NASA LEADS – Candidate Eligibility

To participate in the NASA LEADS pilot program, one must be:
- A NASA Civil Servant, serving on permanent or term appointment
- Graded at GS-13 and above or NEX-13 and above
- Classified under a science occupational series or part of a science organization
- Endorsed by your supervisor
- A commitment to attend and actively participate in all program activities.
- Submit an application via Talent Marketplace.
Supervisors and Non-Supervisors are both eligible
Contractors and employees of FFRDCs, including JPL and APL, are not eligible for the pilot
Supervisor endorsement is committing to:
- Financially support the participant's travel to three in-person sessions. The first two sessions will be 5 business days each, and the third session will be 3 business days long. A travel day before and after each session may be needed. Estimated travel cost per session $1,500 - $2,000 (total estimated cost $4,500-6,000).
- Work out labor funding with the home organization/center.
- Acknowledge that NASA LEADS is a 12-month, part-time program. Selected participants will commit 20% of their time to program activities and travel over the entire performance period.
- Allow participants to be assigned to small teams to work on center and/or agency-level projects, which are expected to be completed before the final module.
- Work with this participant to ensure full commitment to gain the maximum value from NASA LEADS, which includes proactively balancing workload.
To be eligible for NASA LEADS, participants must attend and actively participate in all program activities. Candidates who cannot commit to attending all activities are not eligible for participation. To remain in good standing, a NASA LEADS participant will:
- Attend all three in-person sessions, including the in-person graduation.
- Attend all three virtual, inter-session meetings, including the program orientation.
- Meet all the requirements set forth by the program, including assigned coursework, a capstone group project, assessments, session assignments, and pre-session reading assignments.
- Meet with an assigned coach monthly.