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