Senior Planning Support Specialist

Senior Planning Support Specialist

Description

The Senior Planning Support Specialist drives day-to-day execution of MARFORPAC G-5 (Plans) deliberate planning support and the daily planning battle rhythm. The role owns delivery of assigned planning support outputs—coordination, staffing, and product production—so leaders receive on-time, decision-ready materials that enable execution across the Joint Planning and Execution Community (JPEC). This role applies established templates/standards and ensures planning actions move from tasking to closure.

Key Responsibilities

Lead

assigned planning support efforts across operational, functional, campaign, and posture planning cycles to meet directed timelines

Synchronize

inputs across USINDOPACOM, Headquarters Marine Corps (HQMC), MARFORPAC staff divisions, adjacent components/sub-unified commands, and Marine Expeditionary Forces (MEFs)

Manage

planning tasks, suspense dates, staffing actions, decision points, and follow-through to reduce delays and rework

Run

Operational Planning Team (OPT) and working group support (prep, read-aheads, notes/actions, closeout)

Develop

briefing decks, information papers, and planning documents for senior leader review/approval

Edit

and format products to ensure clarity, consistency, and executive-ready quality using established standards

Maintain

version control and auditable staffing/coordination records across iterations

Coordinate

program-based planning tasks to align assumptions, inputs, and outputs across organizations

Support

posture initiative planning activities by organizing inputs, staffing actions, and implementation tracking (as directed)

Coach

junior staff on battle rhythm discipline, staffing hygiene, and product formatting to improve throughput

Qualifications

Bachelors and ten (10) years or more of related experience; Masters and eight (8) years or more experience ; PhD or JD and five (5) years or more experience.

Active TS/SCI Clearance

Career level school completion (e.g. Expeditionary Warfare School or other service equivalents)

Intermediate Level Schools (ILS) completion (e.g. Marine Corps Command and Staff College or other service equivalents)

7+ years

’ experience supporting military, joint, or federal civilian planning (meetings/working groups, staff products for senior leaders)

Demonstrated proficiency producing/editing briefing decks, information papers, and formal planning documents

Demonstrated education and application of the Marine Corps Planning Process (MCPP) and the Joint Planning Process (JPP).

Familiarity with JPEC processes and joint planning forums (e.g., OPTs, joint planning groups)

Ability to comply with government workplace requirements and obtain/maintain any required access/eligibility

Strongly Preferred

Intermediate or top-level operational planning education (e.g., JAWS/SAMS/MAWS/SAASS/Service and Joint War Colleges or Fellowships

Senior PME (e.g., CGSC/ILE, USMC CSC, Naval/War College equivalents)

Prior experience with USINDOPACOM, MARFORPAC, HQMC, a combatant command, Service component, or MEF HQ

Doctoral degree in a relevant field

Skills & Competencies

Deep functional expertise in deliberate planning support and posture planning integration

Advanced analytic framing and problem-solving under ambiguity

Expert-level writing/editing and product coherence management

Influence without authority; credible advisory presence with senior stakeholders

Standards-setting, coaching, and quality assurance mindset

Autonomy, Decision Authority & Accountability

Owns

technical/functional standards and review thresholds for planning-support quality (government leads retain final approval authority)

Decides

when to elevate quality risks and require additional review cycles for high-visibility products

Accountable for

reducing defects, preventing misalignment with guidance, and improving first-pass acceptance of key deliverables

Target salary range: $120,001 - $160,000. The estimate displayed represents the typical salary range for this position based on experience and other factors.