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Colorado Bulletin No.: CO-360-09-01

DATE:  October 2, 2008

SUBJECT:   PER – Colorado Leadership Development Program (LDP)

TO:  All Colorado Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) Employees

PURPOSE:  To develop individuals for NRCS Leadership Positions

EXPIRATION DATE:  September 30, 2009

ACTION REQUIRED BY: October 31, 2008

The LDP is a unique development activity to enhance the potential of NRCS employees in grades GS-9 – GS-12 to become managers by broadening their perspectives and improving their leadership skills, techniques and abilities. (Refer to General Manual, Colorado Amendment 360, Part 410.60 – 410.66, for complete details concerning this program.)

The Colorado LDP will begin the first session by establishing up to 4 leadership development positions. The selected employees will retain their present positions and grades and will continue to be eligible for promotion or reassignment under competitive merit promotion procedures.

General Information:

The training objectives paramount to this LDP are: (1) to challenge employees to undertake leadership development; (2) to expose employees to all levels of management, which may assist them in future career decisions; and (3) to broaden candidates’ perspective and provide them with an opportunity to apply leadership skills in a practical, working environment. These objectives could be achieved through a variety of activities that will be tailored to the specific needs of the individual and the organization. These activities may include training courses, details, special projects, reading assignments, self assessment, and/or other activities appropriate to the need. Participants will be supported in their endeavors by the State Leadership Team and by individually-selected mentor(s).

Each employee selected for the LDP is required to make commitments that affect both official and personal time. The LDP is a collateral assignment, which may take up to 10 percent of duty time, and involves a commitment of personal time as well. Supervisors of selected candidates will work with the State Leadership Team to adjust the participants’ workload as appropriate to accommodate the collateral duties. The program features the following components:

  • Program can be completed in 18 months but can span up to a two-year period, depending on the individual participant’s needs and the needs of the organization.
  • Participants selected under this announcement may begin the program immediately, or may delay initiating activities for up to four months to accommodate personal and workload issues.
  • Participants will be retained in their present positions at their current duty station during the training period and will continue to be eligible for reassignments or promotion under merit promotion procedures.
  • Depending on the activities undertaken, the program may involve overnight travel away from the duty station.
Basic Eligibility Requirements:

To be eligible for participation in the program, one must be at the GS-9 (one year in grade), GS-11, or GS-12, grade level and must have a performance Summary Rating of "Fully Successful". Eligible candidates may be in any career field.

Method of Evaluation:

All eligible candidates who respond to this announcement will be evaluated on their application package and by a team established by the State Conservationist (STC). The STC will make final selections for the program with input from State Leadership Team members.

How to Apply:

Employees who wish to be considered for the LDP must apply in writing by October 31, 2008 to:

Natural Resources Conservation Service
Attn: Cathee Wilson, Acting SAO
655 Parfet St. Room E200C
Lakewood, CO 80215

The following materials must be submitted:

  1. A brief resume showing current position and past work experience, which focuses on the applicant’s contributions and accomplishments in those positions.
     
  2. The Agreement of Responsibilities Employee/Supervisor signed by both the applicant and the applicant’s supervisor. (Attachment 1)
     
  3. Statement of career objectives and interests. (Attachment 2)
     
  4. Appraisal of leadership potential competed by the applicant’s supervisor. (Attachment 3)
     
  5. Respond to the following Knowledge, Skills and Ability (KSAs): (Attachment 4-1 through 4-4)
     
    1. Ability to establish and maintain working relationships with local, state and federal organizations, agencies and partners in order to coordinate programs and deal with controversial issues.
       
    2. Knowledge of leadership and management principles that are needed to influence others and to direct activities.
       
    3. Skill in organizing workload, assessing priorities and making sound decisions in order to assume responsibilities and achieve objects.
       
    4. Ability to express ideas clearly in writing and skill in effectively expressing oneself orally or in a group setting.
  6. Copy of most recent completed performance appraisal.
     
  7. A Mentor/Mentee form will be signed upon selection to the program.
FAILURE TO SUBMIT ALL REQUIRED MATERIAL WILL AUTOMATICALLY DISQUALIFY A CANDIDATE FROM FURTHER CONSIDERATION.

Candidates will be considered without discrimination for any non-merit reason such as race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, physical or mental handicap, or membership or non-membership in an employee organization.


/s/

ALLEN GREEN
State Conservationist

Attachments

Dist: E

 

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