required to perform travel from 5-10 nights per quarter or longer, if necessary, CONUS and OCONUS.
  • Member must be willing and able to travel on military and commercial aircraft, vessels, and/or vehicles.
  • Employee must obtain/maintain a Special Sensitive (Top Secret/SCI) security clearance
  • Drug Testing Designated Position: Yes
  • Incumbent may be occasionally required to work other than normal duty hours including evenings, weekends, and holidays, and will be compensated within the scope/guidelines of government civilian employment.

Qualifications

You may qualify at the GS-13, if you fulfill the following qualifications:

One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 grade level in the Federal service:

  • Conducting joint wargame or operational level exercise planning and analysis, including joint planning processes and a range of qualitative and quantitative analytical methods and techniques;
  • Understanding joint concept development processes and procedures to lead joint wargaming events that provide a rigorous environment to measure and assess joint war fighting concepts and their ways and means;
  • Applying experimentation theory, methodology, design, planning, execution, and analysis to effectively prepare wargame plans including scenario, red and white cells, and adjudication methods for execution of a wargame event;
  • Developing, compiling, editing, and presenting event plans and scenario products to senior leadership and other participants to prepare and present formal scenario, game play rules, and experiment briefings;
  • Communicating and interacting with both senior leaders (GOFO/SES) and other senior personnel (O-5/O-6/GS14-15) to communicate scenario plans, expectations, and results.
You may qualify at the GS-12, if you fulfill the following qualifications:

One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level in the Federal service
  • Conducting program management and analysis; applying current operational environment and joint capabilities; departmental and stakeholder organization policies and processes governing joint warfare development, DoD principles, concepts, policies, regulations, procedures, and best practices for joint warfare development, joint wargaming, analysis and capability development;
  • Applying joint wargame or operational level exercise planning and analysis, including joint planning processes qualitative and/or quantitative analytical methods and techniques;
  • Understanding joint concept development processes and procedures to support joint wargaming events that provide a rigorous environment to measure and assess joint war fighting concepts and their ways and means;
  • Preparing a wide range of qualitative and quantitative analytical methods and techniques for the assessment and improvement of program effectiveness and complex management processes and systems;
  • Recognizing the operational level of war, joint military operations, global geopolitical situations, and foreign military operations to develop and conduct relevant and effective wargames.
Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.


Substitution of education may not be used in lieu of specialized experience for this grade level.

Education

This job does not have an education qualification requirement.

Additional information

Veterans Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA): To be eligible for a VEOA appointment under Merit Promotion procedures, the veteran must be a preference eligible or a veteran separated after 3 years or more of continuous active service performed under honorable conditions.

Interagency Career Transition Assistance Programs: This program applies to employees who have been involuntarily separated from a Federal service position within the competitive service or Federal service employees whose positions have been deemed surplus or no longer needed. To receive selection priority for this position, you must: 1) meet ICTAP eligibility criteria; 2) be rated well-qualified for the position; Well qualified is defined as possessing the type and quality of experience that exceeds the positions minimum qualifications. and 3) submit the appropriate documentation to support your ICTAP eligibility. For more information: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/.

Noncompetitive Appointment Authorities: For more information on noncompetitive appointment authority eligibility requirements:
Persons with Disabilities - Schedule A
Special Hiring Authority for Veterans
Special Hiring Authority for Certain Military Spouses
Other Special Appointment Authorities - Subpart F
Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service (see https://www.sss.gov/register/)

The selecting official may choose to conduct interviews, and once the selection is made, you will receive a notification of the decision.
NOTE: Declining to be interviewed or failure to report for a scheduled interview will be considered as a declination for further consideration for employment against this vacancy.

Selective Service Requirement: Please visit http://www.sss.gov for more information.

For more information, please visit

https://www.dla.mil/Portals/104/Documents/Careers/downloads/DoDGenAppInfo%2012-1-2020.pdf?ver=ECNbdsHtGilTd3OENN4A0Q%3d%3d

Other Notes:

Re-employed Annuitant: This position DOES NOT meet criteria for re-employed annuitant. The DoD criteria for hiring Re-employed Annuitants can be found at: https://www.esd.whs.mil/Portals/54/Documents/DD/issuances/140025/140025_vol300.PDF?ver=LQ7feWw-8-5DI2tceUpmgA%3d%3d


This position is subject to an initial drug screening, and random testing thereafter. A negative drug test result must be received by HR within 30 calendar days after the EOD (i.e., start date). The selectee's inability successfully pass; or refusal to conduct the test may result in: 1) the tentative or FJO being withdrawn during the recruitment process; or 2) subsequently being removed from Federal service for failure to meet a condition of employment.
You may be required to sign a "Drug Test Statement of Understanding" if you are selected for this position.

Status candidates must meet time-in-grade requirements (52 weeks at the next lower grade level).

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Once the application process is complete, your resume and supporting documentation will be used to determine whether you meet the job qualifications listed on this announcement. If you are minimally qualified for this job, your resume and supporting documentation will be compared to your responses on the Occupational Questionnaire. If you rate yourself higher than is supported by your application materials, your responses may be adjusted and/or you may be excluded from consideration for this job. If you are found to be among the top candidates, you will be referred to the selecting official for employment consideration. Your qualifications will be evaluated on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities and other characteristics):

Competencies:

  • Attention to Detail
  • Customer Service
  • Decision Making
  • Flexibility
  • Integrity/Honesty
  • Interpersonal Skills
  • Learning
  • Reading Comprehension
  • Reasoning
  • Self-Management
  • Stress Tolerance
  • Teamwork


Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP):This program applies to employees who have been involuntarily separated from a Federal service position within the competitive service or Federal service employees whose positions have been deemed surplus or no longer needed. To receive selection priority for this position, you must: 1) meet ICTAP eligibility criteria AND 2) be rated well-qualified for the position AND 3) submit the appropriate documentation to support your ICTAP eligibility. Well-qualified means you possess the type and quality of experience that exceeds the position's minimum qualifications.

Priority Placement Program (PPP) DoD Retained Grade Preference (RGP): To receive this preference, you must choose to apply using the (RGP) eligibility. If you are claiming RGP and are determined to be Well Qualified for the position, you will be referred to the hiring manager as a priority applicant.

Priority Placement Program, DoD Military Reserve (MR) and National Guard (NG) Technician Eligible (PPP DoD MRNG):In order to receive this preference, you must choose the (PPP DoD MRNG) eligibility, and fill out and submit the Military Reserve and National Guard Technician PPP Self-Certification Checklist and copies of the appropriate documentation.

Priority Placement Program, DoD Military Spouse Preference (MSP) (PPP MSP): In order to receive this preference, you must choose to apply using the(MSP) (PPP MSP) eligibility. If you are claiming MSP (PPP MSP) and are determined to be Well Qualified (score of 85 or above) for the position, you will be referred to the hiring manager as a priority applicant.

Organization of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

Mission Statement: Joint Staff J-7, in support of the Chairman, trains, educates, develops, designs and adapts the globally integrated, partnered, joint force to achieve overmatch in the continuum of conflict in competition and crisis under conditions of accelerating change in the character of war.

Agency contact information

JCS Servicing team
Phone
614-692-2646
Email
DHRS-D-JCS@dla.mil
Address
Joint Chiefs of Staff
Joint Staff
Pentagon
Washington, DC 20318
US

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https://www.jcs.mil/

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