NEW!!!
An Innovative Approach to Writing Job Objectives
This
month, we are addressing the problem that many of you are facing right
now: writing your top three job objectives for 2009 is not an easy
task, because you do so MANY THINGS!
DON'T: Look at your desk or your computer to be reminded of your Top 3 job objectives - you will feel overwhelmed.
DO:
Find your vacancy announcement for your current job; or a vacancy
announcement that is similar to your job; or your position description.
Here
is an example for an Environmental Protection Specialist YA-2. We're
going to show you how to analyze your job duties and convert them into
job objectives in five steps:
Step 1. Find a vacancy announcement that is similar to your job
Even
if you cannot find exactly like yours, if you can do this exercise on a
job objective relatively similar to your position, it will help you
with your own situation.
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECT SPEC
SALARY RANGE: 73,100.00 - 113,007.00 USD per year
SERIES & GRADE: YA-0028-2/2 POSITION
Department: Department Of The Army
Agency:
Office of Chief of National Guard Bureau, ARNG Readiness Center,
Environmental Division, Conservation Branch, Arlington, VA
Step 2. Analyze the "About the Position" section of the announcement into three draft job objectives
For
your first draft of the job objectives, we will group the major duties
into three major "buckets" with short titles to describe the buckets.
Job Objective 1: ENVIRONMENTAL PLANS, POLICIES AND DATABASE ANALYSIS
- Provide short term, mid-range, and long range plans for inclusion in the overall ARNG environmental program
- Coordinate and resolve policy issues affecting these databases with DA and States/Territories
- Monitor
the quality of ARNG environmental programs by analysis of various
databases, to include the Army Environmental Quality (EQ) ,Status Tool
for Environmental Programs, Installation Status Report, and
Environmental Performance Assessment System
Job Objective 2: PRINCIPAL TECHNICAL CONSULTANT
- Serve as the principle technical consultant to assigned States by providing cultural resources, technical advice, and guidance
- Recommend solutions to environmentally related problems
- Review
NEPA documentation, Records of Environmental Consideration,
Environmental Assessments, and Environmental Impact Statements for
compliance
Job Objective 3: REVIEW ARNG CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS
- Review
ARNG construction projects to ensure pollution control/abatement
requirements, and cultural resources requirements are met
Step 3. Make sure your draft job objectives meet your organization's mission
Analyze
and compare your organization's mission against the draft Job
Objectives and ask yourself whether these "buckets" of work contribute
to the mission of your organization. In this example, the draft
objectives clearly meet the environmental mission of the organization
as listed below.
ARNG Federal Mission
During
peacetime each state National Guard answers to the leadership in the 50
states, three territories and the District of Columbia. During national
emergencies, however, the President reserves the right to mobilize the
National Guard, putting them in federal duty status.
Mission of the ARNG Environmental Program
Throughout
our proud history, as the Nation's oldest military organization, the
Army National Guard has protected America -in war and peace - from all
enemies, foreign and domestic. We continue to proudly serve the
American people not only as a military organization but also as
environmental stewards, preserving and protecting the beautiful,
abundant natural and cultural environment that is uniquely America.
Just as we have stood tall to successfully answer past calls, this
challenge, too, is one that we endeavor to meet. From sea to shining
sea, from the Caribbean to Guam, in every corner of our Nation, members
of the National Guard family must and will conduct their affairs in an
environmentally responsible manner. We'll strive for environmental
excellence in all that we do.
Step 4. Analyze the Qualifications and KSAs against the three draft Job Objectives
This is a good check to make sure that you are hitting the three major areas of work for your position.
QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED:
SPECIALIZED
EXPERIENCE: Candidates for this position must clearly indicate in their
resume that they possess one year of specialized training and
experience that has provided them with:1)Knowledge required to plan,
prioritize and track cultural resource compliance projects associated
with National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA), Archeological Resources
Protection Act (ARPA), Native American Graves Protection and
Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), American Indian Religious Freedom Act
(AIRFA), EO 13007 EO 13175, and the Department of Defense Legacy
Resource Management Program. 2)Ability to review projects for cultural
resources, identifies projects needed for high priority programs, and
identifies new program requirements needed to meet cultural resource
compliance. 3)Knowledge required to develop annualized resources
programming information for cultural resource compliance projects and
EPR budgetary input. 4)Ability to develop, maintain, and distribute
standardized procedures for the conduct of ARNG Cultural Resource
Compliance Program including, but not limited to: identification of
cultural resource protection; conduct of periodic surveys of historic
facilities; quality assurance/quality control;
Step 5. Finalize Your Job Objectives
To
create your actual job objectives, you can use the SMART format to
write job objectives that are specific, measurable, aligned, realistic,
and timed. Remember that you are writing about what you are GOING to
do, so use present tense and an active voice. Finally, select the
Contributing Factor that best describes how you are going to fulfill
your job objective.
JO1: (abbreviation for Job Objective 1)
Specific: MANAGER AND DATABASE ANALYST FOR ENVIRONMENTAL PLANS, POLICIES AND PERFORMANCE
Note: Add measurable projected metrics for data analysis of projects.
Measurable:
Utilize tools for analysis: Environmental Performance Assessment
(EPAS), Environmental Quality (EQ), Status Tool for Environmental
Programs, Installation Status Report, and Environmental Performance
Assessment System. Refer to these analytical tools daily for the
analysis of more than 25 projects during the year, of which half will
be completed during the fiscal year.
Note: Write about how you support the organization's commitment to environmental stewardship.
Aligned: Support the agency's commitment to environmental stewardship through careful monitoring and planning of environmental programs.
Note for writer: R should show that you will
effectively manage the projects assuming that input from interested
stakeholders is received in a timely manner.
Realistic: Assume that we receive input and data from the necessary databases and feedback mechanisms used.
Note: T should cover the timeframe for production of work, that you perform your work within various timeframes.
Timed:
Initial review and analysis of databases are completed within one month
of receiving the data. Short- and long-term goals are prepared in
planning reports within two weeks of receiving necessary feedback on
the initial review and analysis.
Note for writer: Selecting your CF should be based on the skills in the JO.
Recommended Contributing Factor: Technical Credibility
JO2:
S-- PRINCIPAL TECHNICAL CONSULTANT, NEPA
M-- Recommend
effective solutions to environmentally related problems. Consult on an
average of 5 ongoing projects per month; provide consultation services
10 times per week.
Aligned: Consultations forward the organization's goals of performing all activities in an environmentally responsible manner.
Realistic: Necessary statements are reports are available. Adequate budget and time available for number of consultations required.
Timed: Consultations are provided within two weeks of assignment.
Recommended Contributing Factor: Communications
JO3: Specific: REVIEW ARNG CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS
Measurable:
Conduct review of construction projects on a quarterly basis and
prepare assessments and recommended changes within two weeks from the
end of the quarter.
Aligned: Ensuring environmental standards are being met for ARNG construction projects.
Realistic: Budget is available for travel to the construction sites when on-site review is needed.
Timed: Oversee complex, large and small construction projects on-time and on-budget.
Recommended Contributing Factor: Resource Management
FINAL RECOMMENDATIONS:
Fine
tune your job objectives with your supervisor. Review them periodically
during the performance cycle to make sure that they continue to be
target.
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Examples of other easy to understand, on-target JOs are included in Writing Your NSPS Self-Assessment by Kathryn Troutman and Nancy Segal, available at www.resume-place.com |
The Resume Place, Inc