SES
JOBS
THE sENIOR eXECUTIVE sERVICE
Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs),
Technical Qualifications (TQs),
Managerial Technical Qualifications (MTQs), or
Professional Technical Qualifications (PTQs)
The Senior Executive Service (SES)
The Senior Executive Service (SES) is a corps of approximately 6700 men and women who
administer public programs at the top levels of federal government. Positions
are primarily managerial and supervisory. SES pay is linked to individual
performance. Basic annual salaries range from $111,676 to $154,600; however, an
agency with a certified SES performance appraisal system can set basic pay at
rates up to $168,000. Members of the SES are not eligible for locality pay and
some positions include additional recruitment incentives.
The Civil Service Reform Act (CSRA) established a distinct personnel
system that applies the same executive qualifications requirements to all SES
members. The new system was designed to provide greater agency flexibility for
selecting and developing federal executives within a framework that preserves
the larger corporate interests of government. The SES covers managerial,
supervisory, and policy positions above GS-15 (including Executive Schedule IV
or V or equivalent positions) that are not filled by presidential appointment
with Senate confirmation.
This information is excerpted
from The Book of U.S. Government Jobs -
10th
edition and includes information on how to apply for SES positions,
salary, qualifications requirements, ECQs, and other helpful
information. This book will assist you with your job search and help you
understand the federal system. It takes readers step-by-step through the
recruiting process and covers everything from locating job vacancies,
evaluating job announcements, completing your resumes, KSAs and
applications, to preparing for the interview and everything in between.
To order call 1-800-782-7424. Many libraries have this book in their reference section.
Return
to top of page
How SES Jobs
Are Filled
Each federal agency independently determines the
qualifications required for SES positions, and whether to consider only current
federal civil service appointees or all qualified candidates. There are two
methods of entry into the SES:
- Apply directly to a federal agency for a
specific SES position.
- Apply for a federal agency’s SES
Candidate Development Program ( SESCDP). Qualifications Review Board
(QRB) certified graduates of an SESCDP advertised to "all
qualified Civil Service appointees" or "all qualified persons"
are eligible for (but not guaranteed) career appointment to an SES position
without further competition.
Return
to top of page
Qualifications Requirements
OHM convenes Qualifications Review Boards (QRBs) to
provide an independent peer review of candidates proposed for initial career
appointment to the SES. The candidate cannot be appointed to the SES until the
QRB certifies his/her executive qualifications. The QRB review is the critical
last step in the SES selection process. By focusing attention on executive
qualifications, the QRB helps ensure that technical skills do not outweigh
leadership expertise in the selection of new senior executives.
Applicants must meet two types of qualifications for SES
positions:
- The Executive Core Qualifications, which
apply to every SES position; and
- Specific, professional/technical
qualifications (if any) for the position being advertised.
Executive Core Qualifications
( ECQs) common to all SES positions:
Leading Change — The
ability to bring about strategic change, both within and outside the
organization, to meet organizational goals. Inherent to this ECQ is the
ability to establish an organizational vision and to implement it in a
continuously changing environment.
Leading People — The
ability to lead people toward meeting the organization's vision, mission,
and goals. Inherent to this ECQ is the ability to provide an inclusive
workplace that fosters the development of others, facilitates cooperation
and teamwork, and supports constructive resolution of conflicts.
Results Driven — The
ability to meet organizational goals and customer expectations. Inherent to
this ECQ is the ability to make decisions that produce high-quality results
by applying technical knowledge, analyzing problems, and calculating risks.
Business Acumen - The
ability to manage human, financial, and information resources
strategically.
Building Coalitions -
The ability to build coalitions internally and with other Federal agencies,
State and local governments, nonprofit and private sector organizations,
foreign governments, or international organizations to achieve common
goals.
The ECQs are mandatory qualification standards for every
SES position. Agencies may also identify specific, professional/technical
qualifications for the position being filled. The qualification standards for an
advertised SES position are listed in the agency’s vacancy announcement.
Applicants need to obtain a copy of the agency's vacancy announcement to respond
to these requirements.
Return
to top of page
Examination Process
Federal agencies review, rate, and rank applicants based
on the executive qualifications and the professional/technical qualifications
(if any) listed in the vacancy announcement. They also makes final selections
from among the best-qualified applicants, and submit a case to OPM for
Qualifications Review Board (QRB) consideration of the selectees.
