The District of Columbia utilizes a competency based approach to career development. We strive to employ a well-rounded workforce who excel in competencies critical to providing the best possible service to District residents. Each occupational series throughout the Dynamic Careers website uses an interactive competency model catered towards the respective occupational series.
Management Competencies
Accountability - Holds self and others accountable for measurable high-quality, timely, and cost-effective results. Determines objectives, sets priorities, and delegates work. Accepts responsibility for mistakes. Complies with established control systems and rules.
Customer Service - Anticipates and meets the needs of both internal and external customers. Delivers high-quality products and services; is committed to continuous improvement.
Decisiveness - Makes well-informed, effective, and timely decisions, even when data are limited or solutions produce unpleasant consequences; perceives the impact and implications of decisions.
Flexibility - Is open to change and new information; rapidly adapts to new information, changing conditions, or unexpected obstacles.
Integrity/Honesty - Behaves in an honest, fair, and ethical manner. Shows consistency in words and actions. Models high standards of ethics.
Interpersonal Skills - Treats others with courtesy, sensitivity, and respect. Considers and responds appropriately to the needs and feelings of different people in different situations.
Oral Communication - Makes clear and convincing oral presentations. Listens effectively; clarifies information as needed.
Problem Solving - Identifies and analyzes problems; weighs relevance and accuracy of information; generates and evaluates alternative solutions; makes recommendations.
Resilience - Deals effectively with pressure; remains optimistic and persistent, even under adversity. Recovers quickly from setbacks.
Written Communication - Writes in a clear, concise, organized, and convincing manner for the intended audience.
Supervisory Competencies
Conflict Management - Encourages creative tension and differences of opinions. Anticipates and takes steps to prevent counter-productive confrontations. Manages and resolves conflicts and disagreements in a constructive manner.
Continual Learning - Assesses and recognizes own strengths and weaknesses; pursues self-development.
Creativity and Innovation - Develops new insights into situations; questions conventional approaches; encourages new ideas and innovations; designs and implements new or cutting edge programs/processes.
Developing Others - Develops the ability of others to perform and contribute to the organization by providing ongoing feedback and by providing opportunities to learn through formal and informal methods.
Entrepreneurship - Positions the organization for future success by identifying new opportunities; builds the organization by developing or improving products or services. Takes calculated risks to accomplish organizational objectives.
External Awareness - Understands and keeps up-to-date on local, national, and international policies and trends that affect the organization and shape stakeholders' views; is aware of the organization's impact on the external environment.
Financial Management - Understands the organization's financial processes. Prepares, justifies, and administers the program budget. Oversees procurement and contracting to achieve desired results. Monitors expenditures and uses cost-benefit thinking to set priorities.
Human Capital Management - Builds and manages workforce based on organizational goals, budget considerations, and staffing needs. Ensures that employees are appropriately recruited, selected, appraised, and rewarded; takes action to address performance problems. Manages a multi-sector work force and a variety of work situations.
Influencing/Negotiating - Persuades others; builds consensus through give and take; gains cooperation from others to obtain information and accomplish goals.
Leveraging Diversity - Fosters an inclusive workplace where diversity and individual differences are valued and leveraged to achieve the vision and mission of the organization.
Partnering - Develops networks and builds alliances; collaborates across boundaries to build strategic relationships and achieve common goals.
Political Savvy - Identifies the internal and external politics that impact the work of the organization. Perceives organizational and political reality and acts accordingly.
Public Service Motivation - Shows a commitment to serve the public. Ensures that actions meet public needs; aligns organizational objectives and practices with public interests.
Strategic Thinking - Formulates objectives and priorities, and implements plans consistent with the long-term interest of the organization in a global environment. Capitalizes on opportunities and manages risks.
Teambuilding - Inspires and fosters team commitment, spirit, pride, and trust. Facilitates cooperation and motivates team members to accomplish group goals.
Technical Credibility - Understands and appropriately applies principles, procedures, requirements, regulations, and policies related to specialized expertise.
Technology Management - Keeps up-to-date on technological developments. Makes effective use of technology to achieve results. Ensures access to and security of technology systems.
Vision - Takes a long-term view and builds a shared vision with others; acts as a catalyst for organizational change. Influences others to translate vision into action.
Information Technology Competencies
Accessibility - Knowledge of tools, equipment, and technologies used to help individuals with disabilities use computer equipment and software.
Artificial Intelligence - Knowledge of the principles, methods, and tools used to design systems that perform human intelligence functions.
Business Process Re-engineering - Knowledge of methods, metrics, tools, and techniques of Business Process Re-engineering.
