Senior Planning Support Specialist

SAIC; Nevada (IA); On-site; USD 120,001 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

SAIC is hiring a Senior Planning Support Specialist to oversee planning support for MARFORPAC G-5. This position requires a Bachelor's degree with at least ten years of related experience or a Master's with eight years. Responsibilities include leading planning efforts, synchronizing inputs, and managing tasks to ensure timely outputs. The target salary range for this role is between $120,001 and $160,000, reflecting experience and other factors. Candidates must be prepared for a full-time schedule and occasional travel.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience related to military planning.
• Intermediate Level Schools (ILS) completion required.
• Experience producing briefing decks and formal documents.

Responsibilities

• Lead planning support efforts across operational cycles.
• Synchronize inputs across various military units.
• Manage planning tasks and decision points.

Skills

Deliberate planning support

Analytic framing

Writing and editing

Influencing without authority

Education

Bachelor's degree

Masters

PhD or JD

Job description

Minimum Clearance Required TS.SCI
Job ID 2610981
Location: Camp Smith, HI, US
Date Posted: 2026-04-03
Category: Defense/Intel
Subcategory: Military Operations
Schedule: Full-Time
Shift: Day Job
Travel: Yes - 10% of the time
Clearance Level Must Be Able to Obtain: None
Potential for Remote Work: ORA_ON_SITE

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.
• 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.