Senior Planning Support Specialist

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

• 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.
• 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