Policy Analyst Principal

About the role

SAIC is seeking a Policy Analyst to support the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) at Fort Belvoir, VA. This full‑time, on‑site role is vital to advancing DTRA's mission to counter and deter Weapons of Mass Destruction (CWMD) and emerging threats by providing strategic planning support, operational expertise, and security cooperation execution across Combatant Commands (CCMDs), interagency partners, and international counterparts. The candidate will assist in developing, refining, and implementing policies, strategies, and plans related to CWMD missions, with an emphasis on planning, joint operations, and security cooperation.

Responsibilities

• Develop joint strategic and operational plans to counter WMD threats, including nuclear, biological, chemical, and radiological threats, and address emerging challenges in support of DTRA and CCMD missions.
• Assist with plans assessment and revision processes, ensuring alignment with national and DoD guidance.
• Draft and assess policy documents, white papers, decision memoranda, and operational plans focused on contingency planning, campaign planning, and counterproliferation initiatives.
• Advise DTRA and CCMD partners on CWMD operational and strategic planning by providing subject‑matter expertise during plan development, mission analysis, and exercises.
• Prepare and deliver policy‑relevant briefings, reports, and presentations to diverse audiences, including senior DoD officials, CCMD planners, and interagency representatives.
• Attend, document, and contribute to strategic planning meetings, CWMD‑focused working groups, and cross‑functional exercises.
• Plan and document the outcomes of meetings, ensuring actionable recommendations and task tracking.
• Conduct in‑depth research and analysis on CWMD‑related threats, trends, and best practices.
• Identify and mitigate capability or policy gaps and provide actionable recommendations to support DTRA’s mission of CWMD.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree and 10 years of experience; master’s degree highly preferred (additional experience may be considered in lieu of a degree).
• Relevant experience in national security, strategy, joint planning, analysis, and assessments within the Defense or Federal Government sectors.
• Active DoD Secret security clearance with the ability to obtain and maintain a Top‑Secret clearance.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with a proven ability to produce polished, client‑ready documentation, briefings, and comprehensive reports.
• Experience in research, writing, and analysis, including development of professional reports, briefings, and policy‑relevant documents.
• Proficiency with the MS Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
• Strong organizational and time‑management skills, with the ability to handle competing priorities in a dynamic, high‑pressure environment.
• Demonstrated experience supporting CWMD operations, planning, or policy at a CCMD, DTRA, DoD agency, or similar organization.
• Understanding of the policy and planning frameworks for nuclear, biological, chemical, and radiological threats.

Desired Qualifications

• Prior experience working with DTRA, within a Combatant Command, or another CWMD‑focused military or government organization.
• Previous participation in planning, intelligence, or strategic‑level operational assessments related to CWMD scenarios.
• Experience supporting operational or strategic‑level planning efforts related to nuclear, chemical, biological, radiological, or emerging WMD threats.
• Familiarity with CCMD exercise planning, including scenario development, execution, and post‑exercise analysis.
• Hands‑on experience with Task Management Tracker (TMT) or similar task‑management tools.
• Active Top‑Secret security clearance with SCI eligibility.

Pay

Target salary range $120,001 – $160,000.

Schedule

• Full‑Time
• Day shift
• Travel: Yes – 10% of the time
• Potential for remote work: On‑site