SES Articles and News

The Senior Executive Service Landscape for 2011

by Barbara Adams
February 22, 2011

If you're reading this column, then you probably know a bit about the SES. I won't go into the entire history of the SES, but visit http://www.opm.gov/ses/ online if you'd like to research it in more depth.

This is what you really need to know. Members of the SES are among the highest-level leaders in our nation's government, behind only the President of the United States and Presidential appointees. Members of the SES serve within Executive Branch federal agencies and lead the way in transforming Presidential policies into the missions and daily activities carried out by thousands of personnel employed by the federal government.

You should also know that within the SES, there are two types of positions--Career Reserved and General. Career Reserved positions can be filled only by career appointees. Most SES applicants fall in the category of General, and these positions can be filled through any of the four types of SES appointments described below:

Career Appointments: This is by far the most common type of SES appointment. Individuals hired under Career Appointments must be selected by the hiring agency as "Best Qualified" and then have their executive qualifications approved through the Office of Personnel Management (OPM).

Non-Career Appointments: Positions filled under Non-Career Appointments must be approved by OPM on a case-by-case basis and are not subject to competitive service requirements.

Limited-Term Appointments: As the name implies, positions filled under this type of appointment authority are temporary. Limited-Term Appointments cannot exceed three years and the terms are not renewable. Limited-Term Appointments are intended to fill SES positions that are not expected to be needed indefinitely, such as positions created to oversee special projects.

Limited Emergency Appointments: Like Limited-Term Appointments, Limited Emergency Appointments are non-renewable. However, Limited Emergency Appointments have additional, stricter requirements. These appointments last for no more than 18 months and OPM's authorization for such appointments is granted only when an agency can demonstrate an urgent, unanticipated, and justifiable need for such a position.

Finally, know this: Despite salary freezes across the federal government, the SES is still seeking our government's future leaders. According to OPM, there are currently between 7,000 and 7,500 senior executives throughout the government.

As with much of the federal government, it is estimated up to 90 percent of current SES members will retire within the next 10 years. This equates to approximately 70 positions each year that will need to be replaced. As SES members retire and new openings are created, there will be increased demand for new leaders to join the ranks.

As of February 12, 2011, there are at least 85 SES positions on USAJobs. You can view them by visiting USAJOBS.gov and click on Senior Executives (Be sure to refresh the page or search "SES" for the most current information.)

So, what does the SES landscape look like, just a month and a half into 2011? When Presidents and their appointees change, retire, or move on, SES members remain. They are the link between administrations and federal workers, and the dynamic nature of their roles demands a commitment to public service and the democratic ideals of our Constitution. Clearly, we need our country's top leaders in the SES.

Will you be one of them?

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