Washington, D.C. - In adherence with her promise to give federal agencies and departments the hiring flexibilities they need, U.S. Office of Personnel Management Director Kay Coles James has given the Department of Defense (DOD) a direct hire authority (DHA) for auditors at grade levels 11 through 15. The positions are located within the DOD's Office of the Deputy Inspector General for Auditing.

"I am pleased to approve this request and to provide this authority to DOD to support their acquiring the expertise they must have to achieve their mission," said James. "Equipping agencies to respond to such critical needs is exactly what Congress intended when it authorized OPM to grant direct hire authority."

According to an OPM memo granting the DHA, the request meets the definition of a "critical hiring need." It also notes that the DOD has a critical need to fill immediately over 100 auditor, GS-0511, vacancies at grade levels 11 through 15 that require "specialized skills and management experience in auditing financial statements and systems." During the next 3 years, DOD projects a continuing critical need to fill 200 additional auditor vacancies at grade levels GS-11 and above.

"This hiring authority equips DOD with yet another tool for employing those who want to work for their nation and help protect the integrity of its financial systems at the Department of Defense," said James. "I strongly encourage the use of this new flexibility in appropriate circumstances like these."

On a periodic basis, OPM will review the use of the DHA to ensure it is being used properly and to determine if the continued use of the authority is still supportable. If DOD determines that a need for this authority still exists after June 30, 2006, it must submit a request and justification to have it extended.