Deputy Director of Plans and Policy

Quick Facts

• Role: Deputy Director of Plans and Policy (DJ5)

• Scope: Senior civilian executive for strategic operational plans and nuclear employment concepts

Description

The Deputy Director is responsible for ensuring strategic operational plans and nuclear employment concepts align with Title 10 and Title 50 of the U.S. Code, international law, and arms control treaties, while supporting democratic oversight through clear briefings to congressional and White House stakeholders. The role champions human-in-the-loop integrity by auditing AI/ML integrations within warning systems, balancing fail-safe sustainment of legacy platforms with rapid modernization across cyber and space. The Deputy Director manages an operational budget up to $9.2M and delivers integrated, timely, and credible multi-domain strategic options to the President.

Responsibilities

• Lead development and legal alignment of operational plans (OPLANs) and nuclear employment concepts

• Establish transparent communication channels with congressional committees, the White House, and defense oversight bodies

• Audit AI/ML integrations in warning systems to protect presidential decision-making authority

• Manage operational efficiency via risk management and modernization of kinetic and non-kinetic capabilities

• Execute budget oversight and streamline contract integration using performance-based benchmarks

• Apply advanced software, big data analytics, and cloud tools to automate administrative workflows

• Lead long-range intelligence-fusion efforts to anticipate adversary breakthroughs (e.g., hypersonics, quantum communications)

• Create unified joint plans integrating conventional, nuclear, and non-kinetic options

• Lead a large joint workforce and cultivate a culture of innovation and accountability

• Act as primary senior diplomat in Washington, D.C., negotiating policy and resources with senior defense and interagency leadership

• Synchronize global deterrence posture across Combatant Commands through cross-functional working groups

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship

• Top Secret clearance (or ability to obtain)

• Successful completion of a 1-year SES probationary period

• Demonstrated Technical Qualifications (TQs) covering legal/treaty compliance and strategic integration/interagency diplomacy

• Demonstrated Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs)

Benefits

• Comprehensive federal benefits for you and your family (eligibility depends on position type)

• Salary range: $151,662–$219,000 per annum (Air Force Tier 2); may include bonuses/stipends and performance-based salary increases