Succession Planning
Federal managers will face one of their greatest challenges over the next two decades - a potential 60 percent loss in workforce due to retirement. Great leaders have identified the need to be proactive in developing the next generation of leaders for their agencies.
Succession planning used to be just good policy implemented by forward-thinking managers - now it's the law. The Federal Workforce Flexibility Act of 2004 establishes that "the head of each agency shall establish a comprehensive management succession program…to develop managers for the agency."
The Office of Personnel Management provides a variety of solutions to help agencies resolve their succession planning needs:
- The Presidential Management Fellows (PMF) Program brings high-performing, aspiring leaders from a variety of academic graduate disciplines to join Government agencies in a two-year development program that prepares them to assume leadership roles as public servants.
- SES Briefings are provided by OPM in partnership with the White House for new executives. These sessions incorporate lectures, discussions, question-and-answer periods, and opportunities for networking. The briefings end with a swearing-in ceremony.
- The Leadership Education and Development (LEAD) Certificate Program provides a road map for leadership training that empowers individuals and helps agencies meet the challenges of succession management.
- OPM Custom Solutions delivers individualized succession-planning programs to help agencies build their leadership pipelines and talent pools through workforce analysis and long-term planning.