Presidential Management Fellows Program

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“The purpose of the Program is to attract to the Federal service outstanding men and women from a variety of academic disciplines and career paths who have a clear interest in, and commitment to, excellence in the leadership and management of public policies and programs.” - President George W. Bush

The Presidential Management Fellows (PMF) program is a two year paid government fellowship sponsored by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) for recent graduate students who seek a two year fellowship in a U.S. government agency. Selection begins with the nomination of the student by the school followed by a rigorous assessment process. Agencies that hire PMFs include the Departments of Agriculture, Commerce, Defense, Education, Energy, Health and Human Services, Homeland Security, Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Interior, Justice, Labor, State, Transportation, Treasury, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Library of Congress, NASA and USAID. Following the conclusion of the two year fellowship, PMFs usually have the opportunity to convert their fellowship into a full-time permanent position.

Contents

[edit] Program history

The PMF Program was established by Executive Order in 1977, and amended by Executive Order in 2003 to attract to the Federal service outstanding men and women from a variety of academic disciplines and career paths who have a clear interest in, and commitment to, excellence in the leadership and management of public policies and programs. By drawing graduate students from diverse social and cultural backgrounds, the PMF Program provides a continuing source of trained men and women to meet the future challenges of public service. The PMF program was formerly referred to as the Presidential Management Internship (PMI) program.

[edit] Eligibility

Graduate students from all academic disciplines who expect to complete an advanced degree from a qualifying college or university by August 31 of the academic year in which the competition is held, are eligible to become Fellows. Potential fellows should demonstrate breadth and quality of accomplishments, capacity for leadership, and a commitment to excellence in the leadership and management of public policies and programs. Opportunities for Federal employment for non-United States citizens through the Presidential Management Fellows Program are extremely limited.

Steps to nomination as PMF finalist

1. Graduate School nomination: Graduate student applicant applies directly to their college or university for nomination, in early August/September the student plans to graduate. Institutions are not limited by OPM in the number of students they can nominate but may create their own selection processes.

2. Written application process: With their institution's nomination granted, student submits Online Application and Resume Builder, including the Accomplishment Record to OPM. Once the nominee's electronic application is received by OPM, a pre-assessment will be conducted to select semi-finalists based on documentation provided in the Accomplishment Record portion of the student's application as well as veterans' preference. After this initial review process, semi-finalists are selected and invited to participate in a structured assessment center process during the months of January and February 2006.

3. One-day assessment: Semi-finalists are selected and invited to participate in a one-day structured assessment center process during the months of January and February. Students can select to attend an assessment in a geographically convenient location throughout the United States. Students are rated on written skills, speaking skills, and group participation. Based on the one-day assessment scores, and any veterans' preference adjudication, nominees are ranked and notified of their PMF finalist status in March of each year.

4. PMF finalist notification and Job Fair: PMF finalists are invited to attend the annual PMF job fair in Washington DC in April at the finalist's own expense, where government agencies conduct interviewing and in some cases, provide offers on the spot. Once a finalist is offered a position, pending the below criteria, finalists are appointed to Presidential Management fellowship positions.

5. Appointment of fellowship: Finalists in the PMF Program may be appointed to government fellowships following: (1) official announcement of their selection as finalists, (2) completion of all graduate degree requirements (not necessarily to have graduated), including successful completion of any thesis or dissertation from a qualifying college or university, and (3) completion of security clearance process (if required by the hiring agency). PMF appointments must be made within twelve months of the official announcement of their selection as a finalist. For example, if finalists are named on March 9, 2005, then the finalist has until March 9, 2006, to be appointed as a Fellow.

How to apply

Frequently Asked Questions about PMF

[edit] Benefits

Fellows are hired at the GS-9,GS-11, or GS-12 levels with Excepted Service appointment status for the beginning of their two-year internship. Following satisfactory completion of the first year, they are eligible for promotion to the GS-11 level. After the second year, they are eligible for conversion to career or career-conditional status at the GS-11 or GS-12 level, depending on their total length of service, and the career potential of their position.

OPM sponsors a two day PMF orientation program within the first year of the fellowship and a two day PMF graduation program at the conclusion of the fellowship.

Training has always been considered a fundamental part of the PMF Program. Hiring agencies are responsible for ensuring that Fellows receive at least 80 hours of formal classroom training each year of the fellowship. For each Fellow, the appointing agency will provide a minimum of 80 hours per year of formal classroom training that addresses the core competencies required of the occupation or functional discipline in which the Fellow will most likely be placed upon completion of the Program and conversion to a full-time, permanent position.

Each Fellow should create an Individual Development Plans (IDP), is an important part of the 2-year internship. The IDP process helps to make the internship a positive experience for both the agency and the intern. Each PMF is required to develop an IDP with assistance from his or her supervisor. The IDP must contain specific descriptions of assignments and learning objectives, and incorporate other elements of the program such as rotations, career development group participation, and training events. An IDP should be considered a vital and flexible planning document to be reviewed periodically and revised as appropriate.

Hiring agencies are also to provide Fellows with at least one developmental assignment of 4 to 6 months in duration in the occupation or functional discipline in which the Fellow will most likely be placed, with full-time management and/or technical responsibilities consistent with the Individual Development Plan.

As employees of the Federal Government, PMFs earn annual leave and sick leave, and are paid for Federal holidays. PMFs are covered under the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS). Upon appointment, PMFs may elect life insurance, health insurance, and Thrift Savings Plan options.

Federal agencies are authorized to repay student loans under the Federal Student Loan Repayment Program, as provided for in part 537 of title 5, Code of Federal Regulations. The amount paid by the agency is subject to the following maximum limits: (1) $10,000 per employee per calendar year, and (2) a total of $60,000 per employee. Presidential Management Fellows are eligible to receive student loan repayments, but these programs are agency-specific.

[edit] External links

[edit] Alumni

The non-profit Presidential Management Alumni Group (PMAG) was organized in 1981 to advance the professionalism of public service and augment the education and career development of those who have served in or assisted the PMF Program. PMAG is not sponsored by OPM. The membership is comprised of former and current Fellows, and other individuals interested in recruitment and development of Federal Government career managers. PMAG sponsors professional and social activities, maintains a network among the over 3,500 former Fellows, and provides support to maintain the PMF Program as the Federal Government’s premier mechanism for recruiting future managers.

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