career development
Core Competencies
The following lists of competencies contain tasks and behaviors that are considered important to the entire Code 400 workforce rather than only to members of a particular discipline area. There is one list for each career level, and each list is organized into major categories. The 360-degree assessment tool that is being developed for the Code 400 workforce will be based on these competencies.
Core FPD Competencies Level 1 (Non-supervisory)
Tasks/Behavior
- Continual Learning Seeks and makes use of feedback from others.
- Invests time and energy in self-development and growth.
- Integrates the acquisition of knowledge or skills (e.g., team-sharing, lessons learned, sharing information databases) into day-to-day work.
- Internal and External Awareness Maintains currency with laws, regulations, policies, procedures, trends, and developments.
- Understands general roles and responsibilities of Headquarters, Enterprises, Installations, Lead Centers, Centers of Excellence, and functional offices.
- Understands Agency plans and agreements relevant to the mission.
- Flexibility Remains open to new ideas and approaches.
- Resilience Responds constructively to reversals and setbacks (e.g., identifies lessons learned, looks for other opportunities to succeed).
- Demonstrates belief in one's own abilities, ideas, and self-worth and maintains a positive view of self, even during difficult times.
- Maintains a professional demeanor in stressful and difficult situations.
- Maintains a healthy balance between personal life and work.
- Service Motivation Demonstrates a commitment to quality public service through statements and actions.
- Vision Aligns personal vision with Installation, functional, and programmatic goals and objectives.
- Conflict Management Attempts to resolve interpersonal and inter-group conflict constructively through self-management.
- Takes steps to resolve conflict situations.
- Cultural Awareness Honors cultures and values different from one's own.
- Integrity/Honesty Models and encourages high standards of honesty, integrity, trust, openness, and respect for others.
- Demonstrates a sense of responsibility and commitment to public trust.
- Demonstrates congruence between statements and actions.
- Team Building Inspires, motivates, and guides others toward goal accomplishment.
- Emphasizes cooperation and a team approach to work.
- Builds trust and open communication among team members and with stakeholders.
- Accountability Takes responsibility for actions.
- Decisiveness Exercises good judgment by making sound and well-informed decisions.
- Problem Solving Recognizes, defines, and analyzes problems and issues.
- Obtains relevant data before making a decision.
- Develops alternative solutions and plans to solve problems.
- Uses qualitative and quantitative data and analytical tools in problem solving.
- Technical Credibility Keeps abreast of major developments in discipline area and demonstrates competency within areas of functional responsibility.
- Understands the NASA business approach including full-cost, performance-based contracting, best value, ISO 9000, single-process initiative, leveraging technology, outsourcing, and commercial off-the shelf.
- Understands NPG 7120.5A and applies as appropriate within area of responsibility.
- Serves as consultant/advisor to technical working groups and advisory panels to recommend solutions to technical and programmatic problems.
- Participates and/or leads in Agency, inter-Center, cross-code, special team, and committee activities and assignments.
- Demonstrates and appreciates safety for self and others in all actions and activities.
- Appropriately applies procedures, requirements, regulations, policies, and standards related to specialized areas of expertise.
- Influencing Is an effective advocate for the program/project both within and external to NASA.
- Applies appropriate negotiation approaches to find mutually beneficial solutions to problems and/or conflicts.
- Persuades others to consider alternative points of view.
- Gains cooperation from others to obtain information and accomplish goals.
- Interpersonal Skills Demonstrates an understanding of others' needs.
- Considers and responds appropriately to the needs, feelings, and capabilities of others.
- Treats all individuals with sensitivity and respect.
- Oral Communications Orally expresses ideas and facts in a clear, organized, and convincing manner in a style, tone, and level appropriate to the audience and the occasion.
- Listens to others and shows understanding of what they are saying.
- Facilitates an open exchange of ideas.
- Partnering Effectively develops networks and builds alliances with key individuals or groups.
- Written Communications Expresses facts and ideas in writing in a clear, convincing, and organized manner that is appropriate to the audience and occasion.
- Reviews and critiques the writing of others in a constructive and substantive manner.
Core FPD Competencies Level 2 (Supervisor/Team Leader)
Tasks/Behavior
- Creativity and Innovation Develops insights, innovative solutions, and non-traditional approaches to improve organizational effectiveness.
