Senior Strategy, Plans, Exercises, and Policy Planner (CENTCOM Public Affairs Directorate)
Tampa, FL
Full Time
Experienced
Opportunity: Senior Strategy, Plans, Exercises & Policy Planner
Bottom Line Up Front: Hoplite Group is seeking Strategy, Plans, and Policy Planners to support contracted services for the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) Public Affairs Directorate (CCPA). This contract will include executing communication strategies and ensuring accurate, timely information to U.S. and regional audiences. It will employ digital tools to monitor, collect, translate, and analyze traditional and social media across CENTCOM’s 21-nation area of responsibility, supporting senior leader decision-making, correcting misinformation, and aiding counter-propaganda efforts. Services will include strategic communication planning, media engagement, crisis response, training, and quality assurance. The Strategy, Plans, and Policy Planner team will consist of four (4) planners: one Master-level Planner and three Senior-level Planners. These planners will be assigned portfolios in the Middle East, Levant, Central Asia, and Special Missions/Other, subject to changes by the CCPA Director. These areas will always align with the CENTCOM Area of Operations (AOR).
Location: The primary place of performance is at HQ CENTCOM, MacDill AFB. Other anticipated work may include TBD locations within the Continental United States (CONUS) or at locations within the CENTCOM Area of Responsibility. Continuity of Operations: As specified by the Command’s COOP instruction and as determined by the CCPA Director, be prepared to deploy toalternate site COOP locations to support the headquarters response to an imminent threat or in response to an emergency (e.g., natural disasters).
Travel: CENTCOM Hosts/Leads at least seven (7) major exercises per year and oversees over 40 exercises between its exercises and its components. The CENTCOM exercises are held in the CONUS, and OCONUS, specifically, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Kazakhstan, and Jordan. The component exercises are held in: Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Jordan, Egypt, Bahrain, United Arab Emirates, Kazakhstan, Egypt, Lebanon, and Israel. Travel can include travel both inside and outside of the CENTCOM Area of Operations. Throughout the Joint Exercise Life Cycle (JELC), Planners will be required to travel to one or more of the CENTCOM-hosted planning conferences in support of the exercise.
Level of Effort: Full-time
Availability: Anticipate Spring-Summer 2026 start date. Personnel will be expected to be present from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, excluding Federal holidays. Situations may require extended hours of operations, to include military exercises, contingency operations, or weather emergencies.
Objective: Execute the following job responsibilities in support of the CENTCOM Public Affairs Directorate:
Deliverables:
General Requirements:
All contractor personnel will be responsible for the following tasks, actions, and processes:
Qualifications & Skills:
Bottom Line Up Front: Hoplite Group is seeking Strategy, Plans, and Policy Planners to support contracted services for the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) Public Affairs Directorate (CCPA). This contract will include executing communication strategies and ensuring accurate, timely information to U.S. and regional audiences. It will employ digital tools to monitor, collect, translate, and analyze traditional and social media across CENTCOM’s 21-nation area of responsibility, supporting senior leader decision-making, correcting misinformation, and aiding counter-propaganda efforts. Services will include strategic communication planning, media engagement, crisis response, training, and quality assurance. The Strategy, Plans, and Policy Planner team will consist of four (4) planners: one Master-level Planner and three Senior-level Planners. These planners will be assigned portfolios in the Middle East, Levant, Central Asia, and Special Missions/Other, subject to changes by the CCPA Director. These areas will always align with the CENTCOM Area of Operations (AOR).
Location: The primary place of performance is at HQ CENTCOM, MacDill AFB. Other anticipated work may include TBD locations within the Continental United States (CONUS) or at locations within the CENTCOM Area of Responsibility. Continuity of Operations: As specified by the Command’s COOP instruction and as determined by the CCPA Director, be prepared to deploy toalternate site COOP locations to support the headquarters response to an imminent threat or in response to an emergency (e.g., natural disasters).
Travel: CENTCOM Hosts/Leads at least seven (7) major exercises per year and oversees over 40 exercises between its exercises and its components. The CENTCOM exercises are held in the CONUS, and OCONUS, specifically, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Kazakhstan, and Jordan. The component exercises are held in: Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Jordan, Egypt, Bahrain, United Arab Emirates, Kazakhstan, Egypt, Lebanon, and Israel. Travel can include travel both inside and outside of the CENTCOM Area of Operations. Throughout the Joint Exercise Life Cycle (JELC), Planners will be required to travel to one or more of the CENTCOM-hosted planning conferences in support of the exercise.
Level of Effort: Full-time
Availability: Anticipate Spring-Summer 2026 start date. Personnel will be expected to be present from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, excluding Federal holidays. Situations may require extended hours of operations, to include military exercises, contingency operations, or weather emergencies.
Objective: Execute the following job responsibilities in support of the CENTCOM Public Affairs Directorate:
- Lead planning processes for Joint Planning Teams and OPTs, focusing on Mission Analysis, COA Development, Wargaming, COA Comparison, and Decision.
