For This Issue

Social Security Administration's

Presidential Management Fellows Program

The Social Security Administration (SSA) is an active recruiter for the PMF Program. For the past several years, SSA has hired more than 245 PMF to work in field operations throughout the country and in Headquarters offices such as the Office of Disability, the Office of Budget, the Office of Systems, the Office of Policy, and the General Counsel.

The Presidential Management Fellows Program, also referred to as the PMF Program, was established by Executive Order in 1977 by President Carter. It is designed to attract to the Federal service outstanding men and women from a wide 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 and programs.

Eligibility
Students are eligible who are graduate students from all academic disciplines who expect to complete an advanced degree (master's, law, or doctoral-level degree) from a qualifying college or university during the current academic year are eligible to be nominated by their schools if they demonstrate the following:

    * breadth and quality of accomplishments,
    * capacity for leadership, and
    * a commitment to excellence in the leadership and management of public policies and programs.

Assignments
Assignments may involve:
• Domestic or international issues
• Health research
• Financial management
• Other fields in support of public service programs

Federal department and agencies strive to provide interns with challenging and rewarding assignments.

Selection & Appointment
Selection is based on review of an application, and an assessment center evaluation which includes:

• analytical thinking; and
• oral and written communications skills

PMF receive an initial 2-year appointment and may be eligible for conversion to career/career conditional appointment upon successful completion of fellowship.

Career Development Opportunities
• Training and development are key aspects of the PMF Program.
• Federal agencies provide internal and external rotational assignments.
• Seminars, conferences, briefings and other on-the-job-training opportunities may be available.
• The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) provides structured orientation and training programs.
• PMF will also be assigned to formal Action Learning Teams (ALTs).
• Agencies may provide formal mentoring programs.
• Career opportunities in areas such as:

PMF's may work and gain experience in any of the following:

• Policy Development Finance & Budget
• Policy Implementation Human Resources
• Systems Analysis Labor Relations
• Facilities Services Employee Relations
• Research Employee Training
• Communications Legislative Affairs
• Law Strategic Planning
• Workforce Analysis Operations

Salary & Benefits
PMF's are appointed to a 2-year Excepted Service position under the General Schedule (GS) pay system at the 9 $39,795, 11 $48,148, or 12 $57,709 grade level based on qualifications.

GS salaries vary by locality.

PMF's are promoted to the next higher grade (GS-11 or GS-12) after successfully completing 52 weeks at the lower grade level. SSA's hiring components may offer qualified PMFs accelerated promotions up to the grade level of the target position. PMFs may be promoted to the GS-13 level within the program. There is no guarantee of a promotion to the GS-13 level.

PMF's who meet the citizenship requirements are converted to a full-time, permanent position after certification of their successful completion of all program requirements.

Contact
Contact Information
By Mail:
Office of Human Resources
Office of Training
Suite 100, East High Rise
6401 Security Boulevard
Baltimore, MD 21235-6401

By Phone or E-mail:
Joyce Brown
410-965-2962
joyce.brown@ssa.gov

Al Brokos
410-965-7246
al.brokos@ssa.gov

Francine Noel
410-965-2480
francine.noel@ssa.gov

For application procedures and further information interested students may also visit:

SSA PMF •