Capacity Management - Knowledge of the principles and methods for monitoring, estimating, or reporting actual performance or the performance capability of information systems or components.
Capital Planning and Investment Assessment - Knowledge of the principles and methods of capital investment analysis or business case analysis, including return on investment analysis.
Computer Languages - Knowledge of computer languages and their applications to enable a system to perform specific functions.
Computer Forensics - Knowledge of tools and techniques used in data recovery and preservation of electronic evidence.
Configuration Management - Knowledge of the principles and methods for planning or managing the implementation, update, or integration of information systems components.
Cost-Benefit Analysis - Knowledge of the principles and methods of cost-benefit analysis, including the time value of money, present value concepts, and quantifying tangible and intangible benefits.
Data Management - Knowledge of the principles, procedures, and tools of data management, such as modeling techniques, data backup, data recovery, data dictionaries, data warehousing, data mining, data disposal, and data standardization processes.
Database Administration - Knowledge of the principles, methods, and tools for automating, developing, implementing, or administering database systems.
Database Management Systems - Knowledge of the uses of database management systems and software to control the organization, storage, retrieval, security, and integrity of data.
Distributed Systems - Knowledge of the principles, theoretical concepts, and tools underlying distributed computing systems, including their associated components and communication standards.
Electronic Commerce (e-Commerce) - Knowledge of the principles, methods, and tools for conducting business online, including electronic data interchange.
Embedded Computers - Knowledge of specifications and uses of specialized computer systems used to control devices (for example, automobiles, helicopters), including the appropriate programming languages.
Encryption - Knowledge of procedures, tools, and applications used to keep data or information secure, including public key infrastructure, point-to-point encryption, and smart cards.
Hardware - Knowledge of specifications, uses, and types of computer or computer-related equipment.
Hardware Engineering - Knowledge of the principles, methods, and tools for designing, developing, and testing computer or computer-related equipment.
Human Factors - Knowledge of the principles, methods, and tools used to identify and apply information about human behavior, abilities, limitations, and other characteristics to the design of tools, machines, systems, tasks, jobs, and environments for effective human use.
Information Assurance - Knowledge of methods and procedures to protect information systems and data by ensuring their availability, authentication, confidentiality, and integrity.
Information Resources Strategy and Planning - Knowledge of the principles, methods, and techniques of information technology (IT) assessment, planning, management, monitoring, and evaluation, such as IT baseline assessment, interagency functional analysis, contingency planning, and disaster recovery.
Information Systems Security Certification - Knowledge of the principles, methods, and tools for evaluating information systems security features against a set of specified security requirements. Includes developing security certification and accreditation plans and procedures, documenting deficiencies, reporting corrective actions, and recommending changes to improve the security of information systems.
Information Systems/Network Security - Knowledge of methods, tools, and procedures, including development of information security plans, to prevent information systems vulnerabilities, and provide or restore security of information systems and network services.
Information Technology Architecture - Knowledge of architectural methodologies used in the design and development of information systems, including the physical structure of a system’s internal operations and interactions with other systems.
Information Technology Performance Assessment - Knowledge of the principles, methods, and tools (for example, surveys, system performance measures) to assess the effectiveness and practicality of information technology systems.
Information Technology Research and Development - Knowledge of scientific principles, methods, and tools of basic and applied research used to conduct a systematic inquiry into a subject matter area.
Infrastructure Design - Knowledge of the architecture and typology of software, hardware, and networks, including LANS, WANS, and telecommunications systems, their components and associated protocols and standards, and how they operate and integrate with one another and with associated controlling software.
Knowledge Management - Knowledge of the value of collected information and the methods of sharing that information throughout an organization.
Logical Systems Design - Knowledge of the principles and methods for designing business logic components, system processes and outputs, user interfaces, data inputs, and productivity tools (for example, CASE).
Modeling and Simulation - Knowledge of mathematical modeling and simulation tools and techniques to plan and conduct test and evaluation programs, characterize systems support decisions involving requirements, evaluate design alternatives, or support operational preparation.
Multimedia Technologies - Knowledge of the principles, methods, tools, and techniques of developing or applying technology using text, audio, graphics, or other media.
Network Management - Knowledge of the operation, management, and maintenance of network and telecommunication systems and linked systems and peripherals
Object Technology - Knowledge of the principles, methods, tools, and techniques that use object-oriented languages, analysis, and design methodologies.
Operating Systems - Knowledge of computer network, desktop, and mainframe operating systems and their applications.
Operations Support - Knowledge of procedures to ensure production or delivery of products and services, including tools and mechanisms for distributing new or enhanced software.
