Senior Executive Service

Writing Technical Qualifications for Your SES Package

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Many agencies require that you prepare and submit TQs (also known as Mandatory Technical Qualifications or Professional Technical Qualifications) with your SES application. Think of these as the old knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) statements we used to write prior to 2009, whenever applying for a federal job. TQs are reviewed carefully at the agency level but never seen by a qualifications review board – QRB. When you review a job announcement, be sure to look at the TQs before deciding whether to apply. If you cannot provide specific examples of when you demonstrated each TQ in your work, you may want to consider picking a different announcement.

Although there is no prescribed format for preparing your TQs, I recommend that you to use OPM’s Challenge, Context, Action, Result (CCAR) model when preparing them. Think about composing your TQs to tell a story that demonstrates your possession of the relevant technical expertise. Start your example with a general statement that you have consistently demonstrated that technical expertise over the course of your career; you may want to provide a sentence or two that discusses the various jobs, agencies, etc., where your expertise was demonstrated.

Then, discuss a particular challenge you faced; include the specifics of the goal you were trying to meet and the obstacles you faced in doing so. Those obstacles could pertain to resources, people, technology, etc. (challenge) Then talk about your job, your role, and the specific environment you were working in when you faced the challenge (context). Next, discuss the specific steps (one by one) you took to overcome the challenges (actions) that demonstrate your technical expertise. Finally, discuss the outcome and include any metrics you can to demonstrate that you achieved success because of your technical expertise (result).

There is no overarching OPM guidance on the length of a TQ or the freshness of the story. The vacancy announcement may spell out specific character limits for the length of your TQ response. Common sense tells us that the more recent the story, the better. However, if your best example is from 20 years ago, you are allowed to use it. You may also repeat an example that you use in your ECQs but remember to frame it differently as the Executive Core Qualifications (ECQ) are focused on your leadership, while your TQs are focused on technical knowledge and expertise. Try to use at least 2 specific examples / stories for each TQ.

Writing A Senior Executive Service (SES) Resume

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While you are probably familiar with writing a resume, writing your SES resume is somewhat different. Not only must your resume include the required information for federal resumes, it must also show your executive-level experience and accomplishments. Typically grade 15 work (and sometimes grade 14, depending on the specific position) meets the basic qualifications requirement; therefore, your resume should focus on your highest-level work—there is no need to focus on earlier work experience – most resumes only go back about 10 years or so. In addition, like with other resumes, your executive resume should include the key words from announcement, as well as the five Executive Core Qualifications (ECQ), and as many of the sub-competencies as possible, in addition to the key words from technical qualifications.

Before starting to put your resume together, you should carefully review the job posting, especially the technical qualifications (TQs; also known as Professional Technical Qualifications or Mandatory Technical Qualifications). If you cannot provide specific examples of when you demonstrated each of the TQs, you should probably pick another announcement.

Additionally, you should carefully check the “how to apply” section of the announcement for any special requirements, such as a transcript, performance evaluation, supervisory endorsement, references, or something similar. You do not want to be applying at 11:59 PM on the closing date and find that you are lacking a critical document! Finally, you should carefully check the announcement to determine any character limits, font sizes, or application requirements (such as no uploaded resumes) before you start writing.

An executive resume typically includes several parts:

  • Executive Qualifications
  • Executive Experience and Achievements
  • Professional Leadership Development
  • Awards and Honors
  • Professional Presentations and/or Publications
  • Relevant Certifications and/or Licenses
  • Education

This is a lot of content; in most instances, your federal executive resume will be five or six pages. While this may sound long, it is important to remember that from a Human Resources (HR) review perspective, if it is not on your resume, you did not do it. So, a traditional two-page resume will rarely get your application in front of the agency Executive Resources Board (ERB).

Many agencies are restricting SES resumes to 5 pages. In these situations, many agencies are considering the resume as the entire application; in this case it is critical that you demonstrate your executive leadership through your resume. This means focusing on the language of the ECQs in addition to your technical qualifications. Do not rely on your resume “passing” because you are already in the agency. Throughout your resume, be sure to include metrics to give your work context (how many people do you lead? What is your budget? Etc.) and accomplishments to demonstrate that you can achieve results.

