Joint Staff J5 Data & AI Enablement Specialist

Forge is a global solutions provider. We are a proud, certified woman-owned, service-disabled, veteran-owned small business (WOSB, SDVOSB) ignited to redefine the traditional GovCon mold, deliver innovations, and elevate collective impact. We are known as international problem fixers who only pursue work where we can truly make a difference. We are deeply integrated members of trusted client communities, energized and honored to be partners in questioning and solving human challenges worldwide.

Forge strikes a precise balance between empowering autonomy and emphasizing the necessity of belonging to a connected network of people and initiatives. It's led to a new echelon of collective excellence- one that continues to lead to monumental growth - and built a dream team of top-tier, collaborative, 'get-it-done' experts.

Our culture is everything. People come first. Our culture is built around a diverse group of employees empowered to think in different directions, a leadership team that trusts employees to lean in to unique greatness, and an operations team that deploys programs to support employee well-being and growth - both personally and professionally. We treat Forge like a co-op, where staff input drives corporate action.

With a 93% retention rate, it's evident that once we hire great people, we keep them. We're rated #2 Best Medium Business in all of Virginia, and we are a multi-year, multi-award winner of the Fortune® Magazine Best Workplaces in Consulting & Professional Services™, Best Medium Workplaces™, and Best Workplaces for Parents™.  Based on employee feedback and independent analysis, we have been certified as a Great Place to Work™ for six consecutive years. In addition to recognition for top workplace culture, our growth earned us a spot on the 2024 and 2025 Inc. Magazine 5000 List of the Fastest-Growing Companies in America, and the Women Presidents Organization (WPO) and J.P. Morgan Chase named us one of the 50 Fastest-Growing Women-Owned/Led Companies nationally. But most importantly, we're proud to be a company that puts people first.

The future of Forge is exciting and evolving - as capability and community remain the battle rhythm sustaining transformative success. We're searching for those who want to work hard, play hard, give back, and enjoy life. If this resonates with you, then come make a difference at Forge.

Requirement: Joint Staff J5 Data & AI Enablement Specialist

Job Description:

Forge Group, LLC is seeking a proactive, highly organized, and detail-oriented Data Steward & AI Enablement Specialist to support the Joint Staff J5 Digital Transformation team operating in a secure, cloud-based modernization environment at the Pentagon. This position is built for a junior-to-mid-career information professional, former military information management specialist, or data analyst experienced in structuring, cataloging, and preparing data for advanced applications. Operating at the critical intersection of strategic defense modernization, data governance, and artificial intelligence, you will play a key role in implementing the J5 Digital Modernization Framework, specifically focused on making J5 strategic and force readiness data "AI-ready."

Unlike senior backend software developers or data platform engineers, this role is centered on operational data curation and enablement (the "first and last mile" of data readiness). You will work directly with Joint Staff Action Officers (including the J5 Digital Transformation Lead) and military analysts to find, extract, and transition legacy files (including unstructured documents, PDFs, briefings, and spreadsheets) from old Shared Drives and email archives into modern, structured environments like SharePoint and the War Data Platform (WDP/Advana). Rather than writing complex code, you will apply metadata tags, maintain data dictionaries, build custom SharePoint lists, and configure prompt-engineering workflows in classified and unclassified AI tools like Donovan, Ask Sage, and Compass AI. A strong ability to translate highly technical data workflows to non-technical military personnel and build strong working relationships across both military and software development teams is vital.

Key Responsibilities:

The candidate will execute key data curation, metadata management, platform configuration, and liaison tasks across four primary operational domains:

1. Data Curation & SharePoint Migration Support

• Locate & Extract: Identify, retrieve, and consolidate unstructured legacy files (including PDFs, briefings, spreadsheets, and Word documents) across NIPR, SIPR, and JWICS Shared Drives.
• Organize, Enrich & Tag (ETL Support): Apply "Extract, Transform, Load" principles in a non-coding capacity by restructuring raw file systems, standardizing naming conventions, and enriching files with metadata tags to make them easily discoverable for automated pipeline ingestion.
• SharePoint Power Administration: Build and maintain custom SharePoint lists, document libraries, folder structures, and metadata columns.
• Granular Permissions Management: Configure and enforce precise folder and document-level permissions on SharePoint to ensure the secure handling of classified, proprietary, and Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI).

2. Platform Cataloging & Metadata Governance

• Advana/WDP Assets Management: Curate, tag, and publish validated datasets as discoverable assets within the Joint Staff Data Catalog using the War Data Platform (WDP/Advana).
• Metadata & Data Dictionary Creation: Build and maintain comprehensive data dictionaries to ensure all critical metadata is standard, traceable, and easily integrated into the centralized repository.
• Lineage & Citation Tracking: Document data lineage and curation details so that J5 analysts can trace where AI-generated answers and visualizations originated.

3. AI Tool Configuration & User Enablement (Prompt Optimization)

• Prompt Workflows & Custom Agent Configuration: Configure, refine, and test prompt workflows within the Joint Staff suite of AI tools, including Ask Sage, Donovan, Compass AI, and GenAI.mil.
• Non-Technical Training & Support: Serve as the primary on-site helper to guide military analysts on how to draft high-impact prompts and configure built-in analysis, drafting, visualization, and citation tools.
• Technical Requirement Translation: Translate user feedback, bugs, and data pipeline bottlenecks from the J5 staff into precise technical requirements for backend software engineering and development teams.