Organizational Development - Knowledge of the principles of organizational development and change management theories, and their applications.
Process Control - Knowledge of the principles, methods, and procedures used for the automated control of a process, including the design, development, and maintenance of associated software, hardware, and systems.
Product Evaluation - Knowledge of methods for researching and analyzing external products to determine their potential for meeting organizational standards and business needs.
Project Management - Knowledge of the principles, methods, or tools for developing, scheduling, coordinating, and managing projects and resources, including monitoring and inspecting costs, work, and contractor performance.
Quality Assurance - Knowledge of the principles, methods, and tools of quality assurance and quality control used to ensure a product fulfills functional requirements and standards.
Requirements Analysis - Knowledge of the principles and methods to identify, analyze, specify, design, and manage functional and infrastructure requirements; includes translating functional requirements into technical requirements used for logical design or presenting alternative technologies or approaches.
Risk Management - Knowledge of methods and tools used for risk assessment and mitigation of risk.
Software Development - Knowledge of the principles, methods, and tools for designing, developing, and testing software in a given environment.
Software Engineering - Knowledge of software engineering design and development methodologies, paradigms, and tools; the software life cycle; software reusability; and software reliability metrics.
Software Testing and Evaluation - Knowledge of the principles, methods, and tools for analyzing and developing software test and evaluation procedures.
Standards - Knowledge of standards that either are compliant with or derived from established standards or guidelines.
Systems Integration - Knowledge of the principles, methods, and procedures for installing, integrating, and optimizing information systems components.
Systems Life Cycle - Knowledge of systems life cycle management concepts used to plan, develop, implement, operate, and maintain information systems
Systems Testing and Evaluation - Knowledge of the principles, methods, and tools for analyzing and developing systems test and evaluation procedures and technical characteristics of IT systems, including identifying critical operational issues.
Technical Documentation - Knowledge of procedures for developing technical and operational support documentation.
Technology Awareness - Knowledge of developments and new applications of information technology (hardware, software, telecommunications), emerging technologies and their applications to business processes, and applications and implementation of information systems to meet organizational requirements.
Telecommunications - Knowledge of transmissions, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems.
Web Technology - Knowledge of the principles and methods of web technologies, tools, and delivery systems, including web security, privacy policy practices, and user interface issues.
Trade & Labor Competencies
Administration and Management - Knowledge of planning, coordination, and execution of business functions, resource allocation, and production.
Aircraft Maintenance - Knowledge of aircraft engines, parts, and systems, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
Ammunition and Explosives - Knowledge of ammunition and explosives and their uses, interactions, dangers, production, handling, storage, and disposal.
Animal Husbandry - Knowledge of the care and handling of animals, including feeding, controlling, restraint, health, and reproduction.
Biology - Knowledge of the environment, plant and animal living tissue, cells, organisms, and entities, including their functions, interdependencies and interactions with each other and the environment.
Building and Construction - Knowledge of materials, methods, and the appropriate tools to construct objects, structures, and buildings.
Carpentry/Woodworking - Knowledge of materials, methods, and the appropriate tools to construct, install, finish, or repair wooden objects or structures.
Chemistry - Knowledge of chemicals, including hazardous materials, and their uses, interactions, dangers, production, storage, and disposal.
Communications and Media - Knowledge of the production, communication and dissemination of information and ideas to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media.
Computers - Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
Contracting/Procurement - Knowledge of various types of contracts, techniques for contracting or procurement, and contract negotiation and administration.
Cutting - Knowledge of meat cutting, including the grades and structure of meat, fish, or poultry.
Design - Knowledge of developing, producing, understanding, and using plans, blueprints, models, and maps, including the use of tools and instruments to produce precision technical drawings.
Electrical - Knowledge of electrical equipment, components, instruments, and systems, including their design, installation, testing, uses, repair, or maintenance.
Electronics - Knowledge of electronic theory, circuits, components, and material properties (excluding computers).
Engineering and Technology - Knowledge of engineering concepts, principles, and practices, and of equipment, tools, mechanical devices, and their uses to produce motion, light, power, technology, and other applications.
Food Production - Knowledge of planning, growing, and harvesting of food for consumption using appropriate equipment and techniques.
Food Service - Knowledge of preparing and serving food for consumption.
Foreign Language - Knowledge of sign language or of the structure and content of a foreign (non-English) language, including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
Hazardous Materials - Knowledge of hazardous materials and waste and their uses, interactions, dangers, production, handling, storage, and disposal.
Horticulture - Knowledge of cultivating flowers, plants, and trees.
