Exercise Planner / Controller-Evaluator

Position Type: Full-time
Location: Washington, DC Metro preferred; travel required for events
Clearance / Suitability: Secret preferred; ability to obtain and maintain Secret and DHS suitability required
Travel: Frequent travel possible based on exercise schedule

Position Summary

The Exercise Planner / Controller-Evaluator supports exercise planning, documentation, logistics coordination, facilitation, control, evaluation, and after-action activities for CISA exercises. This position provides hands-on support during planning meetings and exercise execution and serves as a controller, evaluator, facilitator, recorder, or note taker as required.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Support development of exercise objectives, planning timelines, scenario narratives, discussion questions, injects, MSEL entries, EEGs, and participant products.
• Prepare draft meeting agendas, invitation language, participant rosters, sign-in sheets, read-ahead packets, presentations, and meeting minutes.
• Assist with C&O meetings, IPMs, MPMs, IPRs, MSEL synchronization meetings, FPMs, exercise events, hotwashes, and AAMs.
• Develop or update SITMANs, EXPLANs, controller/evaluator guides, observer briefings, player briefings, feedback forms, and administrative materials.
• Serve as controller, evaluator, facilitator, microphone runner, registration staff, note taker, recorder, or exercise support staff during events.
• Collect observations, feedback forms, hotwash comments, sign-in information, evaluator notes, and exercise materials after events.
• Support room setup, exercise walkthroughs, participant registration, staging, material distribution, teardown, and post-event consolidation.
• Draft meeting minutes, exercise summaries, key takeaways, AAR inputs, CAP inputs, and lessons learned materials.
• Coordinate with logistics, media/simulation, SMEs, analysts, and technical editors to ensure exercise products are complete and ready for review.
• Maintain accurate records in Government-approved repositories and knowledge management tools.

Required Qualifications

• 4+ years of experience supporting exercises, emergency management, homeland security, public safety, law enforcement, fire/EMS, infrastructure security, or continuity programs.
• Working knowledge of HSEEP exercise planning, conduct, evaluation, and improvement planning processes.
• Experience supporting exercise execution, controller/evaluator activities, note taking, meeting support, and after-action documentation.
• Strong organizational skills and ability to support multiple concurrent planning efforts.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Teams, and SharePoint.
• Strong written and oral communication skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• FEMA HSEEP course completion.
• Experience supporting operations-based exercises, full-scale exercises, functional exercises, or complex tabletop exercises.
• Prior DHS, CISA, FEMA, SLTT, or critical infrastructure exercise support experience.

Primary Deliverables / Work Products Supported

• Draft planning meeting materials and minutes
• Exercise documentation inputs
• Controller/evaluator materials
• Observation and feedback data
• AAR/CAP and Summary Report inputs
Post-event material consolidation

Applied Training Solutions, LLC is a leading simulations company providing innovative systems, products, and solutions to government and commercial customers.

Applied Training Solutions, LLC is committed to hiring and retaining a diverse workforce. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer, making decisions without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, veteran status, disability, or any other protected class. U.S. Citizenship is required for most positions.