Strategic Plans and Communications Analyst (Senior) in Arlington, Virginia at Nextstep Technology Inc

The Strategic Plans and Communications Analyst provides senior-level strategic planning and strategic communications support to Army National Guard Air and Space division leadership. This position directly supports the development, synchronization, transformation, and long-term management of the ARNG Aviation Enterprise at the national level.

The successful candidate will advise senior leaders (Colonel and General Officer level) and translate Department of Defense, Army, Joint, and ARNG strategies into actionable, measurable plans that guide aviation force structure, modernization, readiness, and resource decisions.

Key Responsibilities

The Contractor shall:

• Develop strategic plans and strategic communications supporting ARNG Aviation enterprise transformation and management.
• Create decision briefings, informational presentations, position papers, and senior-leader correspondence for ARNG-AV leadership.
• Articulate ARNG Aviation equities in Defense, Joint, Army, and Reserve Component forums, conferences, and working groups.
• Propose and manage ARNG Aviation strategic communications plans for approval by ARNG, NGB leadership, and NGB Legislative Liaison for submission to Congress.
• Support Army Transformation Initiative, Large Scale Ground Combat Operations (LSGCO), Aviation Force Updates, Aviation OPR initiatives, and Future Modernization Platforms.
• Develop and analyze alternative ARNG Aviation restructuring and modernization plans; assess feasibility, value, and impacts.
• Analyze readiness strategies, sustainable readiness implementation, and transitions to organizational-based readiness models.
• Conduct force structure, personnel, equipping, training, and modernization analyses with quantitative and qualitative methods.
• Assess impacts of budget reductions and develop mitigation courses of action.
• Prepare articles and communications for professional publications, Annual Program Guidance, and newsletters (AAAA).
• Facilitate strategic communication venues, executive councils, dashboards, seminars, and town halls.
• Maintain historical records and reference materials in designated collaboration platforms (e.g., MS Teams).
• Coordinate across ARNG, Army, Joint Staff, OSD, and Aviation Enterprise stakeholders.
• Support crisis response operations, including ARNG Crisis Response Cell (CRC) and Crisis Action Team (CAT).
• Draft and coordinate senior-leader correspondence and congressional responses.
• Perform Internal Control Evaluator (ICE) duties in support of Risk Management and Internal Control Programs.
• Facilitate strategic communication venues, executive councils, dashboards, seminars,and town halls.atforms (e.g., FARA, FLRAA).

Required Qualifications

Security Clearance: Top Secret (Required); SCI Eligibility

• Lieutenant Colonel (O-5) level experience or equivalent civilian expertise
• Masters Degree; (Senior Service College Preferred; “War College”)
• Senior staff experience at Joint Staff, HQDA, ASCC, Corps, NGB, or equivalent organizations
• Active Top Secret clearance (mandatory)
• Proven ability to translate strategy into executable plans, policies, and guidance
• Strong written and oral communication skills suitable for General Officer, Director Army National Guard; Chief, National Guard Bureau and CJCS level audiences
• Direct experience with Army or Joint aviation operations (fixed-wing and rotary-wing)
• Working knowledge of:
  • Army Aviation 2032 and Future Force Design
  • Large Scale Ground Combat Operations
  • GFTAA and force design updates
  • Aviation force structure, manning, equipping, and modernization
• In-depth understanding of:
  • Army Transformation Initiative 1.0 (ATI)
  • The Army Plan (TAP)
  • Army Strategic Planning Guidance (ASPG)
  • Army Planning Priorities Guidance (APPG)
  • Army Program Guidance Memorandum (APGM)
  • Army Campaign Plan (ACP)
• Knowledge of Joint and Army planning systems, including:
  • Joint Strategic Planning System (JSPS)
  • Joint Operations Planning
  • Planning, Programming, Budgeting, and Execution (PPBE)
• ARNG-specific expertise, including:
  • Title10 and Title 32 authorities
  • Reserve Component management
  • Reserve Component Transformation Campaign Plan

Desired Qualifications

• Senior Service College Graduate (National Defense University)
• Joint Staff, Army Staff, Combatant Command level experience
• Experience engaging with Congress or legislative liaison activities
• Familiarity with DAMO-AV, Army Secretariat, HQDA G-Staff and Joint Staff
• Quantitative analysis experience using probability and statistical methods
• Experience supporting domestic operations and Defense Support to Civil Authorities (DSCA)

Deliverables

The position supports delivery of multiple formal products including strategic plans, modernization analyses, readiness assessments, senior-leader correspondence, dashboards, seminars, and approved communications (Deliverables 14–18, 22–25).