Presidential Management Fellows Program
Encyclopedia
The Presidential Management Fellows (PMF) program is a prestigious two year paid government fellowship sponsored by the Office of Personnel Management
(OPM) for recent graduate students who seek a two year fellowship in a United States government agency. Selection begins with the nomination of the student by the school followed by a rigorous assessment process. Agencies that hire PMFs include the Departments of Agriculture
, Commerce
, Defense
, Education
, Energy
, Health and Human Services
, Homeland Security
, Housing and Urban Development
(HUD), Interior
, Justice
, Labor
, State
, Transportation
, Treasury
, Veterans Affairs
, and the Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA) as well as the Federal Bureau of Investigation
, the Library of Congress
, NASA
and the United States Agency for International Development
. Following the conclusion of the two year fellowship, PMFs have the opportunity to convert their fellowship into a full-time permanent position.
from a qualifying college or university by August 31 of the academic year in which the competition is held, are eligible to become Fellows. The multi-step application process is highly selective and requires a series of resume submissions, and assessment examinations. Potential fellows should demonstrate breadth and quality of accomplishments, capacity for leadership, and a commitment to excellence in the leadership and management of public policies and programs.
appointment status for the beginning of their two-year internship. Following satisfactory completion of the first year, they are eligible for promotion up to the GS-13 level (or equivalent pay band, depending on agency). After successful completion of the two-year fellowship, the agency must non-competitively appoint the Fellow to a full-time, permanent position, granting the Fellow career or career-conditional status.
OPM sponsors a three-day PMF orientation program within the first year of the fellowship and a two-day PMF graduation program at the conclusion of the fellowship.
Training has always been considered a fundamental part of the PMF Program. Hiring agencies are responsible for ensuring that Fellows receive at least 80 hours of formal classroom training each year of the fellowship. For each Fellow, the appointing agency will provide a minimum of 80 hours per year of formal classroom training that addresses the core competencies required of the occupation or functional discipline in which the Fellow will most likely be placed upon completion of the Program and conversion to a full-time, permanent position.
Each Fellow should create an Individual Development Plan (IDP). The IDP is an important part of the 2-year fellowship. The IDP process helps to make the fellowship a positive experience for both the agency and the Fellow. Each PMF is required to develop an IDP with assistance from his or her supervisor. The IDP must contain specific descriptions of assignments and learning objectives, and incorporate other elements of the program such as rotations, career development group participation, and training events. An IDP should be considered a vital and flexible planning document to be reviewed periodically and revised as appropriate.
Hiring agencies are also to provide Fellows with at least one developmental assignment of 4 to 6 months in duration in the occupation or functional discipline in which the Fellow will most likely be placed, with full-time management and/or technical responsibilities consistent with the Individual Development Plan.
As employees of the Federal Government, PMFs earn annual leave and sick leave
, and are entitled to paid Federal holidays. PMFs are covered under the Federal Employees Retirement System
(FERS). Upon appointment, PMFs may elect life insurance
, health insurance
, and Thrift Savings Plan
options.
Federal agencies are authorized to repay student loans under the Federal Student Loan Repayment Program, as provided for in part 537 of title 5, Code of Federal Regulations
. The amount paid by the agency is subject to the following "pre-tax" maximum limits: (1) $10,000 per employee per calendar year, and (2) a total of $60,000 per employee. Presidential Management Fellows are eligible to receive student loan repayments, but these programs are agency-specific.
(PMAG) was organized in 1981 to advance the professionalism of public service and augment the education and career development of those who have served in or assisted the PMF Program. PMAG is not sponsored by OPM. The membership comprises former and current Fellows, and other individuals interested in recruitment and development of Federal Government career managers. PMAG sponsors professional and social activities, maintains a network among the over 3,500 former Fellows, and provides support to maintain the PMF Program as the Federal Government’s premier mechanism for recruiting future managers.
Office of Personnel Management
The United States Office of Personnel Management is an independent agency of the United States government that manages the civil service of the federal government. The current Director is John Berry.-History:...
(OPM) for recent graduate students who seek a two year fellowship in a United States government agency. Selection begins with the nomination of the student by the school followed by a rigorous assessment process. Agencies that hire PMFs include the Departments of Agriculture
United States Department of Agriculture
The United States Department of Agriculture is the United States federal executive department responsible for developing and executing U.S. federal government policy on farming, agriculture, and food...
, Commerce
United States Department of Commerce
The United States Department of Commerce is the Cabinet department of the United States government concerned with promoting economic growth. It was originally created as the United States Department of Commerce and Labor on February 14, 1903...
