Click here to skip navigation
This website uses features which update page content based on user actions. If you are using assistive technology to view web content, please ensure your settings allow for the page content to update after initial load (this is sometimes called "forms mode"). Additionally, if you are using assistive technology and would like to be notified of items via alert boxes, please follow this link to enable alert boxes for your session profile.
This website uses features which update page content based on user actions. If you are using assistive technology to view web content, please ensure your settings allow for the page content to update after initial load (this is sometimes called "forms mode"). Alert box notification is currently enabled, please follow this link to disable alert boxes for your session profile.

This page can be found on the web at the following url:
https://www.pmf.gov/agencies/value-proposition-and-overview

Click here to skip navigation
An Official Web Site of the United States Government

Agencies

Value Proposition and Overview

What is the PMF Program?

Photo_16

The Presidential Management Fellows (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 About Us webpage contains an introduction about the PMF Program and includes all the Program Policies. 

How does the PMF Program work for Federal Agencies?

Your agency pays OPM a one-time placement fee for each initial PMF appointment; for the current fee and instructions, see the "PMF Reimbursement Process for Agencies" posted under the Resources webpage.

This investment gives you the following:

  • We Recruit the Best: We recruit thousands of recent and/or current graduates each year from graduate schools globally and across all academic disciplines. They bring invaluable skills and experiences to your agency that are at the cutting edge of their respective fields—from public policy, to STEM, finance, business, public health, international affairs, law, cybersecurity, and many more.
  • We Vet and Pre-Qualify Finalists: OPM conducts an annual online application and rigorous  assessment process. The pool is narrowed from several thousand Applicants to several hundred Finalists. All Finalists are pre-qualified at the GS-9 level based on their advanced degree, and agencies have the option to initially appoint at the GS-9/11/12 (or equivalent)—saving you valuable time in the recruitment/hiring process.
  • You Can Hire All Year: Agencies post appointment and rotational opportunities throughout the year to our PMF Talent Management System (TMS). Current Finalists have one year from the time they are selected to find a placement. Hiring officials can work with their Agency PMF Coordinator to search the database of Finalists, review their resumes, and encourage them to apply for jobs.
  • Develop Your Agency's Future Leaders: Fellows are required to receive 80 hours of formal interactive training each year (for a total of 160 hours) and participate in a 4 to 6 developmental assignment during their two-year fellowships. Agencies can also sponsor Fellows for optional rotational assignments. Additionally, Fellows have access to our PMF Leadership Development Program (PMF LDP), which provides 100+ hours of experiential leadership training toward fellowship requirements. 

How do I get started?

  • First, talk to your Agency PMF Coordinator to discuss how to get started. If you are new to participating in the PMF Program, please follow the instructions on designating an Agency PMF Coordinator found under the Resources webpage. Each participating Federal agency identifies an Agency PMF Coordinator to support their PMF Program participation.
  • Participate in the Hiring Event. Agencies can participate in the OPM-sponsored hiring events to connect with hundreds of Finalists available for hire. Additional information can be found on the Hiring Event webpage, under Find Candidates. Agencies should prepare position descriptions, interview questions, and information about the agency.
  • Program Analyst Career Ladder Position Description Templates Guide. The PMF Program Office has prepared a Guide containing instructions and Position Description (PD) templates for agencies to use in creating Program Analyst (GS-0343-9/11/12/13) positions for PMF appointments. The Guide, along with an infographic, can be found under Resources.
  • Advertise Your Positions. The PMF Program uses a Talent Management System (TMS) to advertise appointment opportunities for Finalists and rotational opportunities for current Fellows. 
  • Current Finalists: Upon official selection and announcement of Finalists, a list will be available on the PMF website. However, once the appointment eligibility period expires, the current lists of Finalists will be removed. Finalists have 12 months to accept and start a PMF appointment before their appointment eligibility expires.
  • PMF Agency Brochure: This brochure is a resource that presents the value proposition of the PMF Program for Federal agencies, what agencies should do if they would like to hire a PMF, and a high-level overview of the program.

UPDATED: 09-26-2024