Federal Manager's Daily Report

In addition, OPM noted, the executive order requires agencies to examine their hiring processes and make improvements within 120 days after OPM issued guidance, “and as agencies begin that effort, OPM will be concurrently designing and testing additional innovations to improve the SES hiring process and the QRB process.”

“These innovations will include the development of enhanced leadership assessment methods, as well as alternative methods of documenting executive qualifications during the agency hiring process (e.g., video-based documentation) that could be used to satisfy the needs of QRB assessors, all of which could enable the selection of SES members without a traditional heavy reliance on written materials,” OPM said.

OPM said it is “urgently seeking agency partners on this effort to test and inform the design and implementation of these innovations.” Agencies willing to serve as pilot sites were asked to volunteer immediately.

“Once these new SES hiring and QRB submission methods have been validated and released for governmentwide use, OPM will update the attached QRB guidance to include information and instructions on the use of the new methods,” it said.