Operational Planning and Posture SME

Nakupuna Consulting is seeking an Operational Planning & Posture Subject Matter Expert (SME) to support Marine Forces Pacific (MARFORPAC) operational planning activities and posture planning integration within the Indo-Pacific theater. The selected candidate will serve as a senior advisor and technical authority supporting deliberate planning processes, planning product quality assurance, operational integration, and senior leader decision-support activities.

The Operational Planning & Posture SME will provide expert-level guidance on planning standards, staffing processes, operational integration, and planning product development across joint and service planning efforts. This role focuses on resolving complex planning challenges, improving planning-support quality, and ensuring high-visibility products remain aligned with organizational guidance and operational objectives.

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

Provide subject matter expertise supporting deliberate planning and posture planning integration activities across operational and campaign planning efforts.
• Develop and maintain planning-support standards, templates, quality control processes, staffing procedures, and version-control practices for operational planning activities.
• Advise government leadership on complex planning-support approaches, staffing coordination strategies, integration methods, and operational decision-support processes.
• Conduct senior-level technical reviews of briefing materials, information papers, operational plans, and senior leader products to ensure clarity, consistency, accuracy, and decision-readiness.
• Analyze and resolve complex planning integration challenges involving conflicting guidance, incomplete information, competing priorities, and operational risk considerations.
• Translate operational guidance, policy updates, and strategic direction into actionable planning recommendations and posture planning considerations.
• Provide mentorship and guidance to planning personnel regarding staff writing, planning coordination, editorial standards, and product quality expectations.
• Support Operational Planning Teams (OPTs), working groups, and planning forums by strengthening analytical framing, operational narratives, and decision-support criteria.
• Assess planning workflows, staffing processes, and operational coordination procedures to identify opportunities for process improvement and reduced rework.
• Support operational synchronization efforts across headquarters staff elements, subordinate commands, joint stakeholders, and mission partners.
• Assist with development and refinement of planning methodologies, operational documentation standards, and planning-support best practices.
• Participate in planning conferences, operational assessments, exercises, and senior-level planning discussions in support of mission objectives.
• Provide expert review and feedback on operational planning documentation prior to leadership approval and release.
• Perform additional duties as assigned in support of mission requirements.

Required Qualifications

• Master's degree in Military Studies, Strategic Studies, National Security, International Relations, Public Policy, Operations Research, or related field, or equivalent practical experience.
• Active TS/SCI Clearance
• Minimum of ten (10) years of experience supporting joint, service-level, or combatant command operational planning and senior leader decision-support activities.
• Demonstrated experience supporting Joint Planning and Execution Community (JPEC) planning forums and operational staffing processes.
• Extensive knowledge and practical application experience with the Marine Corps Planning Process (MCPP) and Joint Planning Process (JPP).
• Demonstrated expertise developing, reviewing, editing, and coordinating operational planning products and senior leader briefing materials.
• Experience establishing or enforcing planning standards, staffing procedures, and operational documentation quality controls.
• Strong analytical, organizational, writing, and communication skills.
• Ability to work independently and provide expert-level guidance in complex operational planning environments.
• Completion of career-level and intermediate-level professional military education or equivalent service school programs.
• 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

• Advanced operational planning education or joint operational planning coursework.
• Completion of senior-level professional military education programs or war college equivalents.
• Experience supporting USINDOPACOM, MARFORPAC, Headquarters Marine Corps, combatant commands, service component headquarters, or Marine Expeditionary Force headquarters.
• Doctoral degree in a relevant discipline.
• Experience supporting posture planning, campaign planning, or operational synchronization initiatives.
• Prior military experience in operational planning, strategy, plans, or operations specialties.
• Professional certifications related to operational planning, program management, or organizational leadership.

Skills and Competencies

• Deep understanding of deliberate planning support and posture planning integration processes.
• Advanced analytical and problem-solving capabilities in complex operational environments.
• Expert-level writing, editing, and planning product quality assurance skills.
• Ability to provide senior-level advisory support and influence stakeholders across multiple organizations.
• Strong organizational awareness and operational integration skills.
• Ability to evaluate complex planning issues and recommend practical, mission-focused solutions.
• Experience improving planning workflows, staffing procedures, and operational coordination processes.

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 $113,000.00 to $135,000.00 (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.