NAO 202-300

NOAA CORPS STAFFING POLICY

Issued 10/02/89; Effective 09/18/89

SECTION 1. PURPOSE/BACKGROUND.

This Order prescribes the policies and procedures by which positions in NOAA Line and Staff Offices may be established and filled by NOAA Corps Commissioned Officers.

SECTION 2. REFERENCES.

Policies and procedures governing administration of the NOAA Corps are contained in NOAA Directives Manual, Chapter 56, Department of Commerce Administrative Orders, and NOAA Administrative Orders.
SECTION 3. POLICIES/PROCEDURES.

.01 Staffing Policy. Management has the option of requesting the assignment of a NOAA Corps Commissioned Officer or filling a position with a civilian at any time. It is the manager's continuing responsibility when exercising the staffing option to consider the mix of civilian and Commissioned Officer staffing which will best promote the accomplishment of program objectives, as well as the attainment of civilian and Officer career goals.

.02 Positions. Positions may not be designated for competition between Commissioned Officers and civilians. A manager, wishing to staff a position with a Commissioned Officer, must first develop a position description in civil service (Factor Evaluation System) format, describing the position. NOAA Form 56-28A, NOAA Commissioned Officers Position Description, should be used as a cover sheet for each such description. The completed description is forwarded to the Director, NOAA Corps Operations, for evaluation against the criteria enumerated in NDM 56-45.8. If approved, the Director will make the appropriate changes to the NOAA Corps Billets List. A copy of the position is to be forwarded to the servicing personnel office for classification. The servicing Personnel Officer will provide the classification results to the Director, Commissioned Personnel Center. The Commissioned Personnel Center will keep the NOAA Personnel Officer apprised of Commissioned Officer assignments via the monthly NOAA Corps Bulletin.

.03 Assignments. Commissioned Officers are assigned to approved billets by the Director, NOAA Corps Operations, in accordance with the provisions of NDM 56-45. Matching skills with needs is facilitated by including in the position, under Knowledge Required, a summary of qualifications considered desirable/necessary for the position.

.04 Performance Management. Upon assignment of a Commissioned Officer to a shore duty position, excluding positions in units directly supporting the NOAA Corps, the supervisor must develop a performance plan for the Officer, using form CD-396, to depict the major performance objectives and evaluation factors of the position. The supervisor is to appraise the Officer's performance using the CD-396. Completed CD-396 evaluations are to be forwarded to the Director, Commissioned Personnel Center. The CD-396 appraisal does not supersede the NOAA Corps evaluation process conducted in accordance with the provisions of NDM 56-06.

.05 FTE Ceiling Requirements. Commissioned Officers' work efforts (their Full-Time Equivalent [FTE] hours) are not charged against the organization to which they are assigned, but rather to the NOAA Corps.

SECTION 4. EFFECT ON OTHER ISSUANCES.

This Order replaces NMD 52-01, same subject, which was abolished by NOAA Circular 89-26, dated August 24, 1989.

SIGNED,
Director, Office of Administration

Office of Primary Interest:
Office of NOAA Corps Operations (NC)
Personnel Division (AD2)