, Defense
United States Department of Defense
The United States Department of Defense is the U.S...
, Education
United States Department of Education
The United States Department of Education, also referred to as ED or the ED for Education Department, is a Cabinet-level department of the United States government...
, Energy
United States Department of Energy
The United States Department of Energy is a Cabinet-level department of the United States government concerned with the United States' policies regarding energy and safety in handling nuclear material...
, Health and Human Services
United States Department of Health and Human Services
The United States Department of Health and Human Services is a Cabinet department of the United States government with the goal of protecting the health of all Americans and providing essential human services. Its motto is "Improving the health, safety, and well-being of America"...
, Homeland Security
United States Department of Homeland Security
The United States Department of Homeland Security is a cabinet department of the United States federal government, created in response to the September 11 attacks, and with the primary responsibilities of protecting the territory of the United States and protectorates from and responding to...
, Housing and Urban Development
United States Department of Housing and Urban Development
The United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, also known as HUD, is a Cabinet department in the Executive branch of the United States federal government...
(HUD), Interior
United States Department of the Interior
The United States Department of the Interior is the United States federal executive department of the U.S. government responsible for the management and conservation of most federal land and natural resources, and the administration of programs relating to Native Americans, Alaska Natives, Native...
, Justice
United States Department of Justice
The United States Department of Justice , is the United States federal executive department responsible for the enforcement of the law and administration of justice, equivalent to the justice or interior ministries of other countries.The Department is led by the Attorney General, who is nominated...
, Labor
United States Department of Labor
The United States Department of Labor is a Cabinet department of the United States government responsible for occupational safety, wage and hour standards, unemployment insurance benefits, re-employment services, and some economic statistics. Many U.S. states also have such departments. The...
, State
United States Department of State
The United States Department of State , is the United States federal executive department responsible for international relations of the United States, equivalent to the foreign ministries of other countries...
, Transportation
United States Department of Transportation
The United States Department of Transportation is a federal Cabinet department of the United States government concerned with transportation. It was established by an act of Congress on October 15, 1966, and began operation on April 1, 1967...
, Treasury
United States Department of the Treasury
The Department of the Treasury is an executive department and the treasury of the United States federal government. It was established by an Act of Congress in 1789 to manage government revenue...
, Veterans Affairs
United States Department of Veterans Affairs
The United States Department of Veterans Affairs is a government-run military veteran benefit system with Cabinet-level status. It is the United States government’s second largest department, after the United States Department of Defense...
, and the Environmental Protection Agency
United States Environmental Protection Agency
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is an agency of the federal government of the United States charged with protecting human health and the environment, by writing and enforcing regulations based on laws passed by Congress...
(EPA) as well as the Federal Bureau of Investigation
Federal Bureau of Investigation
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is an agency of the United States Department of Justice that serves as both a federal criminal investigative body and an internal intelligence agency . The FBI has investigative jurisdiction over violations of more than 200 categories of federal crime...
, the Library of Congress
Library of Congress
The Library of Congress is the research library of the United States Congress, de facto national library of the United States, and the oldest federal cultural institution in the United States. Located in three buildings in Washington, D.C., it is the largest library in the world by shelf space and...
, NASA
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
and the United States Agency for International Development
United States Agency for International Development
The United States Agency for International Development is the United States federal government agency primarily responsible for administering civilian foreign aid. President John F. Kennedy created USAID in 1961 by executive order to implement development assistance programs in the areas...
. Following the conclusion of the two year fellowship, PMFs have the opportunity to convert their fellowship into a full-time permanent position.
Program history
The PMF Program was established by Executive Order in 1977, and amended by Executive Order in 2003http://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2003/11/20031121-7.html to attract to the Federal service outstanding citizen-scholars from a variety of academic disciplines and career paths who have a clear interest in, and commitment to, excellence in the leadership and management of public policies and programs. By drawing graduate students from diverse social and cultural backgrounds, the PMF Program provides a continuing source of trained men and women to meet the future challenges of public service. The PMF program was formerly referred to as the Presidential Management Internship (PMI) program.Eligibility
Graduate students from all academic disciplines who expect to complete an advanced degreeAcademic degree
An academic degree is a position and title within a college or university that is usually awarded in recognition of the recipient having either satisfactorily completed a prescribed course of study or having conducted a scholarly endeavour deemed worthy of his or her admission to the degree...
from a qualifying college or university by August 31 of the academic year in which the competition is held, are eligible to become Fellows. The multi-step application process is highly selective and requires a series of resume submissions, and assessment examinations. Potential fellows should demonstrate breadth and quality of accomplishments, capacity for leadership, and a commitment to excellence in the leadership and management of public policies and programs.
Benefits
Fellows are hired at the GS-9, GS-11, or GS-12 (or equivalent pay band, depending on agency) levels with Excepted ServiceExcepted service
Most civilian positions in the federal government of the United States are part of the competitive service, where applicants must compete with other applicants in open competition under the merit system administered by the Office of Personnel Management. However, some agencies are excluded from...
appointment status for the beginning of their two-year internship. Following satisfactory completion of the first year, they are eligible for promotion up to the GS-13 level (or equivalent pay band, depending on agency). After successful completion of the two-year fellowship, the agency must non-competitively appoint the Fellow to a full-time, permanent position, granting the Fellow career or career-conditional status.
OPM sponsors a three-day PMF orientation program within the first year of the fellowship and a two-day PMF graduation program at the conclusion of the fellowship.
Training has always been considered a fundamental part of the PMF Program. Hiring agencies are responsible for ensuring that Fellows receive at least 80 hours of formal classroom training each year of the fellowship. For each Fellow, the appointing agency will provide a minimum of 80 hours per year of formal classroom training that addresses the core competencies required of the occupation or functional discipline in which the Fellow will most likely be placed upon completion of the Program and conversion to a full-time, permanent position.
Each Fellow should create an Individual Development Plan (IDP). The IDP is an important part of the 2-year fellowship. The IDP process helps to make the fellowship a positive experience for both the agency and the Fellow. Each PMF is required to develop an IDP with assistance from his or her supervisor. The IDP must contain specific descriptions of assignments and learning objectives, and incorporate other elements of the program such as rotations, career development group participation, and training events. An IDP should be considered a vital and flexible planning document to be reviewed periodically and revised as appropriate.
Hiring agencies are also to provide Fellows with at least one developmental assignment of 4 to 6 months in duration in the occupation or functional discipline in which the Fellow will most likely be placed, with full-time management and/or technical responsibilities consistent with the Individual Development Plan.
As employees of the Federal Government, PMFs earn annual leave and sick leave
Sick leave
Sick leave is time off from work that workers can use during periods of temporary illness to stay home and address their health and safety needs without losing pay. Some workplaces offer paid sick time as a matter of workplace policy, and in few jurisdictions it is codified into law...
, and are entitled to paid Federal holidays. PMFs are covered under the Federal Employees Retirement System
Federal Employees Retirement System
The Federal Employees Retirement System is the current retirement system for employees within the U.S. federal civilian employees...
(FERS). Upon appointment, PMFs may elect life insurance
Life insurance
Life insurance is a contract between an insurance policy holder and an insurer, where the insurer promises to pay a designated beneficiary a sum of money upon the death of the insured person. Depending on the contract, other events such as terminal illness or critical illness may also trigger...
, health insurance
Health insurance
Health insurance is insurance against the risk of incurring medical expenses among individuals. By estimating the overall risk of health care expenses among a targeted group, an insurer can develop a routine finance structure, such as a monthly premium or payroll tax, to ensure that money is...
, and Thrift Savings Plan
Thrift Savings Plan
The Thrift Savings Plan is a defined contribution plan for United States civil service employees and retirees as well as for members of the uniformed services....
options.
Federal agencies are authorized to repay student loans under the Federal Student Loan Repayment Program, as provided for in part 537 of title 5, Code of Federal Regulations
Code of Federal Regulations
The Code of Federal Regulations is the codification of the general and permanent rules and regulations published in the Federal Register by the executive departments and agencies of the Federal Government of the United States.The CFR is published by the Office of the Federal Register, an agency...
. The amount paid by the agency is subject to the following "pre-tax" maximum limits: (1) $10,000 per employee per calendar year, and (2) a total of $60,000 per employee. Presidential Management Fellows are eligible to receive student loan repayments, but these programs are agency-specific.
Alumni
The non-profit Presidential Management Alumni GroupPresidential Management Alumni Group
The non-profit Presidential Management Alumni Group ] was organized in 1981 to advance the professionalism of public service and augment the education and career development of those who have served in or assisted the Presidential Management Fellowship Program. PMAG is not sponsored by OPM...
(PMAG) was organized in 1981 to advance the professionalism of public service and augment the education and career development of those who have served in or assisted the PMF Program. PMAG is not sponsored by OPM. The membership comprises former and current Fellows, and other individuals interested in recruitment and development of Federal Government career managers. PMAG sponsors professional and social activities, maintains a network among the over 3,500 former Fellows, and provides support to maintain the PMF Program as the Federal Government’s premier mechanism for recruiting future managers.