Senior Action Officer in Arlington, Virginia at Anser

Position Overview:

ANSER is seeking an Action Officer to support the Office of the Director of Administration and Management (ODA&M) Front Office within the Office of the Secretary of War (OSW). In this role, you will provide strategic policy, management, and organizational support to senior Department of War (DoW) leadership, helping drive high-priority initiatives that enhance the administrative and operational effectiveness of OSW. You will serve as a trusted advisor on complex management issues, coordinate cross-functional efforts, and develop executive-level products that support informed decision-making across the Department.

Day-to-Day Responsibilities:

• Support the development, review, and implementation of policies related to administration, management, governance, resource allocation, and organizational effectiveness within OSW.
• Conduct policy research, gap analyses, and risk assessments to support senior leader decision-making.
• Serve as the primary action officer for assigned portfolios and coordinate activities across multiple functional areas.
• Track, coordinate, and resolve complex issues involving human resources, financial management, logistics, security, and information management stakeholders.
• Prepare executive-level staff packages, briefing materials, decision papers, and correspondence for senior DoW leadership.
• Represent ODA&M in departmental, interagency, and external working groups, committees, and task forces.
• Coordinate with OSW offices, Military Departments, Defense Agencies, and external stakeholders to ensure policy alignment and consistency.
• Provide direct policy and management support on sensitive and time-critical initiatives.
• Draft memoranda, directives, congressional responses, and other official correspondence.
• Monitor implementation and effectiveness of approved policies and programs and recommend improvements to enhance efficiency, effectiveness, and compliance.
• Develop performance metrics and conduct evaluations to assess organizational outcomes and program effectiveness.
• Lead or support special projects, policy reviews, organizational studies, and contingency planning efforts as directed by senior leadership.

Required Qualifications:

• Active Top Secret security clearance with eligibility for Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI) access.
• Masters degree and 15+ years of experience supporting Department of War organizations, defense policy development, administration, management, or related functions.
• 12+ years of experience supporting or working within the Office of the Secretary of War.
• Demonstrated knowledge of DoW and OSW organizational structures, policies, priorities, and strategic objectives.
• Experience supporting senior military and civilian leaders within OSW, the Military Departments, Defense Agencies, or other federal organizations.
• Experience conducting policy analysis, strategic planning, organizational assessments, or decision-support activities.
• Experience developing executive-level briefings, staff packages, decision memoranda, and official correspondence.
• Experience coordinating initiatives and resolving issues across multiple organizational and functional stakeholders.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Teams.
• Demonstrated experience supporting operational improvement efforts and utilizing performance management or decision-support tools.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Active Top Secret/Sensitive Compartmented Information (TS/SCI) clearance.
• Demonstrated written and verbal communication skills with the ability to present complex information to senior leaders.
• Experience building and maintaining productive relationships with military and civilian stakeholders across multiple organizations.
• Ability to work independently and anticipate leadership requirements while managing competing priorities.
• Demonstrated ownership of projects and initiatives from planning through execution and transition.
• Experience leading cross-functional teams and coordinating high-visibility initiatives.
• Strong interpersonal skills and professional judgment when supporting senior executives and leadership teams.