Chief Analyst, Force Design Planning and Programming

Chief Analyst, Force Design Planning and Programming

The United States Space Force (USSF) Headquarters Space Force Command (HQSF) Force Design and Analysis (S9) at The Pentagon is searching for a Chief Analyst, Force Design Planning and Programming. Description: Help shape the future United States Space Force as the Chief Analyst for Force Design Planning and Programming. In this high-impact role, you will turn objective-force concepts, mission needs, and emerging technologies into practical, affordable investment recommendations. You will lead the integration of planning, programming, and cost information across Force Design field elements; represent shared priorities during Planning and POM activities; and ensure recommendations are analytically sound, well-documented, and aligned to enterprise needs. This is an ideal opportunity for a resource professional who enjoys solving complex problems, connecting strategic vision to executable programs, and influencing the decisions that modernize space capabilities. Each day, you will research and analyze data, assess investment options and transition plans, develop cost-informed recommendations within constrained resources, and help resolve funding issues across the Future Years Defense Program. You will prepare POM inputs, budget forecasts, unfunded requirement justifications, narratives, offsets, disconnects, reclamas, issue papers, briefings, and senior-leader decision packages. Success requires strong Planning, Programming, Budgeting, and Execution experience; sound analytical judgment; comfort working independently in an evolving environment; and the ability to collaborate with headquarters staff, technical experts, acquisition organizations, and other stakeholders. Candidates who can communicate complex resource and force-design issues clearly, build consensus across competing priorities, and deliver timely, decision-ready products will thrive in this position.

Ideal Candidate: The ideal candidate will possess substantial experience in Department of Defense PPBE and requirements processes, with demonstrated ability to develop Program Objective Memorandum inputs, budget forecasts, unfunded requirements justifications, POM narratives, offsets, disconnects, reclamas, and issue papers. Candidates should have a strong background in force planning, programming, resource analysis, and investment costing; experience evaluating funding profiles and resolving resource issues across the Future Years Defense Program; and familiarity with acquisition and long-range planning for space capabilities. The candidate should also bring strong qualitative and quantitative analytical skills, an ability to translate complex data into defensible recommendations, and experience preparing senior-leader briefings, reports, and decision packages. Experience working across military headquarters, technical teams, and other stakeholders to negotiate complex issues and integrate competing priorities is highly desirable. The position description does not identify a specific education requirement. Ten (10) or more years working in DoD operations, acquisitions, budget, and/or staff with preference in classified/special program space experience is highly desirable.

Key Skills and Abilities:

• Knowledge of the Department of Defense Planning, Programming, Budgeting and Execution System (PPBE) and Requirements processes. Understanding of procedures and schedules for developing Program Objective Memorandum (POM) inputs as well as methods for developing budget forecasts, unfunded requirements justifications, POM narratives, offsets and disconnects, reclamas, and issue papers.
• Knowledge of military service program goals and objectives, the sequence and timing of key operational events and milestones, and methods of evaluating the effectiveness of planning actions as related to actual events.
• Knowledge of the relationship of the various military entities involved in overall planning and execution of military operations and evaluations and the methods in which the PPBE process supports them.
• Knowledge of a wide range of qualitative and/or quantitative methods for the assessment and improvement of Space Force systems such as: Space Domain Awareness; Offensive and Defensive Space Operations; Positioning, Navigations, and Timing; Intelligence, Surveillance & Reconnaissance; Satellite Communications; Environmental Monitoring; Missile Warning; Space Operations; and Spacelift; and associated mission operations, test & training, or acquisition.
• Ability to gather, assemble, and analyze facts, draw conclusions, conduct analysis, devise recommended solutions, and package the entire process in briefings, papers, or reports suitable for senior leader review and decision-making.
• Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing, negotiate complex issues, and maintain good working relations.