OPM has approved government-wide, nation-wide authority for agencies to use direct hire procedures to fill veterinarian medical officer positions at the GS-701-11/15 grade levels.
Under the authority, agencies may appoint candidates directly, without use of standard hiring procedures.
OPM said the authority was justified for those positions, based on the competitive state of the market for such professionals, the impending loss to retirement of many employees and the difficulties agencies have had in recruiting despite using authorities such as incentive payments.
OPM previously had OPM authorized government-wide direct hiring for: information security specialists and information technology management positions at GS-9 and above; certain medical officers, nurses, pharmacists and diagnostic radiologic technologists at all grades; certain acquisition positions; and positions requiring fluency in certain languages for Iraqi rebuilding efforts. In addition, short-term authorities sometimes are granted to meet special hiring needs such as arise during a substantial change in a program.