4. Project Coordination & Ad Hoc Support

• Framework Support: Support the J5 Digital Transformation Lead in implementing the J5 Digital Modernization Roadmap, specifically tracking milestones under "Pillar 2: Data Advantage."
• Progress Tracking & Reporting: Document data migration metrics, SharePoint site usage, catalog completeness, and user feedback into concise summaries for senior J5 leadership.
• Ad Hoc Operational Support: Provide related data management, coordination, and analytical support services as directed by command representatives within the scope of the PWS.

Qualifications/Requirements:

We are seeking a collaborative, mission-driven professional who combines data management discipline, SharePoint proficiency, and strong interpersonal communication skills.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Citizenship: United States Citizenship required.
• Security Clearance: Active Top Secret (TS) security clearance with SCI eligibility is required on day one.
• Education: Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in Information Systems, Data Science, Library Science, Computer Science, or a related quantitative field. Relevant professional or military information management experience may be considered in lieu of a degree.
• Experience Level: 2 to 4 years of professional experience in data management, data stewardship, technical database administration, or information systems support.
• SharePoint Proficiency: Proven experience as a SharePoint Power User, specifically building custom lists, managing document libraries, configuring metadata columns, and enforcing user permission controls.
• Communication & Technical Translation: Exceptional verbal and written communication skills with a demonstrated ability to explain complex technical concepts and AI prompt workflows to non-technical stakeholders or senior military leaders

Highly Desired Qualifications:

• Advana/WDP Experience: Direct, hands-on familiarity with the War Data Platform (WDP) / Advana environment.
• Technical Literacy: Basic conceptual understanding of database structures, data schemas, simple Structured Query Language (SQL) queries, or advanced Excel formulas.
• AI & LLM Concepts: A basic conceptual understanding of how Large Language Models (LLMs) ingest, index, and retrieve data (such as Retrieval-Augmented Generation / RAG).
• Military Exposure: Prior experience working within the Pentagon, with the Joint Staff (particularly J5), or inside a Combatant Command information management environment.

Job: Full-time

Location: Arlington, VA - Pentagon

Salary Range: $100,000 - $135,000 per year

Assigned Forge Job Title: Project Specialist

Essential Duties:

• Problem Solving- Identifies and resolves problems promptly; gathers and analyzes information skillfully; develops alternative solutions; works well in group problem-solving situations; uses reason even when dealing with emotional topics.
• Written Communication- Writes clearly and informatively; edits work for spelling and grammar; varies writing style to meet needs; presents numerical data effectively; able to read and interpret written information.
• Diversity- Demonstrates knowledge of EEO policy; shows respect and sensitivity for cultural differences; promotes a harassment-free environment; builds a diverse workforce.
• Ethics- Treats people with respect; keeps commitments; inspires the trust of others; works with integrity and ethics; upholds organizational values.
• Strategic Thinking- Develops strategies to achieve organizational goals; understands organization's strengths & weaknesses; analyzes market and competition; identifies external threats and opportunities; adapts strategy to changing conditions.
• Planning/Organizing- Prioritize and plan work activities; use time efficiently; plan for additional resources; set goals and objectives; organize or schedule other people and their tasks; develop realistic action plans.
• Professionalism- Tactfully approaches others; reacts well under pressure; treats others with respect and consideration regardless of their status or position; accepts responsibility for own actions; follows through on commitments.
• Innovation- Displays original thinking and creativity; meets challenges with resourcefulness; generates suggestions for improving work; develops innovative approaches and ideas; presents ideas and information in a manner that gets others' attention.
• Qualifications- To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements below represent the knowledge, skills, and/or abilities required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.
• Language Skills- Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations. Ability to write reports, proposals, business correspondence, and procedure manuals. Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, customers, and the general public.
• Mathematical Skills- Ability to apply concepts such as fractions, percentages, ratios, and proportions to practical situations.
• Reasoning Ability- Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions. Ability to question activities and issues in all functional areas and make sound business decisions based on that data.
• Physical Demands- The physical demands described here are representative of those that an employee must meet to perform the essential functions of this job successfully. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions. While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is regularly required to sit, talk, type, or hear. The employee is frequently required to walk, use hands to finger, handle, or feel, and reach with hands and arms.
• Work Environment- The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. The employee will normally work in a temperature-controlled office environment, with frequent exposure to electronic office equipment.

This job posting sets forth the basic authorities and responsibilities of this position, which may be changed from time to time as shall be determined. To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to satisfy each essential duty.

Benefits:

Forge fosters a rich company culture built on a diverse, hard-working employee base. Our staff is the core of our success and the impetus behind our decisions. In today's corporate culture, there is no longer a line between work and home life. As a result, we focused our benefits approach on the whole family.

The Forge total compensation model is based on a "choose-your-own-adventure approach" allowing each employee to create a comprehensive package of benefits and perks tailored to his or her needs. Examples of benefits included in our total compensation package include:

• Complete Flextime
• 401k With Employer Matching
• Healthcare, Including Medical, Dental, and Vision
• Health Savings Account (HSA) And Pre-Tax Premium Options
• Supplementary healthcare and family support
• Extended Short-Term Disability and Long-Term Disability
• Healthcare Insurance Deductible Paydown
• Health and Wellness Programs
• Tuition Reimbursement, Student Loan Repayment, and Education & Training Stipends
• Cell Phone / Internet Stipends
• College Saving Plans with Employer Contributions
• Alternative Work Locations and Tele-Commuting
• Employee Referral Awards
• Retention, Signing & Performance Bonuses
• Commuter Benefits
• Paid Sabbatical

Forge Group, LLC is a proud DoD Skillbridge and V3 (Virginia Values Veterans) certified company committed to hiring and retaining military veterans and spouses.

Forge Group, LLC is an Equal Opportunity [and/or] Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment regardless of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or military or protected veteran status. We participate in the E-Verify Employment Verification Program.