Lead / Senior Controller (1099 - Consultant, various locations within the Commonwealth of Virginia)
Position Summary
Applied Training Solutions, LLC is seeking an experienced Lead / Senior Controller to support HSEEP-compliant state exercises. The Lead / Senior Controller is responsible for overseeing and coordinating exercise control activities to ensure accurate, realistic, and consistent exercise play in accordance with the Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program (HSEEP). This role manages controller teams, oversees scenario execution and inject delivery, and works closely with exercise planners, facilitators, evaluators, and leadership to maintain exercise safety, tempo, and integrity.
Responsibilities
- Serve as the Lead / Senior Controller for seminars, workshops, tabletop, functional, and full-scale exercises conducted in accordance with HSEEP doctrine
- Oversee and coordinate all exercise control activities to ensure scenario flow aligns with exercise design and objectives
- Lead and manage controller teams, including assignment of roles, responsibilities, and areas of control
- Ensure accurate, timely, and consistent delivery of scenario information, injects, and simulation inputs
- Coordinate closely with the Exercise Director, Lead Facilitator, and Lead Evaluator to synchronize exercise play, facilitation, and evaluation
- Monitor participant actions and decisions to ensure exercise play remains within scope and objectives
- Manage exercise tempo, transitions, and pacing to support effective exercise outcomes
- Address and resolve exercise issues, disruptions, or safety concerns in coordination with exercise leadership
- Ensure adherence to exercise rules, assumptions, artificialities, and control guidance
- Participate in exercise planning meetings and provide technical input to control and scenario development
- Support hot washes, controller debriefs, and after-action discussions as required
- Maintain accurate control logs, notes, and records to support after-action reporting and future planning
- Maintain professionalism, objectivity, and confidentiality throughout the exercise process
Basic Qualifications
- Demonstrated experience serving as a controller or senior controller for HSEEP-compliant exercises
- Strong knowledge of exercise design, conduct, and control principles
- Ability to manage complex scenarios and multiple controller inputs in dynamic environments
- Strong communication, coordination, and decision-making skills