Operational Medicine Scenario Lead

Wake Forest Operational Medicine provides advanced medical training to elite medics and operators from the U.S. armed services and other government agencies, as well as allied military forces from around the globe.

The Operational Medicine Scenario Lead is a working lead who provides day-to-day leadership and hands-on support for Operational Medicine Scenario Technicians supporting OMD training. The Lead ensures role players and support staff are prepared, briefed, equipped, and positioned to execute standardized, highly realistic scenarios aligned with training objectives. Serving as the primary point of contact between instructors and the technician team, the Lead assigns roles, manages timing and transitions, maintains quality and consistency of role portrayal, and enforces safety standards throughout each evolution. In addition to coordinating the team, the Lead actively participates as a role player and supports scenario setup/reset, ensuring execution remains realistic, safe, and on schedule.
 

Key Responsibilities: 

• Lead and coordinate Operational Medicine Scenario Technicians during training events, serving as the primary on-floor point of contact between instructors and support staff. 
• Assign, position, and manage role players; oversee timelines, rotations, breaks, and coverage across multiple training lanes. 
• Conduct and support pre-briefs and rehearsals to ensure technicians understand scenario scripts, boundaries, and training objectives. 
• Monitor live training execution and make real-time adjustments to maintain scenario flow, realism, standardization, and schedule. 
• Enforce safety standards, identify hazards, and pause or redirect training activities as needed to protect trainees and staff; escalate safety issues promptly. 
• Act as a role player when required, modeling professional, consistent portrayals to ensure standardized trainee experiences. 
• Plan and oversee scenario preparation, including equipment staging, prop placement, casualty setup, moulage application, and environmental realism. 
• Direct rapid reconfiguration and reset of training lanes between evolutions to maintain training flow and schedule. 
• Oversee recovery, cleaning, accountability, minor repair, and proper storage of training equipment and supplies. 
• Mentor, coach, and support onboarding of technicians while setting expectations for professionalism, performance, and consistency. 
• Supports scenario enhancement, set construction, and facility upkeep by assisting with the design, buildout, maintenance, and continual improvement of training lanes, props, prosthetics, and environment elements to ensure realistic, safe, and mission relevant training spaces. 
• Oversee logistical sustainment: inventory/restocking of consumables, upkeep of spaces/equipment, minor repairs, and organized storage/return-to-place standards (including specialty support like moulage, set design, high-angle safety, and armorer functions as assigned).   

Job Requirements: 

• High School Diploma or GED
• 2-3 years of progressively responsible experience in a high tempo operational, training, simulation, or field‑based environment (e.g., military, emergency response, law enforcement, medical simulation, or complex training support roles). 
• At least 1 year of experience informally leading, coordinating, or directing others (e.g., senior technician, shift lead, or team lead) during dynamic activities or simulations. 
• Experience operating within established safety standards, protocols, and instructor defined objectives, with the ability to follow and enforce procedures in real time. 
• Previous experience as a role player, standardized patient, actor, or simulation support technician. 
   

Skills & Abilities:

• Basic mechanical aptitude for assisting with simple equipment repairs, prop construction, or set setup. 
• Working knowledge of live training or simulation environments and role-player integration. 
• Ability to coordinate small teams during dynamic, time sensitive operations. 
• Real-time problem-solving skills to maintain safety, realism, and schedule. 
• Ability to recognize hazards and enforce safety standards. 
• Basic proficiency with training equipment, props, and logistical setup/breakdown.
   

Physical Requirements & Working Conditions: 

• Ability to stand, walk, kneel, crawl, or lie on the ground for extended periods during role‑playing activities   
• Ability to lift, move, and carry training equipment, props, patient models, or supplies (typically up to 75-100 lbs) using proper body mechanics and team-lift techniques as required.   
• Ability to perform repeated physical motions such as running short distances, simulated injury posturing, or staged tactical movements.  
• Exposure to simulated combat conditions (noise, smoke, pyrotechnics, blank‑fire weapons, and loud verbal commands).   
• Exposure to variable environmental conditions such as heat, cold, rain, and wind.   
• Frequent handling of cadaveric tissue, biological specimens, medical simulators, and porcine training materials in accordance with biosafety protocols.

Preferred Qualifications and Skills: 

• Familiarity with moulage application, prosthetics, or special effects makeup. 
• Advanced understanding of scenario execution and training realism. 
• Demonstrated leadership and mentoring of technicians or role players. 
• Familiarity with tactical, medical, or high‑stress operational training environments 

This job description indicates the general nature and level of work expected of the incumbent. It is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities required of the incumbent. Incumbent may be required to perform other related duties.