The Miscellaneous Administration and Program Series, GS-301, provides classification guidance for positions that do not fit neatly into other occupational series. While the flysheet outlines the series definition and coverage, it does not include grade-level evaluation criteria, requiring classifiers to use compatible standards or functional guides for position evaluation.
Key Insights
- The GS-301 Series flysheet lacks specific grade-level evaluation criteria and directs users to apply multi-series guides or analogous occupational standards.
- Classifiers must assess the nature of the work, required qualifications, and appropriate PACTO categories to select suitable evaluation standards.
- Positions should not be matched to standards based on superficial similarities; evaluators must use sound judgment and avoid relying solely on the primary standard for classification.
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This is the 301 Series Standard, the Miscellaneous Administration and Program Series 301. It gives you the basic information in the standard, the series definition, the coverage, the nature of the work, the series determination, titles, and the evaluation of positions. How do we position? And so, most flysheets only give you this much information.
Some also include information needed to determine the grade level. And so, different flysheets for different series will provide different information, but none of them contain the needed information to determine the grade level of position, of the position. And so, you want to be able to ensure that you understand how the flysheet is put together.
And so, this is what it looks like. It's only four pages, but recognize that when you go to the evaluation of positions, it does not give you any grade evaluation criteria. It doesn't give you any evaluation criteria to determine the grade of the position.
The 301 Series Standard flysheet, it only gives you information on what to do. It says individual worker positions classified in this series are to be evaluated by reference to an appropriate multi-series guide, or if non-applicable, a standard for a specific occupation series that involves analogous knowledge and skills. Positions classified in this series that meet the criteria of the general schedule supervisory guide for evaluation as supervisors are to be evaluated by that guide.
And so, the first paragraph tells us that we must find a multi-series standard or guide that will aid in determining the grade for positions within the 301 Series. And so, in this instance, for the 301, we normally or typically use one of the functional guides. And so, on OPM's website, the third tab on the overview page is the list of the functional guides.
And so, you can look there for the functional guides to see how you can coordinate the evaluation criteria with that functional guide. So again, in selecting the standards to use, you want to determine the kind of work processes, the functional subject matter involved, the qualifications, which are the knowledge, skills, and abilities required, the level of difficulty and responsibility, and a combination of classification factors that have the greatest influence on the grade level. And so, you also want to look at the differences between the nature of work and the qualifications required to do the various kinds of work.
You should use for comparison only standards or guides that are compatible with the work being evaluated in the position that you're reviewing. And so, here are a few bullets that would guide you. And so, for professional positions, they should be evaluated against standards for professional work that is comparable in scope and difficulty and as nearly equal as possible in the subject matter and function.
The standards selected for evaluating technical work should involve similar grading factors and skill levels. Clerical positions should be evaluated by standards for related kinds of clerical work or by an appropriate guide. Positions assigned administrative work should be classified by application of standards or guides that cover occupations as similar as possible to the work performed and the knowledge and skills required.
And so, I want you to understand that you must know the PACTO categories because if you're evaluating a position and it's a professional position, you cannot use a classification standard that is in the administrative PACTO category. You must match the PACTO categories from the position that you're evaluating to the actual standard that you're going to use to evaluate the position. Another caveat is that, in rare instances, a standard for a professional occupation may provide the best source of grade-level criteria for evaluating non-professional positions.
But I want you to remember that this is not a general occurrence. This is in very rare instances. This situation may occur when the work of the non-professional administrative position is performed in an organization where the work is primarily professional.
The administrative work may be closely related to the professional work, but does not require the same level of qualifications. And so, I want you to use caution and sound classification judgment when comparing administrative work to evaluation criteria for an occupation that requires professional knowledge and skills. Okay? And so, I want you to be careful when doing an analytical comparison of the relationship of the positions being evaluated.
Do not match positions and grade level criteria solely based on superficial similarities between organizational echelon, scope of programs and goals and requirements, or the kind of supervision given or received. Let me say that again. You do not want to match positions and grade level criteria solely based on superficial similarities between organizational echelon, scope of program, goals and requirements, or kind of supervision given or received.
Based on your evaluation of a single classification factor, description of an isolated task or responsibility, or words or sentences taken out of context. The primary standard. You know the primary standard is found in the introduction to the position classification standards in the appendix.
In the appendix, you want to be able to make a note of this. When using the primary standard, the FES primary standard may be used for supplemental guidance, but only in conjunction with other FES standards. You may not use the primary standard solely to classify a position.
You may not use the primary standard solely for classifying a position.
