Subject Matter Expert (Joint Special Operations)

About the role

The Subject Matter Expert (Joint Special Operations) provides high-level expertise in joint operations, SOF mission planning, and Mission Command Exercise development. The role supports the design, coordination, and execution of training exercises that prepare SOF units for joint operational environments.

Responsibilities

• Support planning, research, development, coordination, and execution of Mission Command Exercises focused on TSOC and JSOTF mission sets.
• Provide expert analysis and operational insight into joint special operations, campaign planning, and SOF integration.
• Apply knowledge of strategic guidance, national defense strategy, and operational campaign design to scenario development.
• Develop exercise scenarios, injects, vignettes, and decision points based on real-world joint SOF operations and threats.
• Advise training audience participants on joint force integration, mission command principles, operational design, and SOF/Joint interdependence.
• Conduct detailed research on SOF missions, irregular warfare, intelligence integration, and joint planning processes to inform exercise realism.
• Integrate joint doctrine, joint operational planning processes (JOPP), and SOF-specific capabilities into all phases of exercise development.
• Collaborate with exercise planners, analysts, mission command leaders, and other SMEs to ensure functional alignment and accuracy.
• Participate in exercise control (EXCON), providing real-time guidance, adjudication, and operational mentorship.
• Support post-exercise analysis through after-action reviews, lessons learned products, and recommendations for future training improvements.
• Maintain awareness of emerging SOF capabilities, strategic environment trends, and advanced irregular warfare concepts.
• Ensure all activities adhere to DoD security policies and classification requirements.

Requirements

• Security Clearance: Active Secret clearance required
• Bachelor’s degree
• Required Qualifications:
• Graduate of one of the following: U.S. Army Special Forces Officer Qualifying Course, U.S. Army Military Information Support Officers Qualifying Course, U.S. Army Civil Affairs Officer Qualifying Course, U.S. Army Military Intelligence Officer Basic Leader Course (or other service equivalent)
• Graduate of a U.S. military officer intermediate or senior service school
• Minimal Background/Experience Required: Minimum two years of Special Operations Forces headquarters staff experience performing joint operations, one year experience researching, planning, preparing, coordinating, and executing Mission Command Exercises focused on TSOC/JSOTF scenarios
• Additional Desired Qualifications/Experience/Characteristics: Completion of JSOU (or equivalent) courses such as Irregular Warfare Applied Intelligence Course, Joint Civil-Military Operations Campaign Planning Workshop, SOF Resource Management Course, Irregular Warfare Advanced Course, Knowledge Of: National Security Strategy and National Military Strategy, Joint Operating Environment, Strategic national guidance and its relationship to operational and tactical planning, Differences between regular and irregular intelligence support, armed groups, and irregular movements