Industrial Equipment Operation - Knowledge of principles and methods for operating industrial equipment.
Legal, Government and Jurisprudence - Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, legal practices and documents, Government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, Government organization and functions, and the democratic political process.
Mechanical - Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, installation, uses, repair, and maintenance.
Metal Processing and Metalworking - Knowledge of materials, methods, and appropriate tools to process, treat, form, or shape metal.
Painting - Knowledge of materials, methods, and appropriate tools to apply paint and other protective coating materials on drywall, wood, metal, glass, and other surfaces.
Pest Control - Knowledge of pest species and the methods and materials, including chemicals, for control or prevention.
Physics - Knowledge and prediction of physical principles, laws, and applications including air, water, material dynamics, light, atomic principles, heat, electric theory, earth formations, and meteorological and related natural phenomena.
Plumbing and Pipefitting - Knowledge of materials, methods, and the appropriate tools to install, maintain, or repair pipelines, pipe systems, and fixtures, including water, air, steam, gas, chemicals, or sewage.
Production and Processing - Knowledge of inputs, outputs, raw materials, waste, quality control, costs, maintaining inventory, and techniques for maximizing the manufacture and distribution of goods.
Public Safety and Security - Knowledge of the military, weaponry, and intelligence operations; public safety and security operations; occupational health and safety; investigation and inspection techniques; or rules, regulations, precautions, and prevention techniques for the protection of people, data, and property.
Road Work and Pavement - Knowledge of materials, methods, and appropriate tools to construct, maintain, or repair road surfaces, including sidewalks, parking lots, runways, etc.
Sales and Marketing - Knowledge of showing, promoting, and selling products and services.
Telecommunications - Knowledge of transmissions, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems.
Textiles - Knowledge of materials, methods, and appropriate tools to make and repair items made of fabric or leather.
Toolmaking - Knowledge of materials, methods, and appropriate tools to make or repair metal parts, tools, gauges, models, patterns, and machines.
Transportation - Knowledge of principles and methods for moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road, including costs and limits.
Vehicle Maintenance - Knowledge of motor vehicle engines, parts, and systems, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
Vehicle Operation - Knowledge of procedures for operating motor vehicles, including cars, trucks, or watercraft
General Competencies
Administration and Management - Knowledge of planning, coordination, and execution of business functions, resource allocation, and production.
Agility - Bends, stretches, twists, or reaches out with the body, arms, or legs.
Attention To Detail - Is thorough when performing work and conscientious about attending to detail.
Conflict Management - Manages and resolves conflicts, grievances, confrontations, or disagreements in a constructive manner to minimize negative personal impact.
Contracting/Procurement - Knowledge of various types of contracts, techniques or requirements (for example, Federal Acquisitions Regulations) for contracting or procurement, and contract negotiation and administration.
Creative Thinking - Uses imagination to develop new insights into situations and applies innovative solutions to problems; designs new methods where established methods and procedures are inapplicable or are unavailable.
Customer Service - Works with clients and customers (that is, any individuals who use or receive the services or products that your work unit produces, including the general public, individuals who work in the agency, other agencies, or organizations outside the Government) to assess their needs, provide information or assistance, resolve their problems, or satisfy their expectations; knows about available products and services; is committed to providing quality products and services.
Decision Making - Makes sound, well-informed, and objective decisions; perceives the impact and implications of decisions; commits to action, even in uncertain situations, to accomplish organizational goals; causes change, accomplish goals; monitors progress and evaluates outcomes.
Depth Perception - Accurately judges which of several objects is closer or farther away from the observer, or the distance between an object and the observer.
External Awareness - Identifies and understands economic, political, and social trends that affect the organization.
Eye-Hand Coordination - Accurately coordinates one's eyes with one's fingers, wrists, or arms to perform job- related tasks (for example, to move, carry, or manipulate objects).
Financial Management - Prepares, justifies, and/or administers the budget for program areas; plans, administers, and monitors expenditures to ensure cost-effective support of programs and policies; assesses financial condition of an organization.
Flexibility - Is open to change and new information; adapts behavior or work methods in response to new information, changing conditions, or unexpected obstacles; effectively deals with ambiguity.
Information Management - Identifies a need for and knows where or how to gather information, organizes and maintains information or information management systems.
Influencing/Negotiating - Persuades others to accept recommendations, cooperate, or change their behavior; works with others towards an agreement; negotiates to find mutually acceptable solutions.
Integrity/Honesty - Contributes to maintaining the integrity of the organization; displays high standards of ethical conduct and understands the impact of violating these standards on an organization, self, and others; is trustworthy.
