U.S. Office of Personnel Management - Ensuring the Federal Government has an effective civilian workforce

Application/Selection Process

Merit will be the driving principle in the selection process. OPM is aggressively recruiting candidates from inside Government and working closely with agencies to identify and meet their specific needs with regard to succession planning and hard-to-fill positions.

Application/Selection Process

• Vacancy announcement is posted on USAJOBS during the application period.

• Eligible candidates - individuals must be from within the Federal Government and show one year or more of leadership experience at the GS-15 level, or, if not on the GS schedule have comparable experience, to be considered.

• OPM, in partnership with participating agencies, will review, interview, and select candidates using OPM-approved guidelines.

• Selected candidates who meet the applicable requirements will serve in GS-15 positions or equivalent (temporary or permanent depending upon their existing positions) for the duration of their participation in the program.

• Candidates from within the Government who are not serving under career appointments or under career-type appointments will be given a temporary Schedule B appointment and serve in an applicable GS-15 position.

• Any candidate selected for the program becomes an employee of the selecting agency.

• Successful completion of both the program and Qualifications Review Board (QRB) process provides eligibility for appointment to the Senior Executive Service (SES) without further competition. However, successful completion of the program and QRB process does not guarantee placement in the SES.

• A Schedule B appointee who is not converted to an appointment in the SES or General Schedule by the end of his/her temporary Schedule B appointment has no fallback rights to another Federal position. However, the individual can compete for other Federal positions.

NOTE: OPM provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application, hiring or training process, please notify OPM. The decision on granting a reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.