Career Development Programs

About the Programs

The NIH Training Center's career development programs offer participants an opportunity for professional growth and self-improvement. They range from short-term programs designed to help with a specific skill to longer-term programs designed to develop multiple competencies, support career planning, foster knowledge transfer within NIH, and provide tools for succession planning.

Employees who wish to participate in an NIH career development program must meet basic eligibility requirements and, in some cases, compete in a rigorous selection process. Successful candidates are then expected to meet all of the requirements of the program.

Continuum of Career Development

  Management Seminar Series Emerging Talent Program Management 
Interns		 Presidential Management Fellows
Duration

6 two-hour seminars

over 7 months

12-day program

over 6 months

 2 years 2 years
Cohort Size Max 250 30 3

3 (At-Large PMFs)

No maximum for Targeted or Designated PMFs at ICs
Audience High-performing NIH employees, MIs and PMFs High potential or high performing NIH Federal Employees NIH staff seeking internal merit promotion in administration/management (Typically) Non-Federal, advanced degree candidates
Targeted Group GS 7-13 (nonsupervisory) and equivalents GS 5-11 and equivalents GS 7-12 and equivalents Graduating or recent graduate student (external to NIH; new hires)
Recruitment Model Individual Recruitment Team/IC recruitment Individual recruitment/competitive Individual recruitment/competitive (Excepted Service Appointment)
Application Process Selection process and requirements handled within IC Selection process and requirements handled within IC Vacancy Announcement; NIHTC PM review and processing; written and group exercises and interviews OPM-directed application (USAJobs); assessment tools and interviews. After OPM selects finalists, candidates must apply to NIH announcement
Individual Assessment(s) None CliftonStrengths MBTI MBTI
Individualized Support None Individual Development Plan Consulting, and Career & Well-being Services Senior-level Mentor Senior-level Mentor, Individual Development Plan Consulting, and Career & Well-being Services
Focus Areas

Topics (vary each year)

  • Emotional Intelligence
  • Developing Belonging
  • Change Management
  • Improving Quality & Productivity
  • Managing a Diverse Workforce
  • Mentoring 101
  • Employee Engagement

Topics

  • NIH Mission, Structure, Culture & Values
  • Managing your Federal Career
  • Networking and Alumni Community
  • PMAPs and IDPs
  • Self-Awareness and Clifton Strengths
  • Communication
  • Public Speaking
  • Managing Up

Topics

  • Project and committee participation
  • Mini-rotations (lasting a few weeks)
  • Shadow rotations (lasting a few days)

Topics

  • Rotations (lasting 3-4 months each for At-Large & Designated PMFs) 
  • Project and committee participation
  • Mini-rotations (lasting a few weeks)
  • Shadow rotations (lasting a few days) 
  • Developmental Assignment (4-6 month rotation)
Developmental Activities   Individual Development Plan
  • Individual training and training budget
  • Individual Development Plan
  • Individual training and training budget (At-Large PMFs)
  • Individual Development Plan
Extra-curricular Learning   NIH Tours

MSS Coordination

DDM Speaker Project

MSS Coordination

DDM Speaker Project
 

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