Talent Hub FAQ

Scientific and technical experts serving in government can drive great value and impact to their hosting agency or office. Some ways in which these experts can contribute to an agency team include but are not limited to:

• Conducting specialized research or evaluations on new or existing programs and efforts;
• Providing technical assistance or scientific expertise as agency teams tackle ambitious, innovative agendas;
• Managing a new project or program that requires additional capacity and S&T expertise;
• Starting or conducting statutory obligations, programs, reports, or projects;
• Fulfilling “consultant-like” needs on specific efforts (i.e. conducting a specific service, like survey design).

Scientific and technical experts serving in government can drive great value and impact to their hosting agency or office. Some ways in which these experts can contribute to an agency team include but are not limited to:

• Conducting specialized research or evaluations on new or existing programs and efforts;
• Providing technical assistance or scientific expertise as agency teams tackle ambitious, innovative agendas;
• Managing a new project or program that requires additional capacity and S&T expertise;
• Starting or conducting statutory obligations, programs, reports, or projects;
• Fulfilling “consultant-like” needs on specific efforts (i.e. conducting a specific service, like survey design).

Some hiring pathways that agencies may consider when working to identify and onboard talent include Schedule A fellowships and the Intergovernmental Personnel Act (IPA) Mobility Program. Federal fellowships are specifically intended to facilitate cross-fertilization between the agency and other sectors to foster mutual understanding, an exchange of ideas, or to bring experienced practitioners to the agency. The IPA Mobility Program is a pathway that gives world-class experts the opportunity to undertake a tour of service while “on loan” from their home university, nonprofit, or state/local government. While IPAs are frequently used by some agencies to onboard researchers through dedicated programs (e.g. NSF “rotators”), most agencies do not have established mechanisms to onboard such talent.

Other hiring mechanisms available to agencies to build their technical capacity include the Experts & Consultants Authority and the Direct Hire Authority. 

The Talent Hub seeks to be a resource for agency partners to better understand the various hiring flexibilities afforded to them.

Please submit your information here, and the Talent Hub team will reach out to you. If you’re interested in having your office considered for an FAS Impact Fellowship placement, please include any position description you may have.

We work with federal agencies to assess what resources may already be at their disposal in order to onboard top S&T talent. In certain cases, we work with philanthropic organizations interested in driving progress on key issue areas.