Senior Planning Support Specialist

Overview

Nakupuna Consulting is seeking a Senior Planning Support Specialist to support Marine Forces Pacific (MARFORPAC) planning operations and deliberate planning activities within the Indo-Pacific theater. The selected candidate will support operational planning coordination, battle rhythm management, staffing actions, and production of senior leader planning products in support of joint and service-level planning efforts.

The Senior Planning Support Specialist will support the execution of planning activities across operational, campaign, posture, and contingency planning efforts while ensuring timely coordination, staffing, and delivery of high-quality planning products. This position requires strong organizational, analytical, and communication skills and the ability to operate effectively in a fast-paced operational planning environment.

Responsibilities

The following reflects management’s definition of essential functions for this job but does not restrict the tasks that may be assigned.

• Support operational, functional, campaign, and posture planning activities in accordance with directed timelines and organizational priorities.
• Coordinate planning inputs and staffing actions across headquarters staff elements, subordinate organizations, joint stakeholders, and external mission partners.
• Track planning tasks, suspense dates, staffing actions, and decision points to support timely completion of operational requirements.
• Support Operational Planning Teams (OPTs), working groups, synchronization meetings, and planning events through preparation, coordination, documentation, and follow-up actions.
• Develop and maintain briefing materials, information papers, planning documents, and decision-support products for senior leadership.
• Edit, format, and review planning products to ensure clarity, consistency, accuracy, and compliance with established organizational standards.
• Maintain version control and staffing records for planning products, coordination packages, and operational documentation.
• Support planning synchronization efforts to ensure alignment of assumptions, inputs, guidance, and deliverables across organizations.
• Assist with posture planning initiatives and implementation tracking activities as directed by government leadership.
• Monitor planning actions and provide recurring updates regarding task status, coordination efforts, and pending actions.
• Provide guidance and mentorship to junior personnel regarding planning support processes, staffing procedures, and product quality standards.
• Support quality assurance reviews of operational planning products and documentation prior to leadership review and release.
• Participate in operational planning meetings, conferences, exercises, and related planning activities.
• Perform additional duties as assigned in support of mission requirements.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Military Studies, International Relations, National Security, Strategic Studies, Public Administration, Business Administration, or related field.
• Active TS/SCI Clearance
• Minimum of seven (7) years of experience supporting military, joint, or federal operational planning activities.
• Experience supporting operational planning teams, working groups, staffing actions, and senior leader planning processes.
• Demonstrated experience developing, editing, and coordinating briefing decks, information papers, and formal planning documents.
• Working knowledge of the Marine Corps Planning Process (MCPP) and Joint Planning Process (JPP).
• Familiarity with Joint Planning and Execution Community (JPEC) processes and operational planning forums.
• Strong written, verbal, organizational, and analytical communication skills.
• Ability to manage multiple planning requirements and competing priorities in fast-paced operational environments.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Teams.
• Completion of career-level professional military education or equivalent service school.
• Ability to obtain and maintain required security access and eligibility requirements.
• Must be legally authorized to work in the United States without employer sponsorship.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Strategic Studies, Defense Analysis, Public Policy, Operations Research, National Security, or related field.
• Advanced operational planning education or joint operational planning coursework.
• Completion of intermediate or senior-level professional military education programs.
• Experience supporting USINDOPACOM, MARFORPAC, Headquarters Marine Corps, combatant commands, service component headquarters, or Marine Expeditionary Force headquarters.
• Experience supporting posture planning, campaign planning, or operational synchronization activities.
• Prior military experience supporting operational planning, plans, operations, or strategy functions.
• Doctoral degree in a relevant discipline.
• Professional certifications related to project management, planning, or operational analysis.

Physical Requirements: The ideal candidate must at a minimum be able to meet the following physical requirements of the job with or without a reasonable accommodation:  

• Ability to perform repetitive motions with the hands, wrists, and fingers.  

• Ability to engage in and follow audible communications in emergency situations.  

• Ability to sit for prolonged periods at a desk and working on a computer. 

The Nakupuna Companies use a market-based compensation strategy to ensure that our employees are compensated within applicable market ranges commensurate with multiple factors, including but not limited to the individual’s particular combination of education, knowledge, skills, competencies, and experience, as well as contract-specific affordability, organizational requirements, and position location. The projected compensation range for this position is $95,000.00 to $120,000.00 (annualized USD). The salary range displayed represents the typical salary range for this position and is just one component of Nakupuna Companies total compensation package for employees. 

Salary : $95,000 - $120,000