# Presentation: 356573

## 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

## 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

## 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).

## 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.

## 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.

## 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.

## 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.

## $ 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.

## 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](https://www.pmf.opm.gov/RotationsOpportunities.aspx)__ _
- Networking at meetings, workshops, & other events.

## PMF Assignment Resource Bank

- Coming Soon!

## 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.

## 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.

## 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**_**.**

## 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.**

## 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.

## 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).

## 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.

## Do You Have Any Questions?