Program Administration

Responsibility for administering the Management Cadre Program resides in the Office of Strategic Management Planning (OSMP), NIH Training Center (NIHTC), and is shared by the Leadership Development Committee (LDC), IC Offices, and Cadre participants. Since responsibilities sometimes overlap, cooperation among all parties is essential to the success of the Program.

Funding and Staffing

The participant’s IC pays costs of training, materials, equipment, and supplies for both academic and non-academic training. The IC also pays parking and associated expenses for academic and interagency training course costs for travel to and from classes. The cost of the program varies according to participant needs and IC budget; however, a minimum of $3,500 is required to begin taking part in this Program. While in the Program, participants remain on the payroll of their IC.

Roles and Responsibilities

OFFICE OF HUMAN RESOURCES (OHR)

In partnership with the LDC, OHR provides current participants and alumni with the opportunity to further develop their career potential by providing support in the following manner:

• Provides funding through the NIH Management Fund.
• Updates MCP website.
• Develops and maintains a tracking system and database for participants and alumni.
• Maintains a relationship between the MCP and other DHHS/NIH career development programs.
• Acknowledges and promotes the MCP at Leadership Roundtables, Strategic Planning meetings, and encourages and coordinates Management’s participation in providing detail assignments, shadow assignments, and informational interviews.

LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE (LDC)

The LDC is an oversight committee established to review leadership training and developmental activities at NIH. The Committee is composed of interdisciplinary representatives of key NIH senior management. The LDC, in conjunction with the OHR Program Manager, provides direction for the MCP in the following manner:

• Develops and implements MCP policies and procedures.
• Develops selection criteria, appoints the Qualifications Review Board, and makes the final selection of participants.
• Acts on disputed decisions referred by the OHR Program Manager and serves as the mediator of informal grievances.
• Monitors and evaluates the overall success of the Program in accordance with NIH trans-leadership initiatives and recommends changes or modifications to OHR.

INSTITUTES AND CENTERS (IC)

The ICs provide work and training assignments that expose participants to leadership roles within their assigned IC or in another IC. Assignments are made in 30-day increments. The participant acquires additional training in the form of attendance at conferences, workshops, and seminars. ICs provide support in the following manner:

• Provides support for the mentoring process, i.e., allow mentors reasonable time to assist participants and to encourage IC participation in identifying opportunities for career growth and development.
• Collaborates with participants in the development of detail assignments.
• Reviews and prioritizes applications. (Note: an IC can nominate up to three applicants for consideration by the LDC).

SUPERVISOR OF RECORD

MCP participants are given an opportunity to explore NIH as a learning tool during the 18-month program. In order for participants to confidently use this opportunity to its fullest, full endorsement and support is required of the immediate supervisor. The supervisor of record:

• Obtains endorsement and program support from the Institute Director for the time and opportunity for training.
• Acts as an advocate to ensure IC funding for MCP training requirements.
• Works out the details of participants’ work and/or training schedules to insure that optimal on-the-job training experiences are assigned as outlined in their CDPs.

OSMP, PROGRAM MANAGER

The NIH Training Center provides administrative support and guidance in the following areas:

• Supports the LDC in the development and implementation of policy and procedures.
• Develops selection criteria and the program announcement that is discussed with the LDC and is used in the recruitment and selection of MCP participants.
• Advises participants and supervisors in the establishment of Career Development Plans (CDP).
• Orients new participants to operating rules and procedures of the Program.
• Reviews shadow assignments, developmental assignments, and CDPs to ensure that participants are receiving useful developmental experiences.
• Maintains a tracking system and database for MCP graduates.
• Acknowledges successes via the MCP web site, NIH Record, NIHTC newsletter, and targeted e-mails to NIH scientific and executive managers.

With support of the LDC, the Program Manager:

• Provides documentation of the MCP program design, requirements and expectations across the NIH.
• Provides robust marketing and communication via the NIH record, NIH LISTSERV, NIHTC newsletter, and a memo from the Director of NIH to IC Directors, Scientific Directors, Executive Officers, and OD Staff Offices.
• Explores the implementation of programs that will enhance the prestige and reputation of the MCP.
• Ensures that the required evaluations of participants are conducted and appropriate action is taken if an evaluation indicates unsatisfactory performance based on unsuccessful completion of courses and/or inadequate performance on developmental assignments.