- Creates an environment that encourages, recognizes, and rewards risk-taking, creativity, and innovation.
- Designs and implements new or innovative programs/processes.
- Initiates actions that involve risk to achieve a recognized benefit or advantage.
- Continual Learning Seeks and makes use of feedback from others.
- Invests time and energy in self-development and growth.
- Integrates the acquisition of knowledge or skills (e.g., team-sharing, lessons learned, sharing information databases) into day-to-day work.
- Creates systems that facilitate communication of knowledge internal and external to NASA.
- Internal and External Awareness Maintains currency with laws, regulations, policies, procedures, trends, and developments.
- Understands general roles and responsibilities of Headquarters, Enterprises, Installations, Lead Centers, Centers of Excellence, and functional offices.
- Understands Agency plans and agreements relevant to the mission.
- Understands and makes effective use of the basic principles and processes for resources allocation, acquisition, and management.
- Determines how to sustain or achieve a competitive advantage for the organization by analyzing the best practices and lessons learned from other organizations.
- Flexibility Adjusts behavior and work methods in response to management priorities, multiple demands, new information, changing conditions, unexpected obstacles, and ambiguity.
- Remains open to new ideas and approaches.
- Works concurrently on related and/or conflicting priorities without losing focus or attention.
- Resilience Responds constructively to reversals and setbacks (e.g., identifies lessons learned, looks for other opportunities to succeed).
- Demonstrates belief in one's own abilities, ideas, and self-worth and maintains a positive view of self, even during difficult times.
- Maintains a professional demeanor in stressful and difficult situations.
- Maintains a healthy balance between personal life and work.
- Service Motivation Demonstrates a commitment to quality public service through statements and actions.
- Vision Articulates and actively supports the Agency's vision in a way that causes employees at all levels to understand the organization's goals,
values, and strategies.
- Aligns personal vision with Installation, functional, and programmatic goals and objectives.
- Conflict Management Attempts to resolve interpersonal and inter-group conflict constructively through self-management.
- Takes steps to resolve conflict situations.
- Addresses and seeks to resolve formal and informal complaints from employees.
- Cultural Awareness Honors cultures and values different from one's own.
- Understands how cultures differ and how these differences impact work behavior.
- Creates an environment in which individuals are equally respected and recognized for their perspectives and contributions.
- Provides employment and development opportunities to foster a diverse workforce.
- Integrity/Honesty Models and encourages high standards of honesty, integrity, trust, openness, and respect for others.
- Creates a culture that fosters high standards of ethics.
- Demonstrates integrity by honoring commitments and promises.
- Demonstrates a sense of responsibility and commitment to public trust.
- Demonstrates congruence between statements and actions.
- Team Building Empowers others by sharing power and authority.
- Inspires, motivates, and guides others toward goal accomplishment.
- Emphasizes cooperation and a team approach to work.
- Creates an environment that encourages and rewards cooperation, collective problem-solving and participative decision-making.
- Builds trust and open communication among team members and with stakeholders.
- Develops leadership in others through coaching, mentoring, and rewarding.
- Accountability Takes responsibility for actions.
- Monitors programs and/or activities and takes corrective actions when necessary.
- Encourages others to take ownership of work, products, services, and results.
- Customer Service Identifies and anticipates the needs of customers and integrates customer, stakeholder, and partner needs and expectations into the development and delivery of services or products.
- Establishes and uses feedback systems to meet customer requirements and expectations.
- Decisiveness Makes difficult or controversial decisions when necessary.
- Exercises good judgment by making sound and well-informed decisions.
- Problem Solving Recognizes, defines, and analyzes problems and issues.
- Obtains relevant data before making a decision.
- Develops alternative solutions and plans to solve problems.
- Uses qualitative and quantitative data and analytical tools in problem solving.
- Technical Credibility Keeps abreast of major developments in discipline area and demonstrates competency within areas of functional responsibility.
- Understands the NASA business approach including full-cost, performance-based contracting, best value, ISO 9000, single-process initiative, leveraging technology, outsourcing, and commercial off-the shelf.
- Understands NPG 7120.5A and applies as appropriate within area of responsibility.
- Serves as consultant/advisor to technical working groups and advisory panels to recommend solutions to technical and programmatic problems.
