Limits of Interdisciplinary Approaches in Professional Roles

Review the interdisciplinary position example to understand how to combine professional roles within related series, noting that administrative roles are not currently eligible for this approach.

Federal agencies use interdisciplinary positions to address specialized work that spans multiple professional fields within a broad occupational group. However, current policy limits the application of this approach to professional roles, excluding administrative positions.

Key Insights

  • Interdisciplinary positions are appropriate for specialized work that fits within a broad occupational group but does not align with a single established series.
  • Current Office of Personnel Management (OPM) guidelines do not permit combining professional and administrative positions when creating interdisciplinary roles.
  • An example of an interdisciplinary position includes a landscape architect classified under both the GSO807 and GSO460 series at grade 12, demonstrating how multiple professional classifications can be integrated.

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Positions not appropriate for the interdisciplinary approach. The general O1 series in an occupational group is normally the most appropriate for specialized work common to several professions in a broad occupational group or work that is not readily identifiable with an established series. Although occasionally there is discussion about extending the interdisciplinary approach to administrative positions, OPM currently has not determined if that would be an appropriate use of that approach.

And so we cannot combine professional positions with administrative positions, currently in advertising for or creating interdisciplinary positions. So, in your participant guide, we have provided you with an example of a position that is classified as an interdisciplinary position. It is position number 0501, landscape architect, then series for the landscape architect is GSO807, grade 12, and then Forrester GSO460, grade 12.

And so I want you to take a look at the interdisciplinary position that's given as an example so that you can better understand how we prepare interdisciplinary positions.

photo of Sineta Scott Robertson

Sineta Scott Robertson

Sineta Scott Robertson is an instructor at Graduate School USA, teaching in Human Resources with an emphasis on federal position classification since 2018. With nearly four decades of distinguished service in federal Human Resources leadership, she is a seasoned executive and educator recognized for her expertise in Title 5 HR, workforce planning, organizational design, and employee engagement.

She has dedicated her career to advancing strategic human capital management across Cabinet-level agencies, serving as both a transformative leader and trusted advisor to senior executives and policymakers.

Throughout her federal career, Sineta has held pivotal leadership roles at the U.S. Department of Transportation, Department of Housing & Urban Development, and Department of Agriculture, where she guided national HR policy, labor relations, workforce innovation, and program oversight. Notable achievements include leading the Department of Transportation’s efforts to become a “Telework Ready” agency, implementing its HR Accountability and Pathways Programs, and spearheading process improvements that significantly reduced error rates and improved performance management outcomes.

In addition to her government service, Sineta has extended her expertise to the classroom as an Adjunct Human Resources Instructor with Graduate School USA, where she equips HR professionals, supervisors, and executives with practical and technical knowledge in federal human resources systems, policies, and practices.

In 2014, she founded Perspectives for Peace, LLC, a consulting and Christian coaching practice. Through this work, she partners with organizations to strengthen HR effectiveness and provides faith-based executive and life coaching, helping leaders align purpose, performance, and peace.

Her career is marked by a commitment to people—helping agencies build high-performing, motivated workforces while guiding individuals to unlock their potential and live with clarity of purpose.

Sineta holds a master’s degree in Christian Counseling from Newburgh Theological Seminary (2024) and is a Doctoral Candidate in Christian Counseling (expected 2026). She also earned her Bachelor of Science in Biblical Studies from Washington Baptist Theological Seminary.

A respected professional, mentor, and faith-driven leader, Sineta Scott Robertson continues to merge her passion for organizational excellence with her calling to serve others through coaching, teaching, and ministry.

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