Special Operations Forces (SOF) Planner
At a glance
Why this role might suit you
The position provides hands‑on experience in joint special operations planning with U.S. and allied forces, enabling the practitioner to apply operational design methodology to high‑impact missions and collaborate across interagency and partner environments.
Skills
About the role
About the Role:
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Culmen International is seeking a Special Operations Forces (SOF) Planner to support SOCEUR HQ in Stuttgart, Germany. In this role, you will provide commanders with unique capabilities to advance national objectives across the competition continuum—from cooperation through competition to armed conflict.
Special operations require a deep understanding of the operational environment, a human-centric approach, and the integration of information. As a SOF Planner, you will be critical to applying special operations operational design methodology to plan, synchronize, and execute these complex activities.
What You’ll Do in Your New Role:
Based in-person at Patch Barracks, you will provide expert planning and advisory support to a Joint Special Operations Task Force (JSOTF), Theater Special Operations Command (TSOC), or other joint force command elements.
You are responsible for developing plans and orders that apply SOF capabilities to solve complex problems. This involves leading planning efforts using special operations operational design methodology, developing courses of action (COAs), and integrating SOF with conventional forces, interagency partners, and partner nations.
Key Tasks & Responsibilities
Special Operations Planning: Employ operational design methodology to frame complex problems and lead deliberate and crisis action planning.
Plan & Order Development: Write comprehensive, doctrinally sound OPLANs, OPORDs, and FRAGORDs, including all relevant annexes.
Support to Resistance (STR): Develop plans to build partner resilience against aggression across the competition continuum.
Joint Force Integration: Coordinate and deconflict SOF plans with conventional components, including the JAOC via the Special Operations Liaison Element (SOLE).
Information Integration: Adopt a human-centric perspective to influence relevant actors and populations.
Targeting & Coordination: Support the joint targeting cycle and liaise with U.S. government agencies and partner nations.
Force Sustainment: Determine SOF-specific resource requirements and manage the TPFDD process.
Required Qualifications:
The ideal candidate must be a subject matter expert in joint doctrine with a proven track record of planning at the operational level.
Primary Requirement: Extensive knowledge of joint doctrine, specifically JP 3-05 (2025) and JP 5-0 (Joint Operation Planning).
Technical Expertise: Demonstrated experience applying special operations operational design methodology.
Military Experience: Significant experience serving on a joint staff and within SOF organizations from the tactical to the operational level.
Communication: Proven ability to develop and write high-level military operational plans and orders.
Security Clearance: Must hold an active TOP SECRET security clearance with SCI eligibility.
Desired Qualifications:
The ideal candidate must be a subject matter expert in joint doctrine with a proven track record of planning at the operational level.
Primary Requirement: Extensive knowledge of joint doctrine, specifically JP 3-05 (2025) and JP 5-0 (Joint Operation Planning).
Technical Expertise: Demonstrated experience applying special operations operational design methodology.
Military Experience: Significant experience serving on a joint staff and within SOF organizations from the tactical to the operational level.
Security Clearance: Must hold an active TOP SECRET clearance with SCI eligibility.
TESA & SOFA Requirements
To qualify for Technical Expert Status Accreditation (TESA) under the US-Germany Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA), candidates must meet one of the following criteria:
Bachelor’s Degree + 3 years of specialized experience.
Associate’s Degree + 7 years of specialized experience.
Major Certification (e.g., CompTIA Security+, CASP) + 7 years of specialized experience.
No Degree + 11 years of specialized experience.
Note: Per SOFA regulations, applicants must be U.S. Citizens and cannot be "ordinarily resident" in Germany (i.e., you cannot have established deep local ties such as owning German property or being married to a German national).
About the Company:
Culmen International is committed to enhancing international safety and security, strengthening homeland defense, advancing humanitarian missions, and optimizing government operations. With experience in over 150 countries, Culmen supports our clients to accomplish critical missions in challenging environments.
To learn more about Culmen International, please visit www.culmen.com
Questions about this role
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