Center for Leadership Development

FIND COURSES

A unique opportunity for:

• career development and personal growth
• sharing leadership and management experiences
• improving your agency's programs and services

America's dynamic democracy requires public-sector leaders with unparalleled experience, leadership, and dedication. The U.S. Office of Personnel Management invites applications for Executives in Residence (EIR) to participate in the development of these public-sector leaders to fulfill these compelling responsibilities. Executives in Residence are career government executives who serve as visiting full-time faculty members at the Federal Executive Institute (FEI) in Charlottesville, Virginia, the Eastern Management Development Center in Shepherdstown, West Virginia, and the Western Management Development Center in Aurora, Colorado. The responsibilities of the EIRs are to:

• create, share and apply knowledge and skills to address the challenges faced by public sector organizations
• develop the values and competencies that are the foundation of public service, transcending individual professions and missions
• offer state-of-the-art learning experiences in world-class learning environments

Current and past Executives in Residence clearly express the positive experience of serving as an EIR. Both the individual EIR and the sponsoring agency benefit from the faculty appointment.

Advantages identified by past EIRs include the opportunities to:

• share knowledge and experience with rising government leaders
• be exposed to a diversity of "cutting-edge" training and performance improvement strategies
• experience personal and professional renewal
• meet and network with a wide variety of individuals from all government agencies
• research and discuss a variety of leadership and management issues; and
• return to their home agencies with new skills and perspectives which serve to improve program and service delivery

There are many different activities in which Executives in Residence are involved during their residency. The recruitment this year has been expanded to include the potential for EIRs to serve in one of three capacities:

Faculty EIRs who will:

• facilitate Leadership Development Teams and other small groups
• serve as facilitators in selected FEI courses
• coordinate selected seminars and programs
• undertake several learning projects while in residence

Management EIRs who will:

• facilitate Leadership Development Teams and other small groups
• conduct research on selected management topics
• coordinate projects focused on specific leadership and management needs of the Institute

We have found that EIRs come with a wealth of experience and expertise from which we could derive substantial benefits. Management or leadership skills are sought in financial management, marketing, business development, information technology, international/global relations and administrative management.

Washington, DC EIRs who will:

• Reside in and support leadership programs held in the Washington, DC metropolitan area
• Conduct market research and presentations with OPM customers
• Support national leadership conferences

The Federal Executive Institute

Faculty EIRs at FEI are fully integrated into the daily learning and training environment. After an initial training period, EIRs are provided with the opportunity to facilitate Leadership Development Teams, which consist of eight to nine senior executives attending the Institute’s four-week residential program. The second major responsibility of EIRs involves coordinating the entire four-week residential program, Leadership for a Democratic Society, and one week residential custom and open enrollment programs. Other essential but less frequent responsibilities include advising and counseling executives in their career track and personal leadership style; developing and presenting training sessions, courses, and simulations; and researching and investigating a variety of innovative leadership and management issues.

Management Development Centers (MDCs)

EIRs at the MDCs are fully integrated into the daily learning and training environment. After an initial training period, EIRs are provided with the opportunity to coordinate seminars and facilitate program participants in team exercises. Other essential but less frequent responsibilities include advising and counseling executives in their career track and personal leadership style; developing and presenting training sessions, courses, and simulations; and researching and investigating a variety of innovative leadership and management issues. EIRs may be assigned to work with specific agencies and select Federal Executive Boards on custom designed programs.

All interested applicants for the Executive in Residence Program must meet the following qualifications:

• Two-year commitment at the FEI and at least one year at the MDCs
• GS/GM-15 level to SES at the FEI and GS/GM-14 level to SES at the MDCs
• Master's degree or higher is desired for placement at the FEI and a Bachelor's degree or higher is desired for placement at the MDCs
• Extensive leadership and management experience
• Strong communications and interpersonal skills
• Home agency willing to sponsor the EIR opportunity by providing salary, benefits and any relocation or travel costs the sponsoring agency may wish to negotiate with their candidate.

Applicants should have demonstrated experience in one or more of the following areas:

• Leadership training and development
• Working overseas or on programs involving other governments
• Information Technology
• Managing Diversity
• Business Acumen
• Advanced academic study in public administration or organizational development

Finally, most successful EIRs display many of the following personal attributes:

• Integrity
• Initiative
• Flexibility
• Team-orientation
• Self-awareness

OPM views diversity as an important advantage for public organizations of the 21st century. Women, minorities, and persons with disabilities who meet qualifications are strongly encouraged to apply.

Applications for EIR positions are accepted during the recruitment periods specified below. Applicants are encouraged to contact the FEI or MDC periodically to ask about positions that may become available between recruitment periods. Four to six EIR positions are normally filled.

Application Timeline

May - July   Submission of Application Packages

July   Screening of Applications

August - September   Interviews Scheduled and Selections Announced

November- April   Appointment Commences

All Application Packages should include:

• Nomination letter from the agency in support of the applicant, including a statement of the agency’s commitment to sponsorship for the period of appointment (paying salary, benefits, and relocation costs)
• Resume
• Outline of any experience in teaching, training, facilitating, coaching and public speaking
• List of 5 professional references
• Dates available for program participation
• Detailed written responses to the following questions:
  1. Why do you want to serve as an EIR? What could you contribute to the Federal Executive Institute or to the Management Development Center? Include areas of professional expertise and/or areas of professional development you would like to pursue.
  2. What are your greatest strengths and weaknesses? How did you develop these strengths? Have you done anything to overcome these weaknesses?
  3. Describe the difference between a leader and a manager. What experience do you have in these roles?
  4. Please describe the most significant leadership challenge you have encountered in your career and how you resolved it. What do you see as the most significant challenges facing Federal executives over the next one year? Five to ten years?
  5. Why would your organization sponsor you for the Executive in Residence Program? What benefit(s) do you see your organization deriving from your assignment here? What benefit(s) would you derive? Why?