- Participates and/or leads in Agency, inter-Center, cross-code, special team, and committee activities and assignments.
- Demonstrates and appreciates safety for self and others in all actions and activities.
- Appropriately applies procedures, requirements, regulations, policies, and standards related to specialized areas of expertise.
- Human Resources Management Takes an active role in recruiting, training, and developing of staff, including mentoring, cross-functional assignments, job rotations, stretch assignments, and mobility to new roles and positions.
- Identifies performance expectations, assesses employee performance, gives timely feedback, and conducts formal performance appraisals.
- Recognizes and rewards team members based on performance.
- Takes timely and appropriate corrective/disciplinary actions with employees.
- Supports programs and activities that promote employee well being and balance.
- Technology Management Ensures self and staff are trained and capable in new information technology.
- Strategically integrates information technologies into the workplace to improve organizational effectiveness and effectively lead virtual work, e.g., telecommuting and virtual teams.
- Seeks, evaluates, and appropriately adopts new technologies into mission systems.
- Influencing Is an effective advocate for the program/project both within and external to NASA.
- Applies appropriate negotiation approaches to find mutually beneficial solutions to problems and/or conflicts.
- Persuades others to consider alternative points of view.
- Uses position appropriately to achieve goals.
- Gains cooperation from others to obtain information and accomplish goals.
- Interpersonal Skills Demonstrates an understanding of others' needs.
- Provides appropriate feedback in a manner that reinforces or elicits desirable behavior.
- Considers and responds appropriately to the needs, feelings, and capabilities of others.
- Treats all individuals with sensitivity and respect.
- Oral Communications Orally expresses ideas and facts in a clear, organized, and convincing manner in a style, tone, and level appropriate to the audience and the occasion.
- Listens to others and shows understanding of what they are saying.
- Facilitates an open exchange of ideas.
- Partnering Effectively develops networks and builds alliances with key individuals or groups.
- Written Communications Expresses facts and ideas in writing in a clear, convincing, and organized manner that is appropriate to the audience and occasion.
- Reviews and critiques the writing of others in a constructive and substantive manner.
Core FPD Competencies Level 3 (Manager)
Tasks/Behavior
- Creativity and Innovation Develops insights, innovative solutions, and non-traditional approaches to improve organizational effectiveness.
- Creates an environment that encourages, recognizes, and rewards risk-taking, creativity, and innovation.
- Designs and implements new or innovative programs/processes.
- Initiates actions that involve risk to achieve a recognized benefit or advantage.
- Continual Learning Seeks and makes use of feedback from others.
- Invests time and energy in self-development and growth.
- Integrates the acquisition of knowledge or skills (e.g., team-sharing, lessons learned, sharing information databases) into day-to-day work.
- Creates systems that facilitate communication of knowledge internal and external to NASA.
- Internal and External Awareness Maintains currency with laws, regulations, policies, procedures, trends, and developments.
- Understands general roles and responsibilities of Headquarters, Enterprises, Installations, Lead Centers, Centers of Excellence, and functional offices.
- Understands Agency plans and agreements relevant to the mission.
- Understands and makes effective use of the basic principles and processes for resources allocation, acquisition, and management.
- Determines how to sustain or achieve a competitive advantage for the organization by analyzing the best practices and lessons learned from other organizations.
- Flexibility Adjusts behavior and work methods in response to management priorities, multiple demands, new information, changing conditions, unexpected obstacles, and ambiguity.
- Remains open to new ideas and approaches.
- Works concurrently on related and/or conflicting priorities without losing focus or attention.
- Resilience Responds constructively to reversals and setbacks (e.g., identifies lessons learned, looks for other opportunities to succeed).
- Demonstrates belief in one's own abilities, ideas, and self-worth and maintains a positive view of self, even during difficult times.
- Maintains a professional demeanor in stressful and difficult situations.
- Maintains a healthy balance between personal life and work.
- Service Motivation Creates and fosters a culture that encourages a commitment to public service.
- Demonstrates a commitment to quality public service through statements and actions.
- Strategic Thinking Develops objectives and sets priorities consistent with the organization's long-term strategies.
- Adjusts strategic policies and plans in response to change, both internal and external.
