How to Get a Senior Executive Government Job with the Federal Government
While the federal government seeks candidates for career opportunities that range from entry-level to managerial, it actively recruits people with sound executive-level experience for its Senior Executive Services (SES).
Established by the 1978 Civil Service Reform Act, SES is managed by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management. Its mission is to ensure that the executive level of the federal government is “responsive to the needs, policies, and goals of the nation and otherwise is of the highest quality.” The SES also consolidated the multitude of separate executive personnel authorities, thus unifying all the hiring requirements and executive management processes into one streamlined personnel system.
Under the federal government, senior executives are a level below the top appointees made by the President of the United States. They are the main link between the President’s appointees and federal employees. When leadership sets its agenda, it is members of the SES who coordinate its implementation. They are accountable for the performance of their specific government agency and its employees in executing the specifics of the President’s agenda.
In addition to executive positions, SES is comprised of managerial, supervisory, and policy positions. Under federal classification, the SES represents positions that are above Grade 15 or the equivalent in the executive branch.
The SES also manages a Candidate Development Program for government employees who want to advance into managerial and executive roles. Those who successfully complete the SES Candidate Development Program may be eligible for appointment to the SES.
Applying for an SES position is straightforward. Each government agency seeking an SES position advertises its opening with the U.S. Office of Personnel Management. Applicants complete and submit all aspects of the application’s requirements, which could include an essay outlining mandatory Executive Core Qualifications. The application is submitted to the agency who then selects a candidate. The candidate’s Executive Core Qualifications are then forwarded to the Qualifications Review Board of the U.S. Office of Personnel Management. This board must certify all candidates before they are appointed to the SES.
