PMF Mentor Requirements, Action Learning Teams (ALTs), Promotions, Certifications, Conversions & Other Actions Presented by Tracy Scott NOAA PMF Training Program Manager Class of 2006 NOAA PMF Orientation November 16, 2006

Overview NOAA PMF Mentor Requirements ALTs Promotions Performance Issues Certification Process Conversions Appointment Extensions Movement/Transfers Terminations Withdrawals Readmission Resignation Student Loan Deferment

NOAA PMF Mentor Requirements NOAA PMFs are required to establish & maintain a relationship with a mentor that is: Outside of your normal chain of command. Documented on your individual development plan (IDP). You are responsible for selecting your mentor & meeting monthly with them, either in person or via telephone. Your mentor will serve as a role model & personal advisor, providing insight & objectivity during your fellowship.

ALTs Provide teams of Fellows with substantive work on complex organizational issues. Work culminates in a deliverable product while achieving individual, team & organizational development. Pilot teams are underway as program evaluations & improvements continue. As a NOAA Fellow, you are not required to participate on an ALT. No formal training hours are awarded for ALT participation. If you participate on an ALT, please include it on your IDP.

Promotions As a PMF & an excepted service employee, you may be promoted up to the GS-13 level or its equivalent. You are not required to meet the 1-year time-in-grade requirements. However, you will not be eligible for promotion until: You’ve been at the current level for a minimum of 120 days (the minimum assessment period). You meet all requirements for promotion as identified by your IDP.

Promotions The IDP must indicate the competencies required for each level & provide a benchmark identifying the successful acquisition of the needed competencies. Future promotions after completing the PMF program are dependent upon NOAA’s Merit Assignment Program, the position’s career ladder & full performance level, your time-in-grade, & your performance.

Performance Issues To progress in a grade & complete the program, you must attain a performance rating of “fully successful” or equivalent for all critical elements established in your performance plan. Your supervisor can’t allow a conversion action to occur if your performance is less than fully successful. In the unusual circumstance that a Fellow’s performance is below “fully successful” or equivalent, Fellows will be given assistance by the supervisor.

Certification Process Approximately 2 ½ months prior to your anticipated conversion date, the NOAA PMF Training Program Manager will ask you to your final 2-year IDP for review. Once you have incorporated suggested changes, you & your supervisor will sign & date the final IDP and mail it to the NOAA PMF Training Program Manager. The NOAA PMF Training Program Manager will send it to the Department’s Training Officer’s Council (TOC).

Certification Process The TOC will assess your IDP for successful completion of your PMF Program requirements. The TOC’s review results are forwarded to the NOAA Operating Executive Resources Boards (OERB) for certification. OERB certification results are forwarded to the NOAA PMF Training Program Manager. The NOAA PMF Training Program Manager forwards the results to the Department of Commerce’s PMF Coordinator for transmission to OPM.

Certification Process You must be notified no later than 30 calendar days prior to the expiration of your appointment in the Program with the results of your OERB certification. If your are not certified, you may request reconsideration by the OPM Director/designee.

Conversions Once you are OERB-certified, you must be: Appointed without further competition to a full-time, permanent position. Noncompetitively converted to career or career conditional appointment. You may be converted & promoted simultaneously on the same HR action. Your conversion must be effective on the expiration date of your appointment; e.g., on the 2-year anniversary date of beginning the program. Conversions to competitive service appointments are not allowed prior to satisfactory completion of program requirements & the OERB’s certification.

Appointment Extensions Under rare & unusual circumstances, heads of bureaus/offices may extend your fellowship for up to 120 days. Extension requests from 120 days-1 year must be submitted in writing to the NOAA PMF Training Program Manager up through the Department of Commerce’s PMF Coordinator to OPM. Extension requests must: Be received at least 90 days before the end of the appointment. Include specific reasons for requesting the scheduled extension. At anytime during an extension, you may be converted to a career or career-conditional appointment if your performance is satisfactory & certification is grant by the OERB.

Movement/Transfers You may move to another agency, another NOAA Line/Corporate Office (LO/CO), or another program office within your LO/CO at any time during your appointment in the program. You should contact the NOAA PMF Training Program Manager for assistance as soon as a potential move is identified to avoid potential complications.

Terminations Your appointment expires at the end of your 2-year fellowship period. If you have not been granted an extension or have not successfully completed the Program, your appointment terminates. Either you or your supervisor can terminate your PMF appointment. If a proposed termination is initiated by your supervisor, the basis of the termination will be related to misconduct, poor performance, or suitability.

Withdrawals from the Program You can withdraw from the Program at any time by resigning your appointment. Such withdrawal will be treated as a resignation from the Federal service. However, any obligations established upon admission & appointment will apply.

Readmission If you withdraw from the program for reasons that are related to misconduct, poor performance, or suitability, you may not be readmitted to the program. If you withdraw from the program for reasons that are not related to misconduct, poor performance, or suitability, you may petition the NOAA PMF Program Manager for readmission & reappointment to the program. Such a petition must be in writing & include a justification.

Resignation Fellows who resign at any time prior to completion of the program: Do not have reinstatement eligibility for competitive service positions based on the PMF appointment. Cannot be reinstated into the PMF Program.

Student Loan Deferment The PMF Program is not a graduate fellowship program for the purposes of Federal student loan deferment. Borrowers may not defer repayment of their loans based on their participation in the PMF program. Additional information can be obtained on the Federal Student Aid website at:

Questions? Do you have any questions?