- Vision Articulates and actively supports the Agency's vision in a way that causes employees at all levels to understand the organization's goals,
values, and strategies.
- Aligns personal vision with Installation, functional, and programmatic goals and objectives.
- Takes a long-term view and acts as a catalyst and champion of change.
- Conflict Management Attempts to resolve interpersonal and inter-group conflict constructively through self-management.
- Takes steps to resolve conflict situations.
- Addresses and seeks to resolve formal and informal complaints from employees.
- Cultural Awareness Honors cultures and values different from one's own.
- Understands how cultures differ and how these differences impact work behavior.
- Creates an environment in which individuals are equally respected and recognized for their perspectives and contributions.
- Provides employment and development opportunities to foster a diverse workforce.
- Integrity/Honesty Models and encourages high standards of honesty, integrity, trust, openness, and respect for others.
- Creates a culture that fosters high standards of ethics.
- Demonstrates integrity by honoring commitments and promises.
- Demonstrates a sense of responsibility and commitment to public trust.
- Demonstrates congruence between statements and actions.
- Team Building Empowers others by sharing power and authority.
- Inspires, motivates, and guides others toward goal accomplishment.
- Emphasizes cooperation and a team approach to work.
- Creates an environment that encourages and rewards cooperation, collective problem-solving and participative decision-making.
- Builds trust and open communication among team members and with stakeholders.
- Develops leadership in others through coaching, mentoring, and rewarding.
- Accountability Assures that effective organizational level status and control mechanisms are developed and maintained to ensure performance of the organization.
- Takes responsibility for actions.
- Identifies how organizational or program results will be measured.
- Monitors programs and/or activities and takes corrective actions when necessary.
- Encourages others to take ownership of work, products, services, and results.
- Customer Service Identifies and anticipates the needs of customers and integrates customer, stakeholder, and partner needs and expectations into the development and delivery of services or products.
- Establishes and uses feedback systems to meet customer requirements and expectations.
- Decisiveness Makes difficult or controversial decisions when necessary.
- Exercises good judgment by making sound and well-informed decisions.
- Problem Solving Recognizes, defines, and analyzes problems and issues.
- Obtains relevant data before making a decision.
- Develops alternative solutions and plans to solve problems.
- Uses qualitative and quantitative data and analytical tools in problem solving.
- Technical Credibility Keeps abreast of major developments in discipline area and demonstrates competency within areas of functional responsibility.
- Understands the NASA business approach including full-cost, performance-based contracting, best value, ISO 9000, single-process initiative, leveraging technology, outsourcing, and commercial off-the shelf.
- Understands NPG 7120.5A and applies as appropriate within area of responsibility.
- Plans for needed or mandated changes in size and composition of staff.
- Serves as consultant/advisor to technical working groups and advisory panels to recommend solutions to technical and programmatic problems.
- Participates and/or leads in Agency, inter-Center, cross-code, special team, and committee activities and assignments.
- Demonstrates and appreciates safety for self and others in all actions and activities.
- Appropriately applies procedures, requirements, regulations, policies, and standards related to specialized areas of expertise.
- Human Resources Management Takes an active role in recruiting, training, and developing of staff, including mentoring, cross-functional assignments, job rotations, stretch assignments, and mobility to new roles and positions.
- Identifies performance expectations, assesses employee performance, gives timely feedback, and conducts formal performance appraisals.
- Recognizes and rewards team members based on performance.
- Takes timely and appropriate corrective/disciplinary actions with employees.
- Supports programs and activities that promote employee well being and balance.
- Technology Management Ensures self and staff are trained and capable in new information technology.
- Strategically integrates information technologies into the workplace to improve organizational effectiveness and effectively lead virtual work, e.g., telecommuting and virtual teams.
- Seeks, evaluates, and appropriately adopts new technologies into mission systems.
- Influencing Is an effective advocate for the program/project both within and external to NASA.
- Applies appropriate negotiation approaches to find mutually beneficial solutions to problems and/or conflicts.
- Persuades others to consider alternative points of view.
- Uses position appropriately to achieve goals.
- Gains cooperation from others to obtain information and accomplish goals.
- Interpersonal Skills Demonstrates an understanding of others' needs.
- Provides appropriate feedback in a manner that reinforces or elicits desirable behavior.
- Considers and responds appropriately to the needs, feelings, and capabilities of others.
- Treats all individuals with sensitivity and respect.
- Oral Communications Orally expresses ideas and facts in a clear, organized, and convincing manner in a style, tone, and level appropriate to the audience and the occasion.
- Listens to others and shows understanding of what they are saying.
- Facilitates an open exchange of ideas.
- Partnering Effectively develops networks and builds alliances with key individuals or groups.
- Manages competition between individuals or groups to eliminate barriers to building partnerships.
- Political Savvy Keeps current with internal and external politics and issues that impact the work of the organization.
- Anticipates the internal and external implications of statements or actions.
- Considers political and organizational reality, the media, and special interests in decision-making.
- Written Communications Expresses facts and ideas in writing in a clear, convincing, and organized manner that is appropriate to the audience and occasion.
- Reviews and critiques the writing of others in a constructive and substantive manner.
Core FPD Competencies Level 4 (Program Manager/Executive)
Tasks/Behavior
- Creativity and Innovation Develops insights, innovative solutions, and non-traditional approaches to improve organizational effectiveness.
- Creates an environment that encourages, recognizes, and rewards risk-taking, creativity, and innovation.
- Designs and implements new or innovative programs/processes.
- Initiates actions that involve risk to achieve a recognized benefit or advantage.
- Continual Learning Seeks and makes use of feedback from others.
- Invests time and energy in self-development and growth.
- Integrates the acquisition of knowledge or skills (e.g., team-sharing, lessons learned, sharing information databases) into day-to-day work.
- Creates systems that facilitate communication of knowledge internal and external to NASA.
- Internal and External Awareness Maintains currency with laws, regulations, policies, procedures, trends, and developments.
- Understands general roles and responsibilities of Headquarters, Enterprises, Installations, Lead Centers, Centers of Excellence, and functional offices.
- Understands Agency plans and agreements relevant to the mission.
- Understands and makes effective use of the basic principles and processes for resources allocation, acquisition, and management.
- Determines how to sustain or achieve a competitive advantage for the organization by analyzing the best practices and lessons learned from other organizations.
- Flexibility Adjusts behavior and work methods in response to management priorities, multiple demands, new information, changing conditions, unexpected obstacles, and ambiguity.
- Remains open to new ideas and approaches.
- Works concurrently on related and/or conflicting priorities without losing focus or attention.
- Resilience Responds constructively to reversals and setbacks (e.g., identifies lessons learned, looks for other opportunities to succeed).
- Demonstrates belief in one's own abilities, ideas, and self-worth and maintains a positive view of self, even during difficult times.
- Maintains a professional demeanor in stressful and difficult situations.
- Maintains a healthy balance between personal life and work.
- Service Motivation Creates and fosters a culture that encourages a commitment to public service.
- Demonstrates a commitment to quality public service through statements and actions.
- Strategic Thinking Formulates effective strategies consistent with the business and a competitive strategy of the organization in a global economy.
- Applies a long-term perspective in analyzing policy issues and developing strategic plans.
- Develops objectives and sets priorities consistent with the organization's long-term strategies.
- Adjusts strategic policies and plans in response to change, both internal and external.
- Vision Creates a shared vision of the future for their organization that is aligned with the Agency's vision.
- Articulates and actively supports the Agency's vision in a way that causes employees at all levels to understand the organization's goals, values, and strategies.
- Aligns personal vision with Installation, functional, and programmatic goals and objectives.
- Takes a long-term view and acts as a catalyst and champion of change.
- Conflict Management Attempts to resolve interpersonal and inter-group conflict constructively through self-management.
- Takes steps to resolve conflict situations.
- Addresses and seeks to resolve formal and informal complaints from employees.
- Initiates and supports strategies and programs to manage conflict resulting from organizational change.
- Cultural Awareness Honors cultures and values different from one's own.
- Understands how cultures differ and how these differences impact work behavior.
- Creates an environment in which individuals are equally respected and recognized for their perspectives and contributions.
- Provides employment and development opportunities to foster a diverse workforce.
- Integrity/Honesty Models and encourages high standards of honesty, integrity, trust, openness, and respect for others.
- Creates a culture that fosters high standards of ethics.
- Demonstrates integrity by honoring commitments and promises.
- Demonstrates a sense of responsibility and commitment to public trust.
- Demonstrates congruence between statements and actions.
- Team Building Empowers others by sharing power and authority.
- Inspires, motivates, and guides others toward goal accomplishment.
- Emphasizes cooperation and a team approach to work.
- Creates an environment that encourages and rewards cooperation, collective problem-solving and participative decision-making.
- Builds trust and open communication among team members and with stakeholders.
- Develops leadership in others through coaching, mentoring, and rewarding.
- Accountability Assures that effective organizational level status and control mechanisms are developed and maintained to ensure performance of the organization.
- Takes responsibility for actions.
- Identifies how organizational or program results will be measured.
- Monitors programs and/or activities and takes corrective actions when necessary.
- Encourages others to take ownership of work, products, services, and results.
- Customer Service Identifies and anticipates the needs of customers and integrates customer, stakeholder, and partner needs and expectations into the development and delivery of services or products.
- Establishes and uses feedback systems to meet customer requirements and expectations.
- Decisiveness Makes difficult or controversial decisions when necessary.
- Exercises good judgment by making sound and well-informed decisions.
- Problem Solving Recognizes, defines, and analyzes problems and issues.
- Obtains relevant data before making a decision.
- Develops alternative solutions and plans to solve problems.
- Uses qualitative and quantitative data and analytical tools in problem solving.
- Technical Credibility Keeps abreast of major developments in discipline area and demonstrates competency within areas of functional responsibility.
- Understands the NASA business approach including full-cost, performance-based contracting, best value, ISO 9000, single-process initiative, leveraging technology, outsourcing, and commercial off-the shelf.
- Understands NPG 7120.5A and applies as appropriate within area of responsibility.
- Plans for needed or mandated changes in size and composition of staff.
- Serves as consultant/advisor to technical working groups and advisory panels to recommend solutions to technical and programmatic problems.
- Participates and/or leads in Agency, inter-Center, cross-code, special team, and committee activities and assignments.
- Demonstrates and appreciates safety for self and others in all actions and activities.
- Appropriately applies procedures, requirements, regulations, policies, and standards related to specialized areas of expertise.
- Human Resources Management Takes an active role in recruiting, training, and developing of staff, including mentoring, cross-functional assignments, job rotations, stretch assignments, and mobility to new roles and positions.
- Identifies performance expectations, assesses employee performance, gives timely feedback, and conducts formal performance appraisals.
- Recognizes and rewards team members based on performance.
- Takes timely and appropriate corrective/disciplinary actions with employees.
- Supports programs and activities that promote employee well being and balance.
- Technology Management Ensures self and staff are trained and capable in new information technology.
- Strategically integrates information technologies into the workplace to improve organizational effectiveness and effectively lead virtual work, e.g., telecommuting and virtual teams.
- Seeks, evaluates, and appropriately adopts new technologies into mission systems.
- Influencing Is an effective advocate for the program/project both within and external to NASA.
- Applies appropriate negotiation approaches to find mutually beneficial solutions to problems and/or conflicts.
- Persuades others to consider alternative points of view.
- Uses position appropriately to achieve goals.
- Gains cooperation from others to obtain information and accomplish goals.
- Interpersonal Skills Demonstrates an understanding of others' needs.
- Provides appropriate feedback in a manner that reinforces or elicits desirable behavior.
- Considers and responds appropriately to the needs, feelings, and capabilities of others.
- Treats all individuals with sensitivity and respect.
- Oral Communications Orally expresses ideas and facts in a clear, organized, and convincing manner in a style, tone, and level appropriate to the audience and the occasion.
- Listens to others and shows understanding of what they are saying.
- Facilitates an open exchange of ideas.
- Partnering Effectively develops networks and builds alliances with key individuals or groups.
- Manages competition between individuals or groups to eliminate barriers to building partnerships.
- Political Savvy Keeps current with internal and external politics and issues that impact the work of the organization.
- Anticipates the internal and external implications of statements or actions.
- Considers political and organizational reality, the media, and special interests in decision-making.
- Written Communications Expresses facts and ideas in writing in a clear, convincing, and organized manner that is appropriate to the audience and occasion.
- Reviews and critiques the writing of others in a constructive and substantive manner.