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JOINT STRATEGIC PLANNER

Department of Defense
Organization of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
Staff Strategic Plans & Policy Directorate (J-5)

Summary

This position is part of the Organization of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The incumbent will be responsible for all matters pertaining to contingency plan development, plan review and assessment, collaboration, and global defense posture.

Overview

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Accepting applications
Posted today · Apply by 06/15/26
Due by 11:59 p.m. ET on June 15, 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
$143,913 - $187,093 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 14
Promotion potential
None
Pay scale and grade determines the salary of the job.
Work schedule
Full-time
Travel Required
Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Appointment type
Term - Not to Exceed 18 Months - with the option to extend and the ability to convert to a permanent billet without further competition
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-26-12977047-DE
Control number
871972700

Duties

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As a JOINT STRATEGIC PLANNER at the GS-0301-14 some of your typical work assignments may include:

  • Being a recognized expert in formulating Joint Staff positions on the Contingency Planning Guidance (CPG), the Guidance for Employment of the Force (GEF), the Joint Strategic Campaign Plan (JSCP) and coordination of Global Defense Posture (GDP).
  • Assisting in the preparation of Congressional testimony and other senior military members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) on matters of national strategy, contingency plans, and global posture.
  • Collaborating closely with the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD), the Services, and the Combatant Commands (CCMD).
  • Providing military decision makers with authoritative information forming the basis for decisions affecting current and future military strategy, plans, force employment, posture, and Joint Force options to mitigate strategic and military risk.
  • Serving as a senior Joint Operational War planner, applying systematic analysis methods in order to assess war plans and global posture.
  • Managing inputs and contributions to diverse strategy and plan development cycles and reviews for the Combatant Commands, Services, Defense Agencies, and other departments and agencies of the United States government.

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 http://www.sss.gov
  • 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): Exempt
  • Financial Disclosure: Not Required
  • Telework Eligibility: This position is SITUATIONAL telework eligible
  • Term Appointment not to exceed 18 months with the option to extend and the ability to convert to a permanent billet without further competition.
  • This is a drug testing designated position.
  • Work may require local and international travel via military or commercial aircraft.
  • Security: Must be able to obtain and maintain a Top-Secret security clearance with access to Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI).

Qualifications

You may qualify at the GS-14, if you fulfill the following qualifications:

A. One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-13 grade level in the Federal service:

  • Performing advanced strategic analysis, military risk assessment, and joint planning integration;
  • Conducting studies evaluating strategic and military risk, providing senior leaders with analysis that inform priorities, resource decisions, and operational concepts;
  • Monitoring developments across the U.S. Military, U.S. Government, and global security environment to identify emerging threats and recommend risk-mitigation actions aligning with strategic objectives and operational planning;
  • Integrating strategic and operational planning across functional and geographic areas and collaborating extensively with Office Secretary of Defense, Joint Staff, Combatant Commands or other agencies on contingency plan development, review, assessment, and global defense posture

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.

Education

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

Additional information

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.

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

All applicants must meet qualifications and eligibility criteria by the closing date of the announcement.

Interagency Career Transition Assistance Programs (
ICTAP eligibility): 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/

Priority Placement Program (PPP) DoD Retained Grade Preference (RGP): In order to receive this preference, you must choose to apply using the "Priority Placement Program, DoD Retained Grade Preference (RGP)" eligibility. If you are claiming RGP 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. Information and required documentation for claiming MSP may be found at the General Applicant Information and Definitions link below. To be eligible as a RGP, you must submit the following supporting documents with your application package: a signed Retained Grade PPP Self-Certification Checklist (DD3145-1 (whs.mil)); a copy of your Notification of Personnel Action (SF-50) effecting the placement in retained grade status; or a copy of the notification letter you received regarding the RIF or classification downgrade.

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.

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.

We will review your resume and supporting documents, to ensure you meet the basic qualification requirements. We will evaluate each applicant who meets the minimum qualifications on the information provided and evaluate your relevant work experiences as it relates to fundamental competencies, identified below, required for this position.

Competencies:

  • Communication
  • Influencing/Negotiating
  • Planning and Evaluating
  • Problem Solving
  • Strategic Thinking


A list of qualified applicants will be created and sent to the selecting official. All applicants reviewed and/or referred will receive a notification letter.

Based on the results of this evaluation, you will be placed in one of the following quality categories:

Best Qualified:
This highest category will be used for those candidates who possess the type and quality of experience that substantially exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position, including any selective placement factors and/or appropriate quality ranking factor(s), as determined by the job analysis.
Highly Qualified: This higher category will be used for those candidates who possess the type and quality of experience that exceed the minimum qualifications of the position, including any selective placement factors and/or appropriate quality ranking factor(s) as determined by the job analysis.
Qualified: This lowest category will be used for those candidates that meet the minimum qualifications of the position, including all selective placement factors and appropriate quality ranking factor(s) and are proficient in some, but not all, of the requirements of the position. Candidates may require extensive training and/or orientation in order to satisfactorily perform the duties of the position. https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/hiring-information/competitive-hiring/#url=Category-Rating

Names of the candidates in the Best Qualified category will be sent first to the hiring manager for employment consideration. Applicants in other categories will be referred in accordance with category rating procedures.

Veterans Preference:
If you are entitled to veterans preference, you should indicate the type of veterans' preference you are claiming on your resume. Your veterans' preference entitlement will be verified by the employing agency. If you are entitled to veterans' preference and qualified for the position, your name will be placed above non-preference candidates on a list sent to the hiring manager for employment consideration. Qualified veterans' preference eligible with a service-connected disability of 10% or more will be listed at the top of the highest quality category depending on the position and grade level of the job.
For information on entitlement seeFeds Hire Vets - Job Seekers - Veterans.

As required by 5 C.F.R. § 302.106., DLA will provide Section 508 conformant ICT to employees with disabilities. All ICT interfaces with the public related to vacancy announcements and career transition opportunities must conform to the applicable requirements in the current ICT Standards and Guidelines (36 C.F.R. § 1194).

Organization of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

The J-5 (Directorate for Strategy Plans and Policy) proposes strategies, plans, and policy recommendations to the CJCS (Chairman of the Joints Chiefs of Staff) to support the provision of "military advice" across the full spectrum of national security concerns to the President and other national leaders and to ensure those recommendations are informed by a larger strategic context coordinated with interagency and alliance partners, account for the view and requirements of the combatant commanders, and assess risk in executing the National Military Strategy.

Agency contact information

DE Applicant Inquiries
Email
DEApplicantInquiries@dla.mil
Address
Joint Chiefs of Staff
Joint Staff
Pentagon
Washington, DC 20318
US

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http://www.jcs.mil/

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