Job Description

Position: WPS Team Lead and Gender Advisory Support

ANNOUNCEMENT

This position is open to U.S. Citizens, Nationals, or those who owe allegiance to the United States. This position is located in Colorado Springs, Colorado. It is an in-person position at U.S. Northern Command Headquarters, Peterson Space Force Base, with telework options by exception.

GENERAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

USNORTHCOM J5/AS&S has the lead responsibility within NORTHCOM and NORAD for implementing the DoD Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) program which seeks to advance the meaningful participation of women in security; prevent, respond, and address gender-based violence; mitigate harm to civilians; and ensure gender and human security perspectives inform military planning and decision making. NORTHCOM J5/AS&S seeks a creative, motivated, intellectually agile self-starter to develop, shape, influence, and oversee the implementation of WPS in a challenging and dynamic national security environment.

The DoD WPS program organizes the training, personnel, activities, and resources necessary for the Department to fulfill its statutory requirements outlined in the U.S. WPS Act of 2017, the FY21 National Defense Authorization Act Section 1210E, and Department-level WPS plans. The DoD WPS program focuses on the integration of WPS principles and human security considerations and targeted activities in support of Department priorities, as outlined in the National Defense Strategy.

The person selected will serve as a subject matter expert and provide strategic planning on all issues related to the oversight, guidance, and management of all aspects of NORAD and USNORTHCOM NORTHCOM and NORAD implementation of the DoD WPS program. The individual selected will also provide advice and expertise to senior leadership and staff for incorporating gender and human security considerations into the planning and execution of NORAD and USNORTHCOM’s operations, activities, and investments.

A detailed description of responsibilities follows:

• Team Leader. Support a growing team of subject matter experts with client communication, task management, communications and regular reporting. Communicate regularly with the project manager about tasks, performance and workload issues.
• Coordinator and Knowledge Manager. Manage regular communication with NORTHCOM WPS and gender network. Organize electronic files and Sharepoint. Mobilize WPS Community of Interest. Attend DOD WPS meetings, workshops, capture and disseminate notes, organize and support training events. Lead on key Joint Staff taskers, network responses, consolidate inputs and reports, lead coordination with AME/MEL efforts. The Team Lead is primarily a coordinator not a manager of the Q2 WPS NNC assigned team.
• Analysis and Advice. Serve as the go-to expert on the intersecting effects of gender and other human factors on national security problem sets. Provide on the spot gender analysis and insights to senior leaders and staff. Gather and provide informational reports pertinent to WPS-related data collection, reporting, and interview activities to support internal and external reporting, capture lessons learned and best practices, prepare executive-level documents to report the details and status of USNORTHCOM WPS initiatives, and assess and monitor WPS-related activities.
• Program Implementation. Lead NORTHCOM implementation of DoD’s WPS program. Coordinate NORTHCOM WPS network across the component headquarters, subordinate components, and task forces. Support the integration of gender perspectives and analytical products within staffing and coordination procedures across NORTHCOM AOR. Develop and implement innovative options for senior leadership for fulfilling the Department’s statutory WPS requirements in support of NORTHCOM’s mission.
• Policy & Plans Development. Conduct gender studies, analyses, evaluations, military utility assessments, and capabilities-based assessments in support of NORAD and USNORTHCOM missions to include Homeland Defense, Defense Support of Civil Authorities and Theater Security Cooperation.
• Stakeholder Coordination. Represent NORTHCOM equities and collaborate with other components during monthly WPS meetings organized by OSD(P) and the Joint Staff. Provide in person presentations as needed and support and improve the development and execution of WPS-related relevant conferences and meetings, including research, preparation, and execution of senior leader forums and distinguished visitor events; preparing working group minutes, issue papers, briefings and agenda items; and tracking and monitoring WPS-related action items generated as a result of the working group actions.
• Engagement. Represent NORTHCOM and NORAD during international events and engagements. Upon request, deploy in support of DoD operations to provide WPS advisory support.
• Assessment, Monitoring, & Evaluation. Work with NORTHCOM AM&E team to coordinate and aggregate annual data collection and reporting to measure component actions in support of the DoD WPS program.

OTHER RELEVANT QUALIFICATIONS

• Ability to work effectively and independently with minimal guidance.
• Ability to provide high-quality written products and provide briefings to senior civilian and military leadership, often in short time periods.
• Ability to communicate civilian terminology into military terminology and vice versa.
• To be successful, the selected individual must be able to effectively communicate the relevance of gender and human security issues to national security problem sets.
• Successful candidates will be able to develop mechanisms and navigate organizational processes to institutionalize gender and human security information within the component’s objectives and mission.
• Previous experience serving as WPS advisor at another DoD component or U.S. government department or agency at the operational and strategic level highly desired. WPS advisory support to international, non-governmental, and other civil society organizations also helpful.
• Familiarity with DoD processes, procedures, doctrine, and culture is helpful.

SECURITY CLEARANCE INFORMATION

• The security clearance level for this position is Secret.

EDUCATION & TRAINING

University Degree in national security, international affairs, political science, behavioral science, cultural studies, sociology, or national security-related discipline and minimum 8 years post related experience, or; postgraduate education and advanced vocational training in that discipline leading to a professional qualification or professional accreditation with minimum 6 years post related experience.

Degrees in national security or international affairs with a specialization in women’s, cultural, or anthropological studies are a plus.

Ideal applicants have already completed the Joint Staff Operationalizing WPS 100 and 200 level course and/or the Nordic Center for Gender and Military Operations Gender Advisor Course.

As approved, selected applicants who have not yet taken a military Gender Advisor certification course must become certified within one year of hiring by attending the Joint Staff Operationalizing WPS 100 and 200 level course, or a Joint Staff approved Gender Advisory and Gender Focal Point course provided by an Allied or partner nation or multilateral organization.

BENEFITS OF JOINING Q2IMPACT

• A dynamic group of professionals with diverse backgrounds and expertise, committed to delivering high-quality results and making a meaningful impact in communities around the world.
• An opportunity to lead and shape a growing firm that has a solid reputation in the industry and is poised for further expansion.
• A chance to work across development, diplomacy, and defense sectors, with a broad portfolio of projects and clients.
• A supportive and inclusive culture that values innovation, excellence, and collaboration.
• Competitive salary and benefits package, including health, dental, and vision insurance, and paid time off.

Join our team at Q2 Impact, where your talents, expertise, and passion can make a difference. Apply today and become part of a dynamic and growing organization.

WORKING CONDITIONS & REQUIRED EQUIPMENT

The incumbent in this position will work in a professional office environment and will utilize the
following equipment when working

• Computer (laptop or desktop)
• Printer/Photocopier/Scanner/Fax
• Telephone
• Other (Specify if any)

The physical demands and work environment that have been described is representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

This position description is an overview of the major functions and requirements of this position. This document is not intended to be an exhaustive list encompassing every duty and requirement of the position; the Employee’s Manager may assign other duties as related or as otherwise deemed appropriate and necessary within the general scope, without the need for additional compensation.