Foreign Emergency Support Team (FEST) | GS-15/6 Equivalent

Location: Rosslyn, Virginia | 25% Travel: CONUS and OCONUS, including high threat/high-risk locations

Client: U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Diplomatic Security, High Threat Programs Directorate, Office of Special Programs (DS/HTP/SP)

Reports to: Senior Program Manager for Operations; receives FEST J5/7 direction and planning guidance for exercises.

Position Summary

Makwa Security Solutions, LLC seeks a Program Manager for Operations/Exercise Planning to serve as one of three program managers supporting the Foreign Emergency Support Team (FEST). FEST coordinates and executes worldwide deployments to advise and assist Chiefs of Mission and host-nation governments responding to terrorism incidents, significant threats, weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) incidents, and foreign incident or consequence management requirements.

Under the direction of the Senior Program Manager for Operations, the incumbent plans and coordinates FEST operations, readiness exercises, interagency engagement, logistics, and administrative support. The role develops scenario-based exercises from concept through execution, strengthens operational readiness, and supports U.S. diplomatic personnel and national security objectives overseas.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

• Plan, design, coordinate, and execute FEST operational and readiness activities as directed by the Senior Program Manager for Operations.

• Build and sustain relationships with Department of State, Department of Defense (DoD), and interagency counterparts to improve planning, analysis, and emergency-response coordination.

• Participate in interagency working groups, support coordination of U.S. Government policies and programs, and brief FEST leadership on outcomes and implications.

• Prepare and deliver senior-level briefings on response policies, coordination procedures, and operational approaches; train Chiefs of Mission, Regional Security Officers, post security officers, and other post personnel in crisis-response coordination.

• Serve with the Senior Program Manager as a lead interagency planner for Joint Staff ELLIPSE exercises and attend Joint Exercise Life Cycle (JELC) events, including planning conferences, site surveys, scripting conferences, and execution events; participate in the Joint Exercise Control Group (JECG).

• Develop realistic scenarios and supporting materials depicting incidents requiring FEST deployment for ELLIPSE and other operationally essential exercises or training events.

• Assist Regional Security Officers and overseas posts with major full-field exercises involving DoD units, host-nation participants, and interagency partners.

• Develop and deliver initial and advanced training curricula for post personnel, host-nation partners, Department personnel, and the interagency community.

• Maintain an active FEST lessons-learned process and contribute to a central repository of Diplomatic Security after-action reviews to improve planning, training, organization, and operations.

• Coordinate and monitor movement and logistics, including ground and air transport, equipment shipment, courier services, vehicle support, documentation, scheduled air support, and personnel support from other U.S. Government agencies.

Makwa Security Solutions, LLC • FEST Program

• Support FEST exercise planners; liaise with DoD and interagency partners to coordinate, facilitate, and verify training; follow FEST J5/7 exercise direction and planning guidance.

Exercise Planning and Travel Demands

ELLIPSE planning may include at least three planning conferences (typically 3–5 days each), three site surveys/visits (typically 3–5 days each), a scripting conference (approximately 7–10 days), and an exercise execution cycle (approximately 10–21 days). Short-notice domestic and international temporary duty travel may be required, including extended assignments in austere or dangerous environments with limited amenities. Minimum 25% of the time is travel.

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience, with at least three years of experience supporting comparable counterterrorism programs.

• Ten years of experience in strategy development and/or operational planning.

• At least three years of experience at senior levels of the Department of State, DoD, DOJ, Intelligence Community, DHS, or an equivalent organization, including analytical products and engagement with general/flag officer-equivalent senior leaders.

• Expert knowledge of Department of State, DoD, and interagency missions, organizational relationships, and their roles in FEST operations.

• Knowledge of Presidential Policy Directives or similar policy frameworks, particularly PPD-1, PPD-25, and PPD-30.

• Knowledge of applicable authorities, domestic and international laws, agency roles, and logistics coordination for FEST mission execution.

• Understanding of intra-agency and interagency crisis-response planning and execution, including coordination with U.S. Government, private-sector, and foreign partners.

• Excellent oral and written communication, policy interpretation, liaison, briefing, reporting, and recommendation-development skills.

• Ability to establish operational plans and policy objectives, advise senior leaders, and build effective relationships across military, civilian, government, and contractor organizations.

• Ability and willingness to undertake short-notice CONUS/OCONUS travel to high-risk or austere locations for extended periods.

• Valid personal passport with at least 9 months remaining validity.

Desired Qualifications

• Master’s degree in any field.

• Advanced planning education equivalent to JPME II, SAMS/SAW, or BSAP.

• Experience serving on a Special Operations Forces staff and working with interagency organizations.

• Five years of senior-level experience in State, DoD, DOJ, IC, DHS, or equivalent organizations, including direct involvement with U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM) or Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC).

• Extensive experience briefing and engaging General Officers, Senior Foreign Service officers, or Senior Executive Service leaders.

• Demonstrated advanced writing skills, including published articles, studies, or substantive analytical reports.

• Recent subject-matter expertise within the FBI Counterterrorism Division or Weapons of Mass Destruction Directorate; overseas Legal Attaché experience is highly desirable.

Security Clearance and Access Requirements

• Active Top Secret clearance with Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI) eligibility at assignment start; maintain all government-required clearance levels throughout contract performance.

• Access to SCI and other controlled or classified information, including SAP, NATO, FOUO, and Focal Point material, as authorized and required by the government.

• Ability to use authorized government-facility networks and systems, including OPENET, CLASSNET, FP//ACCM, JWICS, and SAP systems, subject to applicable approvals and access controls.

• Potential requirement for Special Access Program (SAP) access at government discretion.

• Eligibility for COR-approved designation to transport or courier classified information up to Top Secret and use secure communications equipment in performance of official duties.

This position description summarizes principal duties and qualifications and is not intended to limit other duties assigned in support of contract requirements.