§ 430.305 System standards for SES performance management systems

5 CFR 430.305(a)(a) Each agency performance management system must incorporate the following system standards:

5 CFR 430.305(a)(1)(1) Use critical elements based on OPM-validated executive competencies to evaluate executive leadership and results, including the quality of the executive's performance;

5 CFR 430.305(a)(2)(2) Align performance requirements with agency mission and strategic planning initiatives;

5 CFR 430.305(a)(3)(3) Define performance standards for each of the summary rating performance levels, which also may be used for the individual elements or performance requirements being appraised;

5 CFR 430.305(a)(4)(4) Appraise each senior executive's performance at least annually against performance requirements based on established performance standards and other measures;

5 CFR 430.305(a)(5)(5) Derive an annual summary rating through a mathematical method that ensures executives' performance aligns with level descriptors contained in performance standards that clearly differentiate levels above fully successful;

5 CFR 430.305(a)(6)(6) Establish five summary performance levels as follows:

5 CFR 430.305(a)(6)(i)(i) An outstanding level;

5 CFR 430.305(a)(6)(ii)(ii) An exceeds fully successful level;

5 CFR 430.305(a)(6)(iii)(iii) A fully successful level;

5 CFR 430.305(a)(6)(iv)(iv) A minimally satisfactory level; and

5 CFR 430.305(a)(6)(v)(v) An unsatisfactory level;

5 CFR 430.305(a)(7)(7) Include equivalency statements in the system description for agency-specific terms for the five summary performance levels aligning them with the five performance levels required in § 430.305(a)(6); and

5 CFR 430.305(a)(8)(8) Use performance appraisals as a basis to adjust pay, reward, retain, and develop senior executives or make other personnel decisions, including removals as specified in § 430.312.

5 CFR 430.305(b)(b) An agency may develop its own performance management system for senior executives in accordance with the requirements of this section.

5 CFR 430.305(c)(c) OPM may establish, and refine as needed, a basic performance management system incorporating all requirements of this section, which agencies may adopt, with limited adaptation, for performance management of its senior executives.

5 CFR 430.305(d)(d) OPM may establish, and refine as needed, a forced distribution of SES rating levels which agencies must apply when rating SES members, except that noncareer SES members may be excluded from such forced distribution requirements, as determined by OPM.