Washington, D.C. - In order to encourage use of available hiring flexibilities among federal agencies and departments, U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Director Kay Coles James today announced the agency will host a government-wide training symposium for agency chief human capital officers on June 29, 2004, at its headquarters, 1900 E Street, NW, Washington, DC, 20415. The training will further emphasize tools agencies can use now to expedite the federal hiring process (see attached memorandum). It also will provide detailed instructions on invoking existing hiring flexibilities agencies can use to make federal employment more attractive to those who'd like to work for America, but who may be discouraged by cumbersome job descriptions and a lengthy hiring process.

"The results of OPM's recent federal hiring survey reveal that existing hiring flexibilities are underutilized by federal hiring managers," James stated. "Federal hiring takes too long and that must change - the solutions exist at the agency level. Agencies have been given the tools to bring about results, but in order for results to be realized agencies must utilize these tools." This will be the fourth training symposium OPM has offered agencies in the past year on how to use hiring flexibilities.

The symposium, an expanded version of the hiring flexibilities briefing scheduled to be given to the Chief Human Capital Officers Council on June 17, will feature sessions on the various hiring flexibilities - appointing authorities for veterans, direct hire, and category rating - as well as student and excepted service employment authorities.  A session on implementing these flexibilities, including discussions on work force planning, process engineering, and establishing measures of performance, will follow.

"To attract the most qualified applicants, the hiring process must be as efficient as possible. Agencies must be aware of and utilize the resources available to meet their hiring needs, particularly those to fill mission-critical positions," stated James.

Our mission is to ensure the Federal Government has an effective civilian workforce. OPM supports U.S. agencies with personnel services and policy leadership including staffing tools, guidance on labor-management relations and programs to improve work force performance.