Senior
Executive Service
The Senior Executive Service (SES)
The SES is a corps of men and women who administer public programs at the top
levels of Federal Government. Positions are primarily managerial and
supervisory. The SES is a gradeless system in which salary is linked to
individual performance, not position. Basic annual salaries range from $113,000
to $130,000. Employees in most geographic locations also receive locality pay,
with total pay ranging from $122,763 to $138,200. Some positions include
additional recruitment incentives, which are described below. The SES web page
contains additional information and resources on the SES (http://www.opm.gov/ses/sesguide.html
).
How SES Jobs Are Filled
Each Federal agency determines the qualifications required for its 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 directly 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.
Qualifications Requirements
An applicant must meet two types of qualifications for any SES position:
-
The Executive Core Qualifications, which apply to every SES position; and
-
Specific, professional/technical qualifications (if any) for the position being
advertised.
The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has identified five Executive Core
Qualifications (ECQs) common to all SES positions (www.opm.gov/ses/ecq.html
).
The ECQs are:
-
Leading Change
-
Leading People
-
Results Driven
-
Business Acumen
-
Building Coalitions/Communication
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.
Examination Process
A Federal agency:
-
reviews, rates, and ranks applicants based on the executive and
professional/technical qualifications, if any, listed in the vacancy
announcement;
-
makes a final selection from among the best-qualified applicants, and
-
submits a case to OPM for Qualifications Review Board (QRB) consideration of
the selectee's Executive Core Qualifications.
OPM convenes a Qualifications Review Board (QRB) to evaluate the candidate's
executive qualifications; and notifies the submitting agency of the QRB's
decision.
Recruitment Area
Agencies decide how to fill a vacant SES position. If they choose to advertise
the position (as opposed to noncompetitive alternatives), they also determine
the recruitment area. There are two choices: "all qualified civil service
appointees" or "all qualified persons".
Recruitment Incentives
Exceptional difficulty in recruiting highly qualified applicants for SES
positions may result in:
-
payment of recruitment or relocation bonuses up to 25 percent of base pay; or
-
waiver of the dual compensation restrictions that apply to civil service
retirees; or
-
designation of the position for critical pay authority, which can provide for
setting basic pay at rates as high as Executive Level 1 (currently $166,700)
-
Recruitment incentives are noted in the "Application Information" column.
How to Apply
In OPM's 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 specific application procedures and detailed qualifications
requirements.
Send your application directly to the address shown on the vacancy
announcement.
Be alert to announcement closing dates and apply promptly to meet them.
Agencies may issue announcements for as little as 2 weeks.
Candidate Development Programs
Some, but not all, Federal agencies have SES Candidate Development Programs 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.
SES Mobility Opportunities
OPM provides a web-based tool to match executives with opportunities called the
SES Senior Opportunity and Resume System (SES SOARS) (https://sesmobility.opm.gov/
). Current SES members, QRB certified SESCDP graduates and individuals with SES
reinstatement eligibility can use SES SOARS to post their resumes and to learn
about opportunities in Federal agencies, including temporary vacancies,
short-term projects, emergency needs and vacant permanent positions.
Other Opportunities
From time to time, other vacancies will be listed on USAJOBS that are not in
the SES, but are in an equivalent pay range. Contact the organization listed to
determine the specific qualification requirements and application procedures.
Electronic Information
Vacancy announcement information is available through USAJOBS:
Internet: World Wide Web
|
http://www.usajobs.opm.gov/ |
Telephone System
|
703-724-1850 or TDD 978-461-8404 |
Present SES Pay Levels (Effective January 2002):
ES-1 |
$113,000 |
ES-2 |
$118,300 |
ES-3 |
$123,700
|
ES-4 |
$129,800 |
ES-5 |
$130,000 |
ES-6 |
$130,000 |
AS OF: 01-14-02
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