McBride is hiring: Wargame Event Planner in Norfolk

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McBride is a certified Minority-Owned Business Enterprise (MBE), Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB), and Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) management and IT consulting firm with significant professional services experience that includes IT transformation, project management, digital transformation, strategic planning, business process improvement, change management, human capital management, disaster recovery, and operations.

Client: Allied Command Transformation (ACT) is NATO’s leading agent for change: driving, facilitating, and advocating the continuous improvement of Alliance capabilities to maintain and enhance the military relevance and effectiveness of the Alliance. The main objectives of ACT are: providing appropriate support to NATO missions and operations; leading NATO military transformation; improving relationships, interaction and practical cooperation with partners, nations and international organizations. ACT therefore leads Alliance concept development, capability development, training and lessons learned initiatives and provides unfettered military support to policy development within NATO.

Tasking:

• Coordinate, manage, and supervise all administrative, information technology (IT), security, facility, transportation, catering, and real-life support requirements for all events related to wargame planning, development, execution, and post-event activities. This includes, but is not limited to: a. The primary wargame event(s); b. Planning conferences and workshops; c. Wargame rehearsals and playtests; d. Briefings to sponsors and distinguished visitors (DVs); e. After action reviews and lessons identified sessions
• Serve as the central point of contact for event management, liaising with facility owners, NCIA for IT services, NATO security staff, catering providers, transport coordinators, and accommodation services.
• Develop, maintain, and distribute all event-related documentation, including calling messages (formal invitations), administrative instructions, contact lists, participant rosters, and security access rosters.
• Ensure that venue requirements (rooms, seating, IT infrastructure) are surveyed, booked, and configured to meet the needs of each wargame event. This includes drafting venue floor plans and managing contingency plans.
• Manage participant registration, check-in, access control, and coordination of security clearances in close cooperation with host facilities and NATO security offices.
• Oversee logistical arrangements, including transportation between lodging and venues, catering, social functions (icebreakers, DV day), and the secure transport of sensitive materials and equipment.
• Document lessons identified from each event management cycle to continuously improve support for future events. Contribute event management annexes to final wargame reports.
• Support after-action reviews (AAR) and follow-on refinement of event procedures, integrating lessons learned.
• Provide proactive updates to the Project Manager / Game Director on event status, issues, and recommended adjustments to maintain schedule and quality.
• Perform additional tasks related to event planning / wargame design or documentation as required by the COTR within the scope of this contract.

Essential Qualifications:

• Nationality of one of the NATO member countries.
• Demonstrated professional event coordination and management experience in the past five (5) years for events hosting at least 50 people.
• Demonstrated experience working in multinational teams.
• Demonstrated experience in stakeholder management.
• Demonstrated understanding of all elements of event management, including facilities, transportation, administrative tasks, security, IT, and logistics.
• Demonstrated familiarity with the nuances of coordinating events in Europe.
• Demonstrated proficiency in English as defined in STANAG 6001 (SLP 4444) or equivalent.
• Demonstrated proficiency in the use of the Microsoft Office Tool suite and collaborative software.
• Prior experience coordinating or managing events at the operational and/or strategic level, including administrative and logistical support.
• Experience contributing to after-action reviews and writing event management annexes or related sections of final reports.

Education and Clearance:

• NATO Secret Security Clearance or national equivalent.

McBride is an Equal Opportunity Employer. McBride Consulting does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, non-disqualifying physical or mental disability, national origin, veteran status or any other basis covered by appropriate law. All employment is decided on the basis of qualifications, merit, and business need.

Job Details

• Seniority level: Mid-Senior level
• Employment type: Full-time
• Job function: Consulting
• Industries: Business Consulting and Services

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Medical insurance

Vision insurance

401(k)

Disability insurance

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