Interpersonal Skills - Shows understanding, friendliness, courtesy, tact, empathy, concern, and politeness to others; develops and maintains effective relationships with others; may include effectively dealing with individuals who are difficult, hostile, or distressed; relates well to people from varied backgrounds and different situations; is sensitive to cultural diversity, race, gender, disabilities, and other individual differences.
Leadership - Influences, motivates, and challenges others; adapts leadership styles to a variety of situations.
Learning - Uses efficient learning techniques to acquire and apply new knowledge and skills; uses training, feedback, or other opportunities for self-learning and development.
Managing Human Resources - Plans, distributes, coordinates, and monitors work assignments of others; evaluates work performance and provides feedback to others on their performance; ensures that staff are appropriately selected, utilized, and developed, and that they are treated in a fair and equitable manner.
Mathematical Reasoning - Solves practical problems by choosing appropriately from a variety of mathematical and statistical techniques.
Mental Visualization - Sees things in the mind by mentally organizing and processing symbols, pictures, graphs, objects, or other information (for example, sees a building from a blueprint, or sees the flow of work activities from reading a work plan).
Memory - Recalls information that has been presented previously.
Oral Communication - Expresses information (for example, ideas or facts) to individuals or groups effectively, taking into account the audience and nature of the information (for example, technical, sensitive, controversial); makes clear and convincing oral presentations; listens to others, attends to nonverbal cues, and responds appropriately.
Organizational Awareness - Knows the organization’s mission and functions, and how its social, political, and technological systems work and operate effectively within them; this includes the programs, policies, procedures, rules, and regulations of the organization.
Perceptual Speed - Quickly and accurately sees detail in words, numbers, pictures, and graphs.
Peripheral Vision - Sees objects or movement of objects to one’s side when the eyes are focused forward.
Physical Strength - Exerts maximum muscle force to lift, push, pull, or carry objects; performs moderately laboring work.
Planning and Evaluating - Organizes work, sets priorities, and determines resource requirements; determines short- or long-term goals and strategies to achieve them; coordinates with other organizations or parts of the organization.
Problem Solving - Identifies problems; determines accuracy and relevance of information; uses sound judgment to generate and evaluate alternatives, and to make recommendations.
Project Management - Applies principles, methods, or tools for developing, scheduling, coordinating, monitoring, evaluating, and managing projects and resources, including technical performance.
Reading - Understands and interprets written material, including technical material, rules, regulations, instructions, reports, charts, graphs, or tables; applies what is learned from written material to specific situations.
Reasoning - Identifies rules, principles, or relationships that explain facts, data, or other information; analyzes information and makes correct inferences or draws accurate conclusions.
Self-Esteem - Believes in own self-worth; maintains a positive view of self and displays a professional image.
Self-Management - Sets well-defined and realistic personal goals; displays a high level of initiative, effort, and commitment towards completing assignments in a timely manner; works with minimal supervision; is motivated to achieve; demonstrates responsible behavior and determines responsible behavior.
Spatial Orientation - Knows one’s location in relation to the environment; determines where other objects are in relation to one’s self (for example, when using a map).
Stamina - Exerts oneself physically over long periods of time without tiring (which may include performing repetitive tasks such as data entry or coding).
Strategic Thinking - Formulates effective strategies consistent with the business and competitive strategy of the organization in a global economy; examines policy issues and strategic planning with a long term perspective; determines objectives and sets priorities; anticipates potential threats or opportunities.
Teaching Other - Helps others learn through formal and informal methods; identifies training needs; provides constructive feedback; coaches others on how to perform tasks; acts as a mentor.
Teamwork - Encourages and facilitates cooperation, pride, trust, and group identity; fosters commitment and team spirit; works with others to achieve goals.
Technical Competence - Uses knowledge that is acquired through formal training or extensive on-the-job experience to perform one's job; works with, understands, and evaluates technical information related to the job; advises others on technical issues.
Technology Application - Uses machines, tools, instruments, or equipment effectively; uses computers and computer applications to analyze and communicate information in the appropriate format.
Vision - Understands where the organization is headed and how to make a contribution; takes a long-term view and recognizes opportunities to help the organization accomplish its objectives or move toward the vision.
Visual Color Discrimination - Accurately matches or detects differences between colors, including shades of color and brightness.
Visual Identification - Accurately identifies people, animals, or objects based on knowledge of their characteristics.
Writing - Recognizes or uses correct English grammar, punctuation, and spelling; communicates information (for example, facts, ideas, or messages) in a succinct and organized manner; produces written information, which may include technical material, that is appropriate for the intended audience