New rules for SES to emphasize executive skills

Under new regulations proposed by the Office of Personnel Management, the next generation of Senior Executive Service candidates will have to prove that they have people skills and business acumen, not just technical know-how.

Executive, rather than technical, qualifications will weigh more heavily in the selection process if OPM's proposed rules, published in the Federal Register Friday, go into effect.

"The key characteristics of an SES position are the executive leadership responsibilities, and therefore selection criteria should focus primarily on these qualifications," the proposed rules state.

OPM will also give agencies more authority to choose SES candidates by delegating the administration of Qualifications Review Boards (QRB) to agencies on a case-by-case basis. OPM has traditionally been in charge of QRBs, the independent panels that review qualifications of candidates for the SES.

The SES overhaul is aimed at improving staffing issues raised by members of the federal executive and personnel community. The proposed rules are based partly on feedback OPM received about a framework for improving the SES the agency proposed in April 1998.

OPM's rules address some of the concerns outlined in 1998, but according to Carol A. Bonosaro, president of the Senior Executives Association, they are "a pale imitation of the original framework."

OPM officials said most SES stakeholders who responded to the proposed framework wanted more staffing flexibility. They also agreed that leadership qualifications need to be emphasized more during the selection process. These qualifications, such as the ability to lead change, lead people, be results-driven, posses business acumen and build coalitions, are required by law but are often neglected in many agencies, OPM said.

Under the proposed rules, agencies will be able to form their own qualifications review boards if they have written permission from OPM to do so. The rules would also allow agencies to increase their SES appointment limits to 3 percent of their total SES space allocation, an increase from the 2 percent currently allowed.

Not everyone in the SES community thinks greater agency flexibility is a good thing. "We are completely and unequivocally opposed to [QRB] delegation under any circumstances," Bonosaro said. Handing QRB authority to agencies would simply encourage them to select executives based on their own narrow perspective of leadership qualifications, she said.

The proposed rules also require agencies to assess new SES members' performance before the end of their one-year probationary period. Those without the proper skills must receive training to meet executive criteria.

Smaller changes aimed at streamlining the SES application procedure are also included in the proposed regulations.

To make comments on the proposed rules, write Ms. Joyce Edwards, Director, Office of Executive Resources Management, Office of Personnel Management, Room 6484, 1900 E Street NW., Washington D.C., 20415. Comments are due by Sept. 28.