Federal Manager's Daily Report

OPM has guidance a requirement in a recent executive order that beginning in fiscal 2017, 15 percent of SES members government-wide annually will participate in rotational assignments lasting at least four months.

It says that agencies with 20 or more SES positions must submit by May 31 a two-year plan outlining how they will increase the number of SES rotations “and improve the quality of the experience.” Those plans are to take into account, among other factors: agency mission and policy priorities; needs identified in hiring and succession plans; and the government’s interest in “cultivating executives with broad and diverse experiences who can lead in a variety of organizations, and at higher levels.”

Rotations can take the form of reassignments; transfers; assignments within the agency to another functional area or location; details to another agency or to the private sector; assignments to multi-agency or joint project teams; and Intergovernmental Personnel Act rotations to state or local governments, colleges and certain other organizations.

“It is expected some agencies may rotate more than 15 percent annually, and others may rotate less than 15 percent to achieve the government-wide goal. The frequency of SES rotations in any specific agency will depend on agency and individual needs. Not every executive in an agency is required to rotate; however, each agency should implement a systematic process to assess the development needs of each executive and the needs of the agency, enabling the agency to make strategic decisions on rotations and other types of development,” it says.

Implementation is to roll out over three fiscal years, with departments and agencies in the first phase to have their programs in place this year. Those are HHS, HUD, Energy, VA, GSA, OPM, DoD and SSA.

Other aspects of the executive order include evaluation of the SES qualification review board process, simplifying the SES application process, and initiatives on executive onboarding, executive development plans, and talent management and succession planning. Additional guidance on those aspects likely will follow.