Presidential Management Fellowship 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.
Presidential Management Fellowship Program
- Premier program for leadership development in the Federal civil service
- Provides two-year Federal Government fellowships to individuals who have completed a graduate-level course of study from an accredited college or university
Applicant Eligibility
Graduate students from all academic disciplines who expect to complete an advanced degree (master's, law, or doctoral-level degree) from a qualifying college or university during the 2009-2010 academic year (September 1, 2009 - August 31, 2010) are eligible to apply. MPA, MPP and PhD students who will graduate in December 2009, May 2010, and August 2010 are eligible to be nominated by the School of Public Affairs if they demonstrate the following:
- breadth and quality of accomplishments,
- capacity for leadership, and
- a commitment to a excellence in the leadership and management of public policies and programs
Application Process
- How to Apply
Eligible applicants apply to the PMF Program via a vacancy announcement on USAJOBS (www.USAJOBS.gov) or via a link on the “PMF Application” webpage once activated. Eligible applicants will be required to link a resume and complete a qualifications questionnaire during the application process. Applicants claiming veterans’ preference will also need to provide supporting documentation.
Please follow the instructions provided to complete, edit, print, revise and submit your Online Application as noted on the web site with a paper copy delivered to the School of Public Affairs. Applicants must complete graduate degree requirements (master's or doctoral-level degree) from an academic institution formally accredited by an accrediting organization recognized by the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education within the specified time frame of September 1, 2009 to August 31, 2010.
- School of Public Affairs Nomination Process
Every PMF applicant from the School of Public Affairs needs to be nominated by the ASU School of Public Affairs. The ASU School of Public Affairs Nomination Official is Dr. Robert Denhardt. Deadline to submit nomination materials is Monday, October 19th. Submit materials to Chris Hiryak at chris.hiryak@asu.edu.
Applicants must fill out their application through USAJOBS by October 15th and submit a nomination form to the School of Public Affairs. Applicants will be required to print a PMF Nomination Form (a fax-back teleform), known as the OPM Form 1300, once their application is completed and submit this form to their Nomination Official for a decision. If the Nomination Official is prepared to nominate you, he/she would need to fill out the form and fax it by the deadline identified. Applicants will be electronically notified, via email, approximately two to three weeks after the nomination deadline (not the application deadline) on whether or not they have been nominated by their school.
In addition, applicants must submit a copy of the resume submitted through USAJOBS and a 3-5 page personal statement outlining: analytical thinking/problem solving or interpersonal & team skills; demonstrated resilience or leadership abilities; why the applicant wants to work for the federal government; and what value the applicant will bring to the PMF Program.
School nomination decisions for PMF are decided on a number of factors: commitment to public service, ability to think, speak and write clearly, leadership potential, ability to interact and work well with other people, and academic accomplishments.
Assessment Process
Eligible nominees will be invited to participate in a structured and proctored assessment process. Assessment centers will be available nationwide to accommodate nominees across the country. Nominees are evaluated on:
- Critical Thinking Skills: Assesses problem solving and critical thinking skills
- Writing Fundamentals: Assesses writing ability
- Life Experiences: Assesses selected leadership and interpersonal skills
OPM will select finalists based on an OPM evaluation of each candidate’s experience and accomplishments based on his/her application and the results of a rigorous structured assessment process
Finalists
Finalists are invited to attend a PMF Job Fair in the spring, attended by participating Federal agencies. Finalists have access to an online PMF Projected Positions System (PPS) to identify agency positions. Finalists have 12 months from the date they are selected to be appointed to agency positions
Application Time Frame:
- Online application available October 1, 2009
- Students submit online applications by October 15, 2009
- Nomination Officials submit nominations by October 31, 2009
- Nominees complete assessments in January 2010
- Nominees notified of their selection as Finalists by late-February to mid-March 2010
- Job Fair in the spring 2010
- Agencies hire Finalists over one full year from selection as a Finalist
