Operations Planning Manager

About Hunter Strategy

Hunter Strategy has a unique philosophy to technical project delivery. We treat all our customers like mission partners because they rely on our team to meet their objectives through complex software engineering, cloud operations, and cyber risk management solutions. Hunter Strategy was founded on the premise that IT is 21st century infrastructure - critically important but only instrumentally valuable. Accordingly, our teams look at problems with a single objective: the identification and enablement of the right capability to address the most vexing problems our Mission Partners face. We continue to support our partners' success by leveraging the right technology, with the right plan, and the right team to address tomorrow's challenges today.

Hunter Strategy seeks an Operations Planning Manager to lead operational planning portfolio management for the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA). This senior leadership position provides direct supervision to a team of three operational planning professionals while coordinating multiple concurrent Joint Planning Groups (JPGs) and serving as the primary liaison between DISA leadership and cross-functional planning teams. The role emphasizes portfolio management, cross-functional collaboration, and the ability to lead teams through complex planning cycles in a high-tempo environment. Familiarity with DISA cyberspace operations is beneficial but not required.

Essential Functions

Portfolio Leadership & Team Management

Operational Planning Portfolio Oversight

• Provide portfolio-level leadership for DISA's operational planning function, overseeing concurrent planning initiatives across three Joint Planning Groups (JPGs)
• Directly supervise and mentor a team of three operational planning professionals (Military Operations Analysts and Strategic Planners)
• Establish planning priorities, allocate resources, and ensure quality standards across the portfolio (95% quality/timeliness metrics)
• Coordinate planning workflows to balance deliberate planning, contingency planning, and crisis action planning demands
• Serve as the primary planning interface between DISA J-5 leadership and operational planning team members

Cross-Functional Team Leadership

• Lead cross-functional collaboration across DISA J-3/5/7 directorates, service components, and external stakeholders
• Facilitate coordination between operational planners, strategic communications specialists, program analysts, and technical subject matter experts
• Build and maintain collaborative relationships with USCYBERCOM, JFHQ-DODIN, Combatant Commands, and DoD agencies
• Navigate complex stakeholder environments to achieve consensus and alignment on planning objectives
• Foster team cohesion and professional development within the operational planning team

Strategic Planning Execution Management

• Oversee team execution of Joint Planning Process (JPP) methodology across multiple concurrent efforts
• Ensure consistent application of Adaptive Planning and Execution (APEX) framework across all planning activities
• Review and approve planning products including Planning Reports, Information Papers, COA documents, and campaign plans
• Monitor team bandwidth and workload distribution to prevent bottlenecks during high-tempo operations
• Identify and resolve planning impediments, escalating strategic issues to DISA leadership as appropriate

Strategic Planning & Coordination

Crisis Action Planning Coordination

• Oversee team response to crisis action planning requirements using modified JPP in time-constrained environments
• Coordinate contingency planning support across DISA, CCMD, USCYBERCOM, or JFHQ-DODIN Joint Planning Groups during evolving crises
• Ensure team delivers rapid planning recommendations within directed timelines while maintaining quality standards
• Balance multiple concurrent crisis planning efforts with deliberate planning requirements

Strategic Analysis & Synchronization

• Guide team analysis of national and DoD-level directives including National Military Strategy, National Defense Strategy, DISA Charter, and DoD CIO Capability Programming Guidance
• Ensure planning activities synchronize with Agency strategy (imperatives, goals, tasks, objectives) across all team efforts
• Review and integrate forward-looking plans incorporating emerging threats, technologies, and operational gaps
• Coordinate development of cyberspace Operational Environments, desired outcomes, and information requirements across the portfolio

Cyberspace Operations Planning Support

Cyber Campaign Planning Portfolio Management

• Oversee team development of cyberspace plans and order documents for DoD cyberspace Areas of Operation and Sectors
• Review and approve team-developed COAs for cyberspace operations and planning efforts to deter DODIN attacks
• Guide team expertise in cyber de-confliction, synchronization, coordination, and assessment across operations
• Coordinate with cyber SMEs to ensure planning products address C4 resiliency, DCO/CSSP requirements, and emerging cyber threats

Command and Control (C2) Integration

• Lead cross-functional efforts to enhance C2 within cyberspace operations across planning teams
• Coordinate development of C2 concepts, strategies, and plans with strategic communications and policy teams
• Ensure planning integration across NIPRNet, SIPRNet, and JWICS environments
• Facilitate collaboration between planners and technical specialists to address cyber operational gaps

Multi-Level Coordination & Collaboration

Joint Planning Groups & Working Groups

• Support three concurrent DISA Joint Planning Groups while participating in DoD and Combatant Command working groups
• Attend and provide expertise to Operational Planning Teams (OPTs), Working Groups, and Battle Rhythm Command and Control Working Group (B2C2WG) events
• Coordinate, de-conflict, and facilitate communications across staff elements, subordinate commands, service cyber components, Combatant Commands, and agencies with cyber-related missions
• Participate in weekly JPGs and direct future planning efforts

Stakeholder Management

• Engage senior DISA leadership, USCYBERCOM, JFHQ-DODIN, and Combatant Command stakeholders
• Produce executive-ready briefings, planning reports, information papers, and COA documents in government-approved formats
• Leverage secure platforms (JWICS, SIPRNet) for classified planning sessions and real-time coordination
• Brief Operations Approval Boards (OAB) on strategic plans, risks, and capability gaps

Professional Skills

• Exceptional leadership and people management abilities with focus on mentoring, coaching, and team development
• Advanced stakeholder management and relationship-building skills across organizational boundaries
• Strong facilitation and consensus-building capabilities in complex, multi-stakeholder environments
• Superior written and verbal communication skills for executive briefings and cross-organizational coordination
• Strategic thinking with ability to synthesize information across multiple planning efforts and translate into actionable direction
• Proven ability to work effectively in fast-paced, high-pressure environments while maintaining team morale and productivity
• Collaborative mindset with ability to influence without direct authority across matrix organizations
• Experience delegating effectively while maintaining oversight and quality control
• Ability to balance strategic vision with operational execution through team leadership

Required Qualifications

Experience & Education

• Minimum 8 years of experience with 3 years of specialized experience in system analysis
• Proven track record leading cross-functional teams with at least 2 years of direct supervisory experience
• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Computing Science or related field; Masters may be substituted with 1 year less experience
• Strong background in collaborative leadership within matrix or multi-disciplinary team structures
• Demonstrated experience with Joint Planning Process (JPP) and military planning methodologies
• Experience managing multiple concurrent initiatives with competing priorities and diverse stakeholders

Technical Competencies

• Portfolio management capabilities with ability to oversee multiple planning initiatives simultaneously
• Strong cross-functional leadership skills with proven ability to build consensus across diverse stakeholder groups
• Understanding of DoD planning processes, APEX framework, and Joint Publication 5-0 methodologies
• Familiarity with DISA cyberspace operations including DODIN architecture and cyber mission areas (beneficial but not required)
• Knowledge of national security strategy documents and DoD planning frameworks
• General understanding of cyber operations concepts (DCO, CSSP, C4 resiliency) sufficient to guide planning teams
• Experience with planning tools and collaboration platforms (Microsoft Project, SharePoint, Jira, or similar)