Obama Admin Seeks to Rotate More Mid-Level Feds Throughout Government

The Obama administration wants more of its mid-level managers to rotate throughout government, according to a new memorandum from the Office of Personnel Management.

OPM said in a letter to all agencies’ human resources staff it would encourage more General Schedule 13-15s to participate in the Interagency Rotation Program, an initiative launched in 2011 to give employees experience at various places in government outside their home bases. To help move employees outside the bubble of Washington, D.C., OPM will work with Federal Executive Boards to “expand the program across the nation.”

To date, five of the 28 FEBs -- those in Atlanta, Ga.; Chicago, Ill.; Dallas, Texas; Denver, Colo.; and Kansas City, Mo. -- have helped OPM coordinate with agency offices outside of the capital to place rotation participants. OPM asked both FEBs and “federal departments and agencies to support the expansion of this valuable program.”

Program participants have indicated higher engagement and job satisfaction scores upon returning to their home agencies, according to OPM, and have displayed a better grasp of core qualifications for executives.

“The IRP offers a unique opportunity for emerging leaders to expand their leadership competencies, broaden their organizational experiences and foster networks they can leverage in the future,” OPM Associate Director Mark Reinhold wrote in the memo.

To date, 350 federal managers have participated in the program, which is designed to target “high-potential leaders” to “cultivate a rising generation of talent with broad organizational experience.” The rotation lasts six months and allows agencies to choose rotational assignments and participants. Seventeen agencies are currently participating in the program.

OPM called the initiative a cost-efficient way to expand employees’ knowledge of and experience in areas outside their own expertise. Participants receive their normal salaries, which are paid by their home agencies.

The Obama administration has similarly called for Senior Executive Service employees to rotate more throughout government. 

(Image via Sira Anamwong / Shutterstock.com)