In addition to the above-mentioned parts, be sure to include all required information such as your title, job series, and grade, name of your supervisor, etc. Check the announcement to see if your Social Security Number is required (or prohibited). You do not want to be disqualified for failing to follow the rules.

Since veterans’ preference is not a consideration in the SES, this is less important in your executive resume. However, if you have military leadership experience at a high level (typically Colonel or above), you may want to include it in your SES resume.

Moratorium on SES Review Board cases During Transition

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Effective December 7, 2016, the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) announced a moratorium on the processing of SES Qualifications Review Board (QRB) cases Government-wide, in order to ensure that incoming agency heads “have the full opportunity to exercise his or her prerogative to make or approve executive resources decisions” that will impact the agency’s performance during that agency head’s tenure.

In essence, this means that OPM’s QRB will not process candidates for career SES appointments.

There are exceptions to this moratorium; these include:

  • Agencies whose Agency Heads are not required by the President during a transition. This includes Agency Heads who have fixed-term appointments, Inspector Generals (IG), and those serving on part-time boards and commissions, among others.
  • Graduates of OPM-approved SES Candidate Development Programs (CDP) who Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs) are submitted under what is called Criterion B.
  • Cases that were already in the pipeline prior to the moratorium. If a SES candidate’s package was submitted prior to December 7, 2016, processing will continue. This includes candidates whose initial package was rejected in whole or in part.
  • Specific exceptions to the moratorium initiated by individual agencies in cases where the potential for adverse impact on national security, homeland security, or a critical agency mission, program or function. Exceptions must be approved by OPM.

Despite the moratorium, agencies may still post and conduct SES merit staffing activities up to the point of submission of the selected candidate for QRB review and certification for SES appointment. This means that SES positions may be posted and interviews held.

Once a new Agency Head has been appointed, agencies may request that OPM resume processing QRB cases.

Senior Executive Service (SES) Candidate Development Programs: A Great Way to Prepare

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Many agencies use Senior Executive Service Candidate Development Program (SESCDP) as one tool to identify and prepare aspiring senior executive leaders. SESCDPs are highly competitive programs designed to further develop SES candidates’ competencies in each of the Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs). Most agencies receive 500-1,000 applications in response to their SESCDP postings.

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What is the Senior Executive Service (SES) Qualifications Review Board (QRB) and How Does it Work?

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Qualifications Review Boards (QRBs) are Office of Personnel Management (OPM)-administered independent boards consisting of senior executive service members who assess the executive core qualifications (ECQs) of SES candidates. All SES candidates must have their executive qualifications certified by an independent QRB before being appointed as career members of the SES. The QRB review and certification is the last critical step in the SES selection process. QRBs certify that an SES candidate possesses broad leadership skills and demonstrated experience in Leading Change, Leading People, Results Driven, Business Acumen, and Building Coalitions. The experience must be relatively recent and at the executive level (typically the grade 15 in federal service or equivalent private sector experience).

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The Senior Executive Service (SES) is Changing!

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You may have seen the recent Executive Order (EO), Strengthening the Senior Executive Service, issued by the White House on December 15, 2015. What does this mean to you as a potential SES candidate?

The EO orders a number of reform action items over the next six months, and I believe these are the ones that potential SES candidates should note:

• The Qualifications Review Board (QRB) process will be evaluated by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and new alternatives to the traditional 10-page Executive Core Qualifications (ECQ) submission may be deemed acceptable.

• The SES application process may change. Heads of agencies are encouraged to simplify and shorten the initial application process, including only Technical Qualifications (also known as Mandatory Technical Qualifications and Professional Technical Qualifications) that are truly necessary for success. Look for more five-page (or similar) resume-only applications.

• By May 31 of this year, agencies with 20 or more SES are expected to submit a plan to OPM for rotating SES members to improve talent development, mission delivery and collaboration. The goal is to rotate 15% of SES for at least 120 days.

If you are considering applying for the SES, what should you do?

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