Future Operational Planner (FOPS)

Position Location: Camp Smith, HI (Company Headquarters is in Massachusetts)

Makai LLC is seeking a skilled Future Operational Planner (FOPS) to support organizational planning functions by monitoring strategies, policies, directives, and operational requirements. The role is focused on developing plans and orders using operational art and design, facilitating briefings, and integrating new capabilities (including cyber) into planning processes for training, exercises, contingency operations, and ongoing initiatives. This individual acts as a key advisor for current and future operations, bringing subject matter expertise to support synchronized actions across diverse teams and objectives. The role may include support for specialized operations such as amphibious or joint force initiatives.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Apply expert knowledge of the Marine Corps Planning Process (MCPP) or equivalent structured planning processes in both Service and Joint operational environments.
• Lead Operational Planning Teams (OPTs) in deliberate, crisis action, and contingency planning.
• Provide expertise in force management processes, including force sourcing, allocation, and apportionment.
• Demonstrate comprehensive understanding of organizational capabilities, force structure, and limitations in operational planning and force employment.
• Support Crisis Action Planning Teams (CAPTs) and facilitate the transition from deliberate planning to executable crisis/contingency orders.
• Review, analyze, and provide recommendations for high-level operational plans, orders, and initiatives, including handling information of a sensitive or classified nature.
• Draft and produce order modifications (e.g., FRAGOs, WARNOs) and branch plans, ensuring integration with current operations and broader planning efforts.
• Support planning and operational battle rhythm events, ensuring the capture and timely dissemination of required meeting notes, products, and briefings.
• Maintain planning products, information papers, orders, and directives in compliance with records management requirements.
• Coordinate planning tasks and equities among various functional and planning groups, synchronizing future operations and planning elements.
• Conduct analysis, develop recommendations, and produce planning products under operational timelines and tight deadlines.

Degree/Education and Experience Requirements

• Bachelor's degree

Clearance Requirements

• Active DoD TS/SCI clearance.

Required Skills

• Minimum of 6 years of related experience in planning, operational analysis, or a similar function.
• Demonstrated experience using planning processes in support of organizational strategic or operational objectives.
• Strong background in developing operational plans, drafting orders, and supporting coordination for across teams or departments.

Preferred Qualifications (Desired)

• Master's Degree
• Experience supporting planning efforts for joint, combined, or multi-organizational environments.
• Knowledge of operational art/design concepts and the ability to frame complex planning efforts for competition, crisis, and contingency scenarios.
• Familiarity with developing or integrating new operational capabilities (e.g., cyber, exercise planning).
• Experience supporting contingency, crisis action, or training exercise planning efforts.
• Demonstrated ability to deliver analytic recommendations, reports, and executive-level briefings.

Working Conditions

• Sitting at desk. Phone use and PC or laptop. Filing required. May require lifting and carrying boxes of supplies or files up to 25 lbs. Extended periods of sitting while on PC/laptop or phone.
• General office equipment, which includes telephone, fax machine, copier, PC/laptop, and other miscellaneous office equipment.
• Regular attendance in accordance with established work schedule is mandatory.
• You may be asked to continue performance during inclement weather or other conditions when others are not permitted to work
• Travel 10+%
• Candidates must exhibit professional behavior that promotes teamwork, fosters cooperation, and enhances productivity in the workplace. Must be well organized with the ability to coordinate, prioritize and execute multiple tasks simultaneously in a high-pressure environment. Ability to communicate verbally and in writing to work effectively with a variety of government, military and contractor personnel at all levels.
• Candidates must be able to interface effectively with individuals at all levels of the organization.
• Grooming and dress is usually business casual, but dependent on client's standards. Must not pose a safety hazard to employees working in the same general area.

Estimated Compensation

• $82,000 - $92,000

Individual salaries are determined by a variety of factors including but not limited to employee's experience, skills, education, industry, location, company size, and overall market demand.

General Description of Benefits and Other Compensation to be Offered:

• 11 Federal Holidays with Pay
• Vacation (Personal/sick leave)
• Medical, Dental, Vision
• Wellness Participation
• Weight Loss Reimbursement
• Health Care Flex Spending
• Short Term/Long Term Disability
• Simple IRA (Savings Incentive Match Plan)
• Basic Life Insurance
• Tuition Assistance Program
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Other Paid Absences
• Professional Memberships
• Overtime Pay
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA)

As an EOE/AA employer, Makai, LLC will not discriminate in its employment practices due to an applicant's race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, and veteran or disability status.