NOAA PMF Developmental Assignments Guide

1. NOAA PMF Class of 2006 Developmental Assignments Presented by Tracy Scott NOAA PMF Training Program Manager Class of 2006 NOAA PMF Orientation November 15, 2006

2. PMF Developmental Assignments • Requirements • Costs • Finding Potential Opportunities • PMF Assignment Resource Bank • Building the Business Case • Required Documentation • Security Clearance Procedures • Administrative Details • Host Office PMF Performance Assessment

3. Requirements • NOAA PMFs are required to complete 2 developmental assignments prior to their anticipated conversion dates: • 1 that is 120-180 calendar days (4-6 months). • 1 that is at least 30 calendar days (1 month).

4. Assignment Specifications • 120-180 day developmental assignment must: • Be in the occupation &/or functional discipline of the target position. • Have full-time management &/or technical responsibility. • Assist you in meeting your learning objectives. • 30 day developmental assignment must: • Be to any field that relates to your overall career path.

5. How the Assignments Benefit You & Your Home Office • You Benefit by Gaining: • Broadened perspective on NOAA’s work; • Enhanced insightfulness & effectiveness as a future leader; • Strengthened managerial & technical competencies; • Increased knowledge about program functions from another perspective; & • Collaboration on projects that will help NOAA implement its mission. • Your Home Office Benefits by Gaining: • Your connections & insights; • The technical knowledge & skills you acquire; & • Your work on projects that may mutually benefit the host & home offices.

6. So Where Can You Go? • Both assignments must be outside of your immediate program office. • One or both assignments can take you to: • Another Line/Corporate Office within NOAA • Another Federal Agency • Another branch of Government (including Capitol Hill) • State/Local Government • Private Sector • Non-Profit Organization • The assignments can be in the Washington D.C. metro area or in the field, depending on the budgets of the home & host offices for housing, transportation, & per diem if required.

7. What about MOUs and Special Paperwork? • No Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) are required by NOAA for assignments. • Special Approval from the NOAA PMF Training Program Manager required for non-Federal entity assignments. • Special paperwork & approval required for Capitol Hill assignments.

8. $ Costs $ • During the assignments: • You remain an employee of the home office. • The home office continues to pay your salary & benefits. • For assignments to the field, the home & host offices need to agree who will pay for your housing, transportation, & per diem expenses.

9. Finding Potential Opportunities • Assignments are arranged between you, your supervisor, & the interested host office. • Some home offices arrange their Fellow’s assignments. • You can also take the initiative to identify potential assignments by: • Talking with PMF alumni; • Following up on assignment opportunities sent out by the NOAA PMF Training Program Manager &/or PMF alumni • Visiting the OPM PMF website at: https://www.pmf.opm.gov/RotationsOpportunities.aspx • Networking at meetings, workshops, & other events.

10. PMF Assignment Resource Bank • Coming Soon!

11. Building the Business Case • Tips: • Be flexible. • Have reasonable expectations regarding the location & timing of assignments. • Find more than 1 potential assignment for both the 120-180 day and 30 day assignments. • Don’t set your heart on any one option. • Think strategically. What’ s the benefit to you? What’s the benefit to your boss, to your program office, to your Line/Corporate Office, to NOAA? • Build a business case to gain your supervisor’s buy-in, listing your favored option first.

12. Building the Business Case(Continued) • You are not required to develop a business case for your assignments. Rather, the business case is a tool for your use. • The business case should include the following information for each potential assignment listed: • Your name & PMF class year; • Name & location of the host office; • Brief description of the host office; • Time frame (assignment start & end date & duration in calendar days); • Description of your potential duties, products & outputs; • Relationship of the assignment to your career goals; • Long-term benefit to home office/NOAA of your developmental experience; • Benefits to the host office of your developmental experience; • Explanation of costs & responsibility for payment between the host & home offices; and • How your performance will be appraised during the assignment.

13. Required Documentation • You must prepare a written plan after your assignments have been approved that: • Is developed in conjunction with your home/host office supervisors; • Contains all elements of the business case for the selected assignments plus: • Telephone number & email address where you can be reached during the assignment. • Name, title, telephone number & email address of your host office supervisor. • Is sent by you via e-mail to the NOAA PMF Training Program Manager by the end of the first week of each assignment.

14. Security Clearance Procedures • Most NOAA PMF positions do not require security clearances. • The vast majority of developmental assignments within other NOAA Line/Corporate Offices do not require clearances. • Some external assignments to other agencies (such as to the Department of State or the Office of Management & Budget) as well as a few select NOAA assignments do require security clearances. • Find out from your potential host office whether or not you’ll need a clearance well in advance of your start date so you’ll have time to get one if necessary.

15. Security Clearance Procedures (Continued) Procedures vary from office to office and from Agency to Agency: • Start with your host office supervisor & security office to determine the best way to obtain a clearance or temporary clearance. • Fellows may be required by the host office to complete a SF-86 & get finger printed. • Clarify who is responsible for paying for the clearance (the host or home office). • Check to see if a NOAA clearance can transfer to your host agency. • If so, discuss with your home office supervisor if you are eligible for a NOAA clearance based on your job responsibilities. • If the clearance is granted, work with the Security Offices of both the home & host agency to try to “transfer” the clearance. • Be mindful that some offices will not grant a security clearance for developmental assignment purposes & that a potential assignment may fall through if that is the case.

16. Administrative Details • Before beginning an assignment, meet with your home office supervisor to discuss: • Who will be covering your projects while you’re on your assignment. • How he/she wants you to set your automatic voice-mail & e-mail greetings to reflect the assignment & provide alternate points of contact. • His/her expectations on checking in/keeping up with your home office work during the assignment. (Note that you should spend no more than 1 hour a week on the work of the home office while on assignment).

17. Host Office PMF Performance Assessment • You should share The Host Office PMF Performance Assessment Template with your host office supervisor. • Your host office supervisor is responsible for preparing your performance assessment at the end of your assignment. • The assessment: • Should provide written documentation about the training you received & the you work accomplished. • Must be signed & dated by the host office supervisor & yourself. • Must be provided by you to your home office supervisor. • Will be used by your home office supervisor to complete your annual performance evaluation.

18. Do You Have Any Questions?