New Update: The application for DOI employees to apply for Cohort 11 of the White House Leadership Development Program is now live. There will be a quick turnaround for applications with July 7 & 18 as due dates.
The Office of Employee Development (OED) and DOI University (DOIU) are pleased to announce that the application window for the White House Leadership Development Program (WHLDP) will open on July 2, 2025. This is a highly competitive program for high-potential career GS-15 employees poised to enter the next generation of career senior executives. The WHLDP is sponsored by the Executive Office of the President (EOP) and the President’s Management Council (PMC) and supported by the Performance Improvement Council (PIC). It is a 1-year placement with weekly development programming.
WHLDP Fellows are placed in a development assignment that is aligned with the Fellow’s subject matter expertise working on challenging, cross-agency initiatives to develop the skillsets and networks that enterprise leaders need: a whole-of-government perspective, stakeholder collaboration and engagement, working across boundaries without formal authority, and working outside traditional agency structures. The WHLDP requires Fellows to leverage their skills to drive progress on mission-critical programs, such as the Cross-Agency Priority Goals, and deliver long-term strategic results.
All assignments are 12 months, non-reimbursable, and located in Washington, DC. Agencies are responsible for travel and/or relocation expenses that may be incurred for Fellows from outside the DC-area.
Please note that this is not a Senior Executive Service Candidate Development Program. There is no guarantee for placement into a Senior Executive Service (SES) position as a result of participation in this program. Participation does, however, provide experience that may be used in developing Executive Core Qualifications.
Only current permanent GS-15 employees are eligible to apply to the program.
Potential Assignments (List is subject to change)
Note: *Target start date is August 2025 for Descriptions 1 to 4. Target start date for all other descriptions is September/October.
- Economic Research*
- Analytical research role focused on economic trends, policy effects, and emerging issues
- EXPERIENCE: Data analysis, statistical modeling, cross-agency work; trade and finance preferred but not required.
- Healthcare Reform*
- Cross-functional role driving cost reduction, preventive care, and competition in healthcare.
- EXPERIENCE: Budget analysis, coalition building, strategic thinking, political savvy.
- Industrial Policy*
- Policy role coordinating federal funding to boost domestic manufacturing and supply chains.
- EXPERIENCE: Data analysis, procurement or grants, industry knowledge, interagency work.
- Regulatory Oversight*
- Cross-functional policy role supporting regulatory policy, reviews, and budget execution for financial and small agencies and/or Treasury.
- EXPERIENCE: Budget formulation, quantitative analysis, cross-agency consensus building.
- Domestic and Global Finance
- Policy role analyzing international programs, financial management, credit, and development priorities.
- EXPERIENCE: Financial management, international policy, cross-agency coordination.
- Fraud Prevention
- Policy and data role expanding fraud and improper payment prevention across government.
- EXPERIENCE: Project management, financial systems, procurement, data visualization.
- Grants Reform
- Policy development and implementation role for federal grants guidance and management.
- EXPERIENCE: Project management, financial systems, procurement, data visualization.
- Management and Operations
- Cross-agency management role addressing top operational issues aligned with presidential priorities.
- EXPERIENCE: Program and project management, strategic thinking.
- Procurement Overhaul
- Cross-functional team leadership role implementing procurement reform and executive actions.
- EXPERIENCE: Stakeholder engagement, communication planning, self-motivation; project management preferred; procurement knowledge preferred but not required.
- Social Support Programs
- Policy and analytical oversight role for programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Social Security, and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF).
- EXPERIENCE: Research, policy analysis, budget knowledge, communication.
- Spending Transparency
- Data and improvement strategist role to make federal spending more transparent.
- EXPERIENCE: Financial data systems, procurement, project management, data visualization.
- Talent Strategy
- Governmentwide human capital role supporting efforts such as restructuring and hiring reform. Manages projects in a small team.
- EXPERIENCE: Human capital, data analysis, strategic thinking, project leadership.
- Tech Governance
- Policy role managing governmentwide Information Technology (IT), Artificial Intelligence (AI), data, cybersecurity, and systems architecture groups.
- EXPERIENCE: IT, AI, data analysis, enterprise architecture, collaborative leadership.
- Veterans’ Health
- Policy support role for priorities like ending veteran homelessness and expanding fertility care.
- EXPERIENCE: Health policy, veterans’ issues, budget analysis.
Application Process
These instructions are only for DOI employees.
A complete application package includes the following:
- DOI Application
- Supervisor's Approval Form
- 2-page Resume - Be prepared to upload your resume as part of the application form. Tailor resume to this experience, limit it to 2 pages, include security clearance status, and upload as a PDF.
Application Due Dates
Please read carefully. There are two application due dates. Review the Potential Assignments before submitting your application. You will need to identify your top three preferences for assignments, which also need to be aligned with your skills and experience.
First Application Due Date: July 7, 2025
July 7 is the application due date for anyone interested in the four assignments that start in August.
Second Application Due Date: July 18, 2025
July 18 is the application due date for anyone interested in the assignments that start in September/October.
Resources
Please review the following resources for more information on the program:
A WHLDP graduate from USGS, Paul Wagner, is available to meet with individuals to share his experience with the program and advice for applying. Please contact him directly at pwagner@usgs.gov if you would like to connect with him.
A WHLDP Cohort 10 Fellow from DOI, Anthony Lomelin, is also available to connect with anyone who has questions about his experience in the program. Please contact him directly at anthony.lomelin@bia.gov if you would like to connect with him.
Contact Shari Hanscomb, DOI WHLDP Manager, at shari_hanscomb@ios.doi.gov, or doiu_lead@doi.gov for questions.