Wargame Designer

Spektrum supports apex purchasers (NATO, UN, EU and National Government and Defence) and their Tier 1 supplier ecosystem with a wide range of specialist services. We provide our clients with professional services, specialised aerospace and defence sales, delivery, and operational subject matter expertise. We are looking for personnel to join our team and support key client projects.

Who we are supporting

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; and improving relationships, interaction and practical cooperation with partners, nations and international organisations. ACT therefore leads Alliance concept development, capability development, training and lessons-learned initiatives and provides unfettered military support to policy development within NATO.

The program

Capability Development & Management Support (CDMS)

DCOS Capability Development (CAPDEV) acts as the Supreme Allied Commander Transformation's Director for guidance, direction and coordination of the activities and resources of the Capability Development Directorate.

The Requirements Division will execute all tasks and activities needed to support requirements management for NATO capabilities

The Capability Requirements (CR) Branch will develop the Capability Requirements Brief and recommended courses of action to resolve issues through the life cycle management of requirements using matrixed, cross-functional project-specific Requirements Management teams.

The Requirements Forward Branch (Mons) is responsible for conducting requirements development and management representation and engagement-related functions in Europe.

The Capability Division coordinates the development of capabilities from capability planning through acceptance and then disposal with management entities, NATO Headquarters staff and the NATO Governance Structure

The Capability Forward Branch (Mons) coordinates with ACO, NCIA, NSPA, NATO HQ, territorial Host Nations, and NATO Centres of Excellence (COEs) to support the development of capabilities.

Strategic Plans and Policy (SPP) supports Allied Command Transformation in formalizing military advice to shape future military strategy, political guidance, and other policy documents supporting NATO's strategic objectives.

Role Duties and Responsibilities

• Engage with the game sponsor, Project Manager, and Game Director to define the problem statement, aim, objectives, research questions, and intended use of wargame outputs.
• Research relevant doctrine, existing wargames (commercial and professional), academic writings, and lessons learned to inform design choices.
• Develop or adapt the core rules, mechanics, and structure of the wargame to ensure alignment with objectives and constraints, including available time, participant numbers, classification level, and required outputs.
• Design and produce physical and digital wargame components, including maps, boards, markers, cards, adjudication tools, and software interfaces.
• Coordinate closely with the scenario coordinator, analysts, and event planners to integrate scenario content and ensure venue layouts support compelling gameplay.
• Lead or assist with playtesting, rehearsals, and refinement cycles, incorporating facilitator and analyst feedback to ensure the wargame achieves its intended purpose.
• Prepare and deliver design briefs and validation reports, articulating how the design meets the sponsor's objectives.
• Support wargame execution by helping facilitate gameplay, explaining rules, and troubleshooting design-related issues as they arise.
• Perform additional tasks related to event planning / wargame design or documentation as required by the COTR within the scope of this contract.

Essential Skills and Experience

• Demonstrated experience in wargame design, development or similar structured analytical design in the past five (5) years, preferably within multinational or military environments.
• Demonstrated ability to create or adapt core rules, mechanics, and structures for wargames aligned with specific aims and objectives.
• Demonstrated experience conducting or leading playtesting cycles, incorporating feedback to refine wargame products.
• Demonstrated experience working in multinational teams.
• Demonstrated stakeholder engagement and coordination experience
• Demonstrated proficiency in the use of the Microsoft Office Tool suite, collaborative platforms, and familiarity with visualisation tools (e.g., Microsoft Visio or similar).
• Demonstrated understanding of integrating wargame design with real life support limitations/constraints
• Prior experience designing or supporting NATO wargames at an operational or strategic level.
• Demonstrated experience preparing design briefs, validation reports, or contributing sections to final wargame reports and after-action report (AAR) documentation and writing event management annexes or related sections of final reports..
• Understanding of NATO and its unique structure and work environment.

Education

• 4-Year University baccalaureate degree in security/defence studies, analysis or related field.

Language Proficiency

• Advanced Proficiency in English

Working Location

• Norfolk, VA, USA

Working Policy

• On-Site

Contract Duration

• January 2026 – December 2030

Security Clearance

• Valid National or NATO Secret personal security clearance