Operational Planning and Posture SME Jobs

Operational Planning & Posture SME

Cedar International LLC is currently seeking an Operational Planning & Posture SME. The Operational Planning & Posture SME is the branch's technical/functional authority for deliberate planning support and posture-related planning integration. The role defines and sustains planning-support rigorstandards, quality gates, and expert advisoryso 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.

Key Responsibilities:

• 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 (not meeting administration)
• Coach Senior and junior staff on advanced staff writing, editorial judgment, and staffing discipline through targeted reviews
• Assess systemic bottlenecks and recommend repeatable improvements to reduce rework and improve first-pass acceptance (without taking over daily execution)

Experience and Skills:

• Masters degree (or equivalent practical experience) in a relevant field
• Career level and intermediate level military education (Expeditionary Warfare School, Marine Corps Command and Staff College (other service equivalents))
• 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 (JPGs))
• 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
• 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

Physical Requirements:

• Willingness and ability to travel via locally provided aircraft, vehicles, and boats to remote locations.
• Ability to work in challenging environments, including high-threat areas and adverse weather conditions.
• Travel: Medium 25%
• Ability to work in secure, fast-paced operational environments. Must meet physical and medical standards for access to military facilities.
• Able to travel as required within PACAF/USINDOPACOM AOR.

What We Offer:

• Comprehensive benefits package
• 401k option
• Professional online learning opportunities and development
• Collaborative and supportive work environment
• Paid Time off (PTO)
• 11 Company Paid Holidays
• Hui Huliau and its subsidiaries are participants of E-Verify. Hui Huliau and its subsidiaries are drug free workplaces.