Competitive Level in Application of RIF

Before a Reduction In Force (RIF) begins the federal agency groups similar positions into competitive levels based on grade, series, qualifications, duties, and working conditions. Positions with different types of work schedules (e.g., full-time, part-time, intermittent, seasonal, or on-call) are placed in different competitive levels. A typical competitive level would group all GS-201-11 personnel management specialists with interchangeable duties based on their position descriptions in the same competitive level. Supervisors and management officials are placed in competitive levels made up of similar positions. Finally, competitive and excepted service positions are placed in separate competitive levels.