Return
to top of page
Recruitment Incentives
Exceptional difficulty in recruiting highly qualified
applicants for SES positions may result in payment of recruitment or relocation
bonuses up to 25% of base pay (up to 100%, if approved by OPM), waiver of the
dual compensation restrictions that apply to civil service retirees, or
designation of the position for critical pay authority whereby total annual
salary may be established up to the Executive Schedule Level I rate (currently
$183,500 per annum). Recruitment incentives are noted in the "Application
Information" column.
Return
to top of page
How to Apply
In OPMs USAJOBS system, check the specific job entry for a
full text vacancy announcement. If the announcement is not available through the
system, call the agency contact for a copy of the vacancy announcement. Ask for
additional information about application procedures and detailed qualifications
requirements. Print a copy of the SES Qualifications Guide available at the site
listed earlier in this section. Be prepared to address the ECQs as outlined
above and in the guide.
Read the job announcement thoroughly and pay special
attention to any supplemental documentation that may be required. If you
neglect to send in required documentation your package will be rejected. Use the
same techniques outlined earlier in this chapter to evaluate the job
announcement and focus on the ECQs. Your work descriptions must also showcase
the required duties, responsibilities, expertise, and education required for the
advertised position.
Professional
Assistance & FREE Initial Consultation
The SES application packages are
complex to say the least and often require professional
assistance. It is helpful to consult with professional
certified Executive SES Writers who have experience writing
executive resumes. They write hard-hitting ECQs (Executive
Core Qualifications) that tell the real story behind your
ability to Lead Change, Lead People, Drive Results, Build
Coalitions and employ Business Acumen. Professionally
prepared application packages will include all 27 core
fundamental competencies throughout your five ECQs and your
TQs (Technical Qualifications) must provide succinct
examples of your experiences, accomplishments and results. I
highly recommend seeking professional
assistance especially if this is your first
SES bid or if you have been unsuccessful with previous
attempts to enter the SES ranks.
Send your application directly to the address shown on the
vacancy announcement or submit it online if allowed. Required documentation is
generally faxed or sent direct to the human resource office listed in the job
announcement. Apply promptly to meet closing dates.
Resources to Help You Write Your
Application Package
SES and
most high level management applications require considerable
detail. The SES and high level, GS-14 and above, management
positions application and resume process can be intimidating
to say the least. You have to write a
professional application package and must spend
quality time to package it correctly and to
include all of the required information that is needed for
these applications.
With a little coaching, insight, and
succinct samples that
are provided in
The Book of U.S. Government Jobs and The
The Federal Resume Guidebook,
you too can get though this. SES applications can take up to a week to research,
compile, and write a professional package that will get your
hired and that's if you know the ins and outs of the
process, MOST DON'T. Midlevel applicants can easily spend
several days just compiling key information in preparation for completing their
resume. If you need assistance you can use a
professional service to compile and write your
application.
|
SPECIAL OFFER
Save 25% when you order both titles, The Book of U.S.
Government Jobs 9th edition and The Federal Resume
Guidebook.
Go to the Shopping Cart for pricing.
These resources have
everything you will need to assist you with your SES and higher pay grade
applications. You will
discover the secrets to preparing a
professional federal style resume that will get the
attention of rating officials and get you HIRED.
Everything you need to pursue a high paying and
secure government career is included in these two
highly acclaimed books by the two best known
government career book authors.
Kathryn Troutman, the author of
The Federal Resume Guidebook is known as the
"Federal Resume Guru" is a well known
career counselor.
Dennis Damp, the author of
The Book
of U.S. Government Jobs, retired from federal service in 2004 with 35 years. Damp knows first hand what it takes to go from job
hunter to hired, and everything in between.
|
Return
to top of page
Candidate Development Programs
Some, but not all, federal agencies have SES Candidate
Development Pro-grams to identify and develop potential executive talent. QRB
certified graduates of OPM approved SESCDPs advertised to "all qualified civil
service appointees" or "all qualified persons" are eligible for a career
appointment to the SES without further competition. However, graduates are not
guaranteed a SES position.
Return
to top of page
Additional Resources
Return
to top of page
ORDER "The
Book of U.S. Government Jobs" - 10th edition TODAY
Call 1-800-782-7424
Return
to top of page
Senior Executive Service (SES), Executive
Core Qualifications (ECQs),
Technical Qualifications (TQs),
Managerial Technical Qualifications (MTQs)
or Professional Technical Qualifications (PTQs)
Home | About Us | Site Map | Feedback | Search
|
