OPM.gov / Policy / Senior Executive Service / Senior-Level & Scientific and Professional Positions / Allocations & Appointments

Skip to main content

### In this section

- Assessment & Selection Toggle submenu   - Job Analysis
  - Occupational Questionnaires
  - Structured Interviews
  - Competencies
  - Other Assessment Methods
  - Designing an Assessment Strategy
  - Assessment Glossary
  - Reference Materials
  - Contact Us
- Classification & Qualifications Toggle submenu   - Classifying General Schedule Positions
  - Classifying Federal Wage System Positions
  - General Schedule Qualification Policies
  - General Schedule Qualification Standards
  - Federal Wage System Qualifications
  - Appeal Decisions Toggle submenu     - General Schedule
    - Federal Wage System
  - Reference Materials
- Data, Analysis & Documentation Toggle submenu   - Personnel Documentation
  - Data, Policy & Guidance
  - Enterprise Human Resources Integration
  - FedScope
  - Federal Employment Reports
  - Employee Surveys
  - Health Insurance Analysis
  - Other Insurance Analysis
  - Evaluation Standards
- Disability Employment Toggle submenu   - Getting a Job
  - Reasonable Accommodations
  - Selective Placement Program Coordinator
  - Recruiting
  - Hiring
  - Retention
  - Providing Accommodations
  - Disability FAQs
  - Reference Materials
- Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility Toggle submenu   - About Us
  - People
  - Reports
  - Diversity & Inclusion FAQs
  - Reference Materials
- CDOE Council Toggle submenu   - CDOE Council Charter
  - Contact Us
- CHCO Council
- Coronavirus Disease 2019
- Employee Relations Toggle submenu   - Training
  - Employee Rights & Appeals
  - Reasonable Accommodation
  - Employee Relations FAQs
  - Reference Materials
- Re-Entry Guidance
- Re-Entry Toolkit
- Human Resources Solutions
- Frequently Asked Questions for Hybrid Work Environment
- Hiring Information Toggle submenu   - Types of Hires
  - Assessment & Evaluation 
  - Hiring Authorities 
  - Laws & Regulations
  - Competitive Hiring
  - Variations
  - Part-Time & Job Sharing
  - Intergovernment Personnel Act
  - Dual Compensation Waivers
  - Students & Recent Graduates
  - Direct Hire Authority
  - Details & Transfers
  - Talent Surge Playbook
  - Reports
  - Practical Tips for Supervisors of Probationers
- Human Capital Management Toggle submenu   - Closing Skills Gaps
  - Cybersecurity
  - Federal Workforce Priorities Report (FWPR)
  - Strategic Foresight
  - Successful Workforce Practices
  - Hiring Reform
  - HRStat
  - Human Capital Reviews (HCR)
- Human Capital Framework Toggle submenu   - Strategic Planning & Alignment
  - Talent Management
  - Performance Culture
  - Evaluation
  - Reference Materials
- Labor Management Relations Toggle submenu   - Federal Labor-Management Information System
  - CBA Database
  - Law & Policy Resources
- Oversight Activities Toggle submenu   - Accountability
  - Compliance
  - Political Conversions Toggle submenu     - Reports to Congress
  - Voting Rights
  - Oversight FAQs
- Pandemic Information Toggle submenu   - Benefits
  - Work & Hiring Arrangements
  - Pay & Leave
  - Agency Preparations
- Pay & Leave Toggle submenu   - OPM ARPA Services
  - Pay Systems Toggle submenu     - General Schedule
    - Federal Wage System
    - Special Rates Requests
    - Nonforeign Areas
  - Salaries & Wages Toggle submenu     - Special Rate
    - Fact Sheets
  - Pay Administration
  - Back Pay Calculator Toggle submenu     - Help Guide
  - Recruitment, Relocation & Retention Incentives
  - Student Loan Repayment
  - Leave Administration
  - Work Schedules
  - Federal Holidays
  - Claim Decisions Toggle submenu     - Compensation & Leave
    - Decisions
    - Fair Labor Standards Act
    - Declination of Reasonable Offer
    - Settlement of Accounts
  - Furlough Guidance
  - Reference Materials Toggle submenu     - Compensation Policy Memoranda
    - Reports
    - Handbooks
- Performance Management Toggle submenu   - Overview & History
  - Performance Management Cycle
  - Teams
  - Measuring
  - Awards List
  - Legal Citations
  - Performance Management Portal
  - Policy Memoranda
  - Performance Management FAQs
  - Reference Materials
- Senior Executive Service Toggle submenu   - Overview & History
  - Executive Core Qualifications
  - Selection Process
  - Adverse Actions
  - Reduction in Force
  - Presidential Rank Awards Toggle submenu     - 2023 Toggle submenu
    - 2022
    - 2021
    - 2019
    - 2018
    - 2017
    - 2016
    - 2015
  - Compensation
  - Performance
  - Basic Appraisal System
  - Executive Development
  - Candidate Development Programs
  - Senior-Level & Scientific and Professional Positions Toggle submenu     - Salary & Benefits
    - Job Opportunities, Qualifications, & Recruitment
    - History
    - Allocations & Appointments
  - Facts & Figures
  - SES Desk Guide Toggle submenu     - Introduction
    - Statutes, Regulations, and Desk Guide Citations
    - Ch. 1 - Executive Resources Management
    - Ch. 2 - General Staffing and Career Appointments
    - Ch. 3 - Other Staffing Actions
    - Ch. 4 - Performance Management
    - Ch. 5 - Pay and Other Compensation
    - Ch. 6 - Awards
    - Ch. 7 - Executive Development
    - Ch. 8 - Removals and Suspensions
    - Ch. 9 - Reduction in Force (RIF), RIF Placement, and Furlough
    - Ch. 10 - Guaranteed Placement
    - Ch. 11 - Other Provisions Affecting SES Members
    - Ch. 12 - Senior Positions Outside the SES
  - Senior Executive Service FAQs
  - Reference Materials
  - Contact Us
- Settlement Guidelines
- Snow & Dismissal Procedures Toggle submenu   - Current Status
  - Status Archives
  - Notices
  - Hurricane Guidance
- Training & Development Toggle submenu   - Planning & Evaluating
  - Career Development
  - Training Program Management Toggle submenu     - Training Options
  - Leadership Development
  - Reporting Training Data
  - Training & Development FAQs
  - Mentoring Toggle submenu     - Executive Women in Motion (EWIM)
    - Mentoring Resources
  - Federal Academic Alliance
  - Reference Materials
  - Training & Development Wiki
- Tribal Consultation Toggle submenu   - Indian Preference
- Veterans Services Toggle submenu   - Council on Veterans Employment
  - Feds Hire Vets
  - Vet Guide for HR Professionals
  - Veterans Services FAQs
- Work-Life Toggle submenu   - Find Your Agency POC
  - Featured Topics
  - Awareness & Communication Materials
  - Telework
  - Health & Wellness
  - Employee Wellness Programs Toggle submenu     - Employee Assistance Programs
    - Legislation
    - Guidance for Agency Leaders & Coordinators
    - Services
    - Resources
    - Mental Health
  - Dependent Care
  - Training Opportunities
  - Work-Life FAQs
  - Reference Materials Toggle submenu     - Alcoholism In The Workplace
    - Responding to Domestic Violence
  - Federal Work-Life Survey
  - Contact Us
- Workforce Restructuring Toggle submenu   - Reductions in Force
  - Voluntary Early Retirement Authority
  - Voluntary Separation Incentive Payments
  - Career Transition
  - Reshaping
  - Summary of Reassignment
- Policy FAQs
- Contact Policymakers
- FY 2023 Human Capital Reviews Toggle submenu   - Message from the Director
  - Introduction
  - Workforce Planning and Analysis Toggle submenu     - Early Career Talent
  - Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility
  - Evaluation System Development
  - Innovation
  - Leading Practices
  - Resources

### Resources For

          - New / Prospective Employees
          - Federal Employees
          - HR Professionals
          - Managers

# Allocations & Appointments

## Allocations
Under 5 U.S.C. 3133, agencies review their executive resource needs on a biennial cycle against strategic plans, budget requirements, and program performance and formally requests OPM to allocate a specific number of SES spaces for the 2 succeeding fiscal years. OPM also provides for agencies to use this opportunity to review their needs for Senior Level (SL) and Scientific/Professional (ST) positions and request additional SL and ST spaces. In view of its responsibility under 5 U.S.C. 5107, an agency may request an SL or ST allocation only after determining a proposed position is classified above GS-15 level, as defined in 5 U.S.C. 5104(15) and applicable OPM classification standards. In addition to this regular opportunity, agencies may submit a request for SL and ST spaces at any time between biennial cycles upon identifying a need for an SL or ST position. Appointment
An SL position is in the competitive service unless it is excepted from the competitive service under statute or OPM regulations. Reassignments, promotions, transfers, and reinstatements to SL positions in the competitive service shall be made in accordance with applicable statutory and regulatory provisions of the competitive service. Employment of SL employees in the excepted service is covered by 5 CFR part 302. 
All ST positions are in the competitive service; however, under 5 U.S.C. 3325 appointments may be made to ST positions without going through the competitive examination process otherwise required to fill a competitive service position. This enables an agency to efficiently hire highly qualified scientists to perform federal research and development functions at commensurate rates of pay.-  About OPM 
-  FOIA 
-  No FEAR Act 
-  								Inspector General							 
-  Privacy policy 
-  USA.gov 
-  Accessibility 
Control Panel