- Provide situational awareness to ensure seamless transition from planning to execution.
- Support and contribute to exercises and operational planning efforts, working with USCENTCOM Component Commands,other Combatant Commands, and interagency partners.
- Provide recommendations to joint planning teams regarding planning, execution systems, and joint doctrine.
- Assist with the coordination of USCENTCOM strategies, plans, and policies within the CENTCOM AOR.
- Produce draft products for joint planning teams and working group approval, ensuring they align with USCENTCOM leadership priorities.
- Provide support for the development and coordination of public affairs strategies and products.
- Participate in CENTCOM’s B2C2WG as required, ensuring communication equities are accurately represented.
- Maintain situational awareness of CENTCOM's current and future priorities, ensuring timely coordination and integration of public affairs products.
- Develop and coordinate Public Affairs Guidance (PPAG), talking points (TPs), and other communication strategies to support CENTCOM’s operational plans.
- Establish functional relationships with CENTCOM directorates, such as J3, J5, and others, to ensure proper integration of public affairs elements in operational plans.
- Participate in CENTCOM’s B2C2WG organizational construct to track the integration of communication equities into planning efforts.
- Coordinate with internal and external stakeholders, including interagency and international partners, to ensure synchronization of information-related capabilities.
- Advise leadership on strategic and regional concerns and recommend solutions to enhance communication efforts.
- Ensure that all public affairs products are coordinated with higher Public Affairs authorities, subordinate commands, and other government entities for a cohesive communication approach.
- Provide crisis and contingency response support as directed by CCPA leadership.
- Support emergent 24/7 surge requirements during crises or unforeseen events.
- Maintain a TS/SCI clearance and comply with all travel and operational readiness requirements.
Deliverables:
- Exercise Planning and Execution:
- Develop, plan, and participate in CENTCOM’s exercise planning conferences, including Initial Planning Conferences (IPC), Main Planning Conferences (MPC), and Final Planning Conferences (FPC).
- Provide regular updates on exercise planning and coordination.
- Submit After-Action Reports (AAR) following exercises.
- Public Affairs Strategy and Communication Products:
- Develop and execute Public Affairs strategies.
- Write PPAG, TPs, and other communication products to support strategies and operational plans, including Public Affairs Annexes and contributions to USCENTCOM orders.
- Coordinate with the CCPA media team to tailor products for media execution.
- Public Affairs Crisis Response:
- Provide public affairs support for crisis response and other contingency efforts as directed by CCPA leadership.
General Requirements:
All contractor personnel will be responsible for the following tasks, actions, and processes:
- Information Gathering: search and collect data from diverse sources, including online platforms, databases, publications, and reports.
- Analysis: analyze the collected information to identify trends, patterns, and insights that may be valuable for theorganization. This will involve data analysis, content analysis, or other analytical techniques.
- Assessment of Credibility: evaluate the credibility and reliability of the information gathered to ensure that accurate andtrustworthy data is used for decision-making.
- Reporting: prepare reports, summaries, or presentations based on analysis to communicate findings to relevant stakeholders within the organization.
- Monitoring and Alerting: continuously monitor sources for new information relevant to the organization and set up alerts or notifications to ensure timely awareness of important developments.
- Risk Assessment: assess potential risks and opportunities based on the information gathered, helping the organization tomake informed decisions and mitigate potential threats.
- Collaboration: collaborate with other Specialists or departments within the organization to share insights and coordinate responses to emerging issues.
- Tool and Technology Utilization: stay updated on tools and technologies used for information gathering and analysis, suchas data mining software, social media monitoring tools, and analytical platforms.
- Stakeholder Engagement: engage with external stakeholders to exchange information, collaborate on analysis efforts, and build partnerships for mutual benefit.
- Legal and Ethical Compliance: ensure compliance with legal and ethical standards governing the collection and use ofpublicly and commercially available information, including privacy laws and intellectual property rights.
- Training and Development: provide training to colleagues on effective methods for gathering and analyzing publicly and commercially available information or contribute to the development of best practices within the organization.
- Crisis Response: During crisis situations or emergencies, provide real-time updates and analysis to support decision-making and response efforts.
- Quality Assurance: ensure the accuracy, relevance, and reliability of the information analyzed, employing rigorous quality assurance processes to maintain high standards of data integrity.
- Strategic Planning: participate in strategic planning processes by providing insights and recommendations based on the analysis of publicly and commercially available information, helping to shape the organization's goals and priorities.
Qualifications & Skills:
- Security Requirements: Must have a minimum TS/SCI clearance prior to Contract award. Interim clearances will not be considered acceptable.
- Graduate of one of the following programs: JAWS, SAMS, SAASS, SAW, MAWS, or Senior Service College equivalent
- A bachelor’s degree.
- At least 5 years of planning experience.
- Minimum of 3 years of planning experience at a Geographic or Functional Combatant Command Headquarters.
- At least 5 years of experience in an information-related area (PA, IO, KLE, CA).
- Preferably completed JPME I.
- Preferably have Corporate Marketing or communications experience.
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