Operational Planning and Posture Subject Matter Expert

Operational Planning and Posture SME

As Operational Planning & Posture Subject Matter Expert (SME), you are the branch's technical/functional authority for deliberate planning support and posture-related planning integration. You define and sustain planning‑support rigor—standards, quality gates, and expert advisory—so high‑visibility products remain coherent, defensible, and aligned with guidance across the Joint Planning and Execution Community (JPEC). Unlike the Senior role, the SME does not own daily suspense tracking/battle rhythm execution;

the SME intervenes where complexity, risk, or ambiguity threatens outcomes. The position is located at Camp Smith, Hawaii.

• Must be a US Citizen with an active DoD Top Secret clearance, SCI eligible.

• Define planning‑support standards (templates, quality gates, staffing checklists, traceability expectations, version‑control conventions) for branch‑wide use.
• Advise government leads on complex planning‑support approaches (staffing strategy, integration paths, decision points, adjudication methods).
• Perform senior technical review of high‑visibility briefs, information papers, and final planning documents to ensure clarity, consistency, and decision‑readiness.
• Resolve the hardest integration problems (conflicting guidance, misaligned assumptions, incomplete inputs) and recommend defensible tradeoffs and mitigation paths.
• Translate policy/guidance into actionable planning inputs and posture initiative implications (as directed by government leads).
• Strengthen Operational Planning Team (OPT)/working group outcomes by shaping narratives, analytical framing, and decision‑quality criteria.
• Coach senior and junior staff on advanced staff writing, editorial judgment, and staffing discipline through targeted reviews and exemplars.
• Assess systemic bottlenecks and recommend repeatable improvements to reduce rework and improve first‑pass acceptance.

• Master's degree (or equivalent practical experience) in a relevant field.
• Career‑level and intermediate‑level military education (e.g., Expeditionary Warfare School, Marine Corps Command and Staff College or equivalent).
• 10+ years deep experience supporting joint/service planning and senior‑leader decision support, including production and critical review of staff products.
• Demonstrated mastery of JPEC planning forums and staffing dynamics (e.g., OPTs, joint planning groups).
• Knowledge and application experience in the Marine Corps Planning Process (MCPP) and Joint Planning Process (JPP).
• Expert capability drafting/editing planning products and enforcing consistency, traceability, and formatting discipline.
• Ability to comply with government workplace requirements and obtain/maintain any required access/eligibility.
• 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.

• Intermediate or top‑level operational planning education (e.g., JAWS, SAMS, MAWS, SAASS, or service/joint war colleges or fellowships).
• Senior PME (e.g., CGSC/ILE, USMC CSC, or naval/joint war college equivalents).
• Prior experience with USINDOPACOM, MARFORPAC, HQMC, a combatant command, service component, or MEF HQ.
• Doctoral degree in a relevant field.

• Regular physical activity to include walking, climbing stairs, bending, stooping, reaching, lifting (up to 30 pounds), and standing; occasional prolonged sitting.
• Ability to speak, read, hear and write, with or without assistance.
• Ability to use phone and computer systems, copier, fax and other office equipment.

This position description represents a summary of the major components and requirements of the outlined job. Other duties and responsibilities may be assigned or required as business needs dictate. Questions regarding this description should immediately be addressed to the department manager or to Human Resources.