Policy
OPM provides policy direction and leadership in designing, developing, and promulgating Government-wide human resources systems, programs, and policies that support the current and emerging needs of Federal agencies. In addition, OPM provides technical support and guidance to agencies regarding the full range of human resources (HR) management policies and practices. OPM responds to agency requests to exercise certain Government-wide personnel management authorities that are centrally administered or subject to OPM approval under the law/regulation. The agency also provides stewardship and supports the implementation of Administration priorities and goals concerning Government-wide human capital management matters.
Service
OPM provides HR products and services to meet the evolving human capital needs and mission requirements of the Federal Government. The products and services are designed to enable the execution of Government-wide HR strategy and policy as well as the human capital priorities of each Administration. To support this activity, OPM has a nationwide cadre of human capital specialists, psychologists, educators, IT specialists, and program managers along with numerous private sector allies that assist Federal agencies in developing leaders, attracting and building a high quality public sector workforce, deploying Human Resources Information Technology Transformation (HRITT) capabilities and strategies, and transforming these agencies into high performing organizations.
OPM provides agencies with access to pre-competed private contractors through a unique partnership between OPM and the General Services Administration (GSA) as part of the Government-wide Category Management effort. The private contractors, comprised of large and small companies, complement OPM’s internal capabilities in the areas of human capital management, organizational design, and learning and development. These companies observe Federal HR rules and policies in order to provide their products and services to Federal agencies under the oversight and guidance of OPM experts.
OPM provides a leadership development continuum that enables Federal executives, managers, and aspiring leaders to acquire knowledge and master skills so they can lead within a rapidly changing Government environment. Anchored by the Federal Executive Institute, OPM’s leadership development infrastructure and programs also include the Eastern and Western Management Development Centers, the Presidential Management Fellows Program, and the Lab at OPM.
OPM generates Government-wide benefit through HRITT consolidation, standardization, and modernization. OPM offers Federal HRITT systems such as Enterprise Human Resource Integration, USA Learning, USA Staffing, USA Hire, and USA Performance. Also, OPM also is developing the necessary information technology infrastructure to facilitate the exchange of human resources data and information Government-wide. Through its Human Resources Line of Business, OPM leads the Government-wide transformation of human resources information technology by focusing on modernization, integration, and performance assessment.
OPM maintains USAJOBS, the official job site of the Federal Government. It is the one-stop source for Federal jobs and employment information by which Federal agencies meet their legal obligations to provide public notice of Federal employment opportunities to Federal employees and American citizens. Many agencies use this platform even when it is not required. The USAJOBS website is thus the portal for Federal recruitment for most Government positions, whether competitively or non-competitively sourced.
Oversight
Through OPM’s oversight evaluation work, special studies, and collaboration with agencies, OPM makes sure Federal human resources programs and human capital management systems are effective and meet merit system principles and related civil service requirements. OPM works directly with agencies to make improvements or changes to programs that are ineffective, inefficient, or not in compliance with Federal law to help them achieve mission objectives. OPM also adjudicates classification appeals, job grading appeals, Fair Labor Standards Act claims, compensation and leave claims, and declination of reasonable appeals, which provide Federal employees with procedural rights to challenge compensation and related agency decisions.