Senior Executive Service (SES) Coaching & Application Support

With more than 17 years of experience helping federal, military, and corporate leaders aspiring to join the SES, Lee Kelley provides focused, high-integrity coaching and writing support for professionals navigating the SES application process.

Lee’s work is grounded in a deep understanding of federal leadership, Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs), Technical Qualifications (TQs), and the evolving expectations of today’s SES selection environment. His approach combines strategic clarity, narrative precision, and calm, one-on-one coaching to help leaders articulate their impact with confidence and credibility.

This work is selective, individualized, and designed to meet current OPM requirements, not relying on templates or one-size-fits-all solutions.

SES Coaching 

One-on-one executive coaching designed to support leaders preparing for Senior Executive Service roles or advancing within senior federal leadership.

Coaching engagements may focus on:

  • Clarifying leadership philosophy and executive presence
  • Translating complex leadership experience into executive-level language
  • Strengthening confidence, judgment, and narrative coherence
  • Preparing mentally and strategically for high-stakes selection processes

    Coaching is unscripted, tailored to the individual, and emphasizes reflection, clarity, and aligned action.

SES Interview Preