Presidential Management Fellowship

The Presidential Management Fellows (PMF) program is a two year fellowship sponsored by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) for recent graduate students who seek a 2 year fellowship in a U.S. government agency. Fellows are typically hired at the (GS-9 to GS-11 levels) and are promoted with their supervisors' approval to GS-12 by the conclusion of their two year fellowship. Agencies that hire PMFs include the Department of State, Department of Education, Department of Energy, Department of Commerce, Department of Justice and Federal Bureau of Investigation. Following the conclusion of the fellowship, PMFs generally have the opportunity to convert their fellowship into a full-time permanent position.

OPM Presidential Management Fellowship website

Eligibility

Graduate students from all academic disciplines who expect to complete an advanced degree from a qualifying college or university by August 31 of the academic year in which the competition is held, are eligible to become Fellows. Potential fellows should demonstrate the following: -breadth and quality of accomplishments, -capacity for leadership, and -a commitment to excellence in the leadership and management of public policies and programs.

Steps to nomination as PMF finalist

1. School Nomination: Applicant is nominated by their college or university, using the institution's own nomination process

2. Application Process: Student submits Online Application and Resume Builder, including the Accomplishment Record to OPM.

3. OPM application review and rating process: Once the nominee's electronic application is received by OPM, a pre-assessment will be conducted to select semi-finalists based on documentation provided in the Accomplishment Record portion of the student's application as well as veterans' preference. After this initial review process, semi-finalists are selected and invited to participate in a structured assessment center process during the months of January and February 2006.

4. OPM structured one-day assessment: Semi-finalists are selected and invited to participate in a one-day structured assessment center process during the months of January and February. Students can select to attend an assessment in a geographically convenient location throughout the United States. Based on the one-day assessment scores, and any veterans' preference adjudication, nominees are ranked and notified of their PMF finalist status in March of each year.

5. PMF finalist notification and Job Fair: PMF finalists are invited to attend the annual PMF job fair in Washington DC in April, where government agencies conduct interviewing and in some cases, provide offers on the spot. Once a finalist is offered a position, pending the below criteria, finalists are appointed to Presidential Management fellowship positions.

6. Appointment of fellowship: Finalists in the PMF Program may be appointed to government fellowships following: (1) official announcement of their selection as finalists, (2) completion of all graduate degree requirements (not necessarily to have graduated), including successful completion of any thesis or dissertation from a qualifying college or university, and (3) completion of security clearance process (if required by the hiring agency). PMF appointments must be made within twelve months of the official announcement of their selection as a finalist. For example, if finalists are named on March 9, 2005, then the finalist has until March 9, 2006, to be appointed as a Fellow.

Opportunities for Federal employment for non-United States citizens through the Presidential Management Fellows Program are extremely limited.

Benefits

Training has always been considered a fundamental part of the PMF Program. Hiring agencies are responsible for ensuring that Fellows receive at least 80 hours of formal classroom training each year of the fellowship. For each Fellow, the appointing agency will provide a minimum of 80 hours per year of formal classroom training that addresses the core competencies required of the occupation or functional discipline in which the Fellow will most likely be placed upon completion of the Program and conversion to a full-time, permanent position.

Hiring agencies are also to provide Fellows with at least one developmental assignment of 4 to 6 months in duration in the occupation or functional discipline in which the Fellow will most likely be placed, with full-time management and/or technical responsibilities consistent with the Fellow's Individual Development Plan.

As employees of the Federal Government, PMFs earn annual leave and sick leave, and are paid for Federal holidays. PMFs are covered under the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS). Upon appointment, PMFs may elect life insurance, health insurance, and thrift savings plan options.

Federal agencies are authorized to repay student loans under the Federal Student Loan Repayment Program, as provided for in part 537 of title 5, Code of Federal Regulations. The amount paid by the agency is subject to the following maximum limits: (1) $10,000 per employee per calendar year, and (2) a total of $60,000 per employee. Presidential Management Fellows are eligible to receive student loan repayments, but these programs are agency-specific.

Program history

The PMF Program was established by Executive Order in 1977 to attract to the Federal service outstanding men and women from a variety of academic disciplines and career paths who have a clear interest in, and commitment to, excellence in the leadership and management of public policies and programs. By drawing graduate students from diverse social and cultural backgrounds, the PMF Program provides a continuing source of trained men and women to meet the future challenges of public service. The PMF program was formerly referred to as the Presidential Management Internship (PMI) program.

“The purpose of the Program is to attract to the Federal service outstanding men and women from a variety of academic disciplines and career paths who have a clear interest in, and commitment to, excellence in the leadership and management of public policies and programs.”

President George W. Bush

Presidential Management Alumni Group (PMAG)

The non-profit Presidential Management Alumni Group (PMAG) was organized in 1981 to advance the professionalism of public service and augment the education and career development of those who have served in or assisted the PMF Program. PMAG is not sponsored by OPM. The membership is comprised of former and current Fellows, and other individuals interested in recruitment and development of Federal Government career managers. PMAG sponsors professional and social activities, maintains a network among the over 3,500 former Fellows, and provides support to maintain the PMF Program as the Federal Government’s premier mechanism for recruiting future managers.