PMF Mentor Requirements, Action Learning Teams (ALTs), Promotions, Certifications, Conversions & Other Actions

1. PMF Mentor Requirements, Action Learning Teams (ALTs), Promotions, Certifications, Conversions & Other Actions Presented by Tracy Scott NOAA PMF Training Program Manager Class of 2006 NOAA PMF Orientation November 16, 2006

2. Overview • NOAA PMF Mentor Requirements • ALTs • Promotions • Performance Issues • Certification Process • Conversions • Appointment Extensions • Movement/Transfers • Terminations • Withdrawals • Readmission • Resignation • Student Loan Deferment

3. NOAA PMF Mentor Requirements • NOAA PMFs are required to establish & maintain a relationship with a mentor that is: • Outside of your normal chain of command. • Documented on your individual development plan (IDP). • You are responsible for selecting your mentor & meeting monthly with them, either in person or via telephone. • Your mentor will serve as a role model & personal advisor, providing insight & objectivity during your fellowship.

4. ALTs • Provide teams of Fellows with substantive work on complex organizational issues. • Work culminates in a deliverable product while achieving individual, team & organizational development. • Pilot teams are underway as program evaluations & improvements continue. • As a NOAA Fellow, you are not required to participate on an ALT. • No formal training hours are awarded for ALT participation. • If you participate on an ALT, please include it on your IDP.

5. Promotions • As a PMF & an excepted service employee, you may be promoted up to the GS-13 level or its equivalent. • You are not required to meet the 1-year time-in-grade requirements. • However, you will not be eligible for promotion until: • You’ve been at the current level for a minimum of 120 days (the minimum assessment period). • You meet all requirements for promotion as identified by your IDP.

6. Promotions • The IDP must indicate the competencies required for each level & provide a benchmark identifying the successful acquisition of the needed competencies. • Future promotions after completing the PMF program are dependent upon NOAA’s Merit Assignment Program, the position’s career ladder & full performance level, your time-in-grade, & your performance.

7. Performance Issues • To progress in a grade & complete the program, you must attain a performance rating of “fully successful” or equivalent for all critical elements established in your performance plan. • Your supervisor can’t allow a conversion action to occur if your performance is less than fully successful. • In the unusual circumstance that a Fellow’s performance is below “fully successful” or equivalent, Fellows will be given assistance by the supervisor.

8. Certification Process • Approximately 2 ½ months prior to your anticipated conversion date, the NOAA PMF Training Program Manager will ask you to email your final 2-year IDP for review. • Once you have incorporated suggested changes, you & your supervisor will sign & date the final IDP and mail it to the NOAA PMF Training Program Manager. • The NOAA PMF Training Program Manager will send it to the Department’s Training Officer’s Council (TOC).

9. Certification Process • The TOC will assess your IDP for successful completion of your PMF Program requirements. • The TOC’s review results are forwarded to the NOAA Operating Executive Resources Boards (OERB) for certification. • OERB certification results are forwarded to the NOAA PMF Training Program Manager. • The NOAA PMF Training Program Manager forwards the results to the Department of Commerce’s PMF Coordinator for transmission to OPM.

10. Certification Process • You must be notified no later than 30 calendar days prior to the expiration of your appointment in the Program with the results of your OERB certification. • If your are not certified, you may request reconsideration by the OPM Director/designee.

11. Conversions • Once you are OERB-certified, you must be: • Appointed without further competition to a full-time, permanent position. • Noncompetitively converted to career or career conditional appointment. • You may be converted & promoted simultaneously on the same HR action. • Your conversion must be effective on the expiration date of your appointment; e.g., on the 2-year anniversary date of beginning the program. • Conversions to competitive service appointments are not allowed prior to satisfactory completion of program requirements & the OERB’s certification.

12. Appointment Extensions • Under rare & unusual circumstances, heads of bureaus/offices may extend your fellowship for up to 120 days. • Extension requests from 120 days-1 year must be submitted in writing to the NOAA PMF Training Program Manager up through the Department of Commerce’s PMF Coordinator to OPM. • Extension requests must: • Be received at least 90 days before the end of the appointment. • Include specific reasons for requesting the scheduled extension. • At anytime during an extension, you may be converted to a career or career-conditional appointment if your performance is satisfactory & certification is grant by the OERB.

13. Movement/Transfers • You may move to another agency, another NOAA Line/Corporate Office (LO/CO), or another program office within your LO/CO at any time during your appointment in the program. • You should contact the NOAA PMF Training Program Manager for assistance as soon as a potential move is identified to avoid potential complications.

14. Terminations • Your appointment expires at the end of your 2-year fellowship period. • If you have not been granted an extension or have not successfully completed the Program, your appointment terminates. • Either you or your supervisor can terminate your PMF appointment. • If a proposed termination is initiated by your supervisor, the basis of the termination will be related to misconduct, poor performance, or suitability.

15. Withdrawals from the Program • You can withdraw from the Program at any time by resigning your appointment. • Such withdrawal will be treated as a resignation from the Federal service. • However, any obligations established upon admission & appointment will apply.

16. Readmission • If you withdraw from the program for reasons that are related to misconduct, poor performance, or suitability, you may not be readmitted to the program. • If you withdraw from the program for reasons that are not related to misconduct, poor performance, or suitability, you may petition the NOAA PMF Program Manager for readmission & reappointment to the program. • Such a petition must be in writing & include a justification.

17. Resignation • Fellows who resign at any time prior to completion of the program: • Do not have reinstatement eligibility for competitive service positions based on the PMF appointment. • Cannot be reinstated into the PMF Program.

18. Student Loan Deferment • The PMF Program is not a graduate fellowship program for the purposes of Federal student loan deferment. • Borrowers may not defer repayment of their loans based on their participation in the PMF program. • Additional information can be obtained on the Federal Student Aid website at: http://studentaid.ed.gov.

19. Questions? • Do you have any questions?