Irregular Warfare Program Manager

Systems Planning and Analysis, Inc. (SPA) delivers high-impact, technical solutions to complex national security issues. With over 50 years of business expertise and consistent growth, we are known for continuous innovation for our government customers, in both the US and abroad. Our exceptionally talented team is highly collaborative in spirit and practice, producing Results that Matter. Come work with the best! We offer opportunity, unique challenges, and clear-sighted commitment to the mission. SPA: Objective. Responsive. Trusted.  

The Joint, Office of the Secretary of Defense, Interagency Division provides expert support services to a range of customers spanning across the Department of Defense, Federal Civilian, and international markets. JOID provides a diverse portfolio of analytical and programmatic capabilities to help our customers make informed decisions on their most challenging issues.

The Acquisition and Technology Analysis Group within JOID specializes in the application of multi-disciplinary analytic skills to support multiple clients within the Department of Defense (DoD). These clients include the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering (OUSD(R&E)), Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment (OUSD(A&S)), DARPA, the Joint Staff, and USINDOPACOM.  SPA provides critical decision support to enabling and executing a strategy of technological superiority and enabling the delivery and sustainment of secure, resilient, and preeminent capabilities to the warfighter quickly and cost effectively. Our team of experienced military, technical, and operations research analysts is skilled in evaluating military problems, identifying the driving factors, devising innovative approaches, collecting applicable data, developing necessary software tools, and performing thorough and timely assessments to inform technology and acquisition governance decisions to ensure U.S. military forces retain military superiority in the future.

We have a near-term need for a Irregular Warfare Program Manager to provide onsite support out of the Pentagon.

The successful candidate will serve as the primary point-of-contact for program execution, driving efforts to maintain strategic alignment with Irregular Warfare (IW) objectives and Joint Force Development and Design (JFDD) principles. Responsibilities include overseeing the development, maintenance, and modification of IW implementation Lines of Effort (LOEs), ensuring timely delivery of reports and assessments for senior leadership. The Program Manager will coordinate IW-related seminars, workshops, and multinational exercises, translating findings into actionable recommendations for policy and doctrine updates. Additionally, the candidate will manage classified program deliverables, maintain relational databases tracking IW and hybrid threat-related studies, and support integration of capability assessments across DoD agencies, Combatant Commands, and allied partners. The Program Manager is expected to lead cross-functional teams, resolve resource allocation and mission execution challenges, and proactively address evolving priorities.

Required: 

• Bachelor’s degree or higher from an accredited institution.
• 12+ years of experience managing programs focused on Irregular Warfare (IW) assessments and integration activities, including strategic planning, foreign internal defense, counterterrorism, counterinsurgency, unconventional warfare, or stability operations.
• Strong expertise in delivering IW program outcomes aligned with Joint Force Development and Design principles.
• Ability to develop and implement solutions addressing IW governance issues and managing operational risks, including integrating IW activities into broader Joint Force frameworks.
• Active TS/SCI security clearance.
• Able to work fully onsite based on client needs.

Desired:

• Master’s degree or higher from an accredited institution
• Experience leading or supporting multinational exercises and strategic-level IW activities.
• Previous work within Combatant Commands (COCOMs) or other DoD IW-focused organizations.