USSOCOM J3 - Senior International Capability Development SME

About the role

Rigid Tactical is seeking highly qualified Senior International Capability Development Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) to support the USSOCOM J3-I Interoperability Branch.

Responsibilities

• Facilitate, support, coordinate, conduct research, analyze data, and draft feasible solutions and options leading to quantifiable improvements in PN SOF interoperability in accordance with existing security cooperation guidelines.
• Conduct deep-dive research, collect, and analyze data on PN SOF capabilities and gaps; draft and maintain a comprehensive PN SOF capability profile for each partner nation assigned to J3-I and with whom USSOCOM maintains a SOF Liaison Officer (SOLO).
• Support the formulation and development of specific interoperability objectives for J3-I assigned PN SOF.
• Draft and maintain detailed roadmaps that track the progress of each PN toward achieving their SOF Commander’s interoperability objectives.
• Draft inputs to and assist in PN SOF integration into future developmental working groups, experiments, and war-games.
• Career Development: Coordinate PN SOF participation in and inputs to existing J3-I interoperability programs, including Joint Staff J6 Bold Quest, Defense Information Systems Agency’s (DISA) Coalition Interoperability Assurance Validation (CIAV), and the Mission Partner Environment Working Group (MPEWG).
• Training & Exercises: Coordinate PN SOF participation in pre-mission training for ongoing operations; support and assist PN participation in U.S. exercises and training in accordance with their established training objectives and interoperability roadmaps.
• Tracking & Prioritization: Develop planning products to track USSOCOM and SOF Component exercises and Pre-Mission Training (PMT), coordinating Allied/Partner Nation (A/PN) participation in strict alignment with J3-I priorities.

Requirements

• Clearance: Active Top Secret / SCI clearance required.
• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution in International Relations, Political Science, National Security Studies, or a closely related field.
• Proven experience in force development, military education, defense institutional building, or large-scale exercise planning within a SOF environment.
• Graduate of a formal DOD security cooperation/planning program (e.g., DAU, JSOU, CGSC, or service-component SOF warfare courses).
• Minimum 15 years of combined military SOF and regional experience operating within joint, combined, and interagency environments.
• Demonstrated familiarity with joint and coalition interoperability programs (e.g., Bold Quest, CIAV, MPEWG).
• Direct experience managing or tracking security cooperation activities, cases, and alignment with U.S. defense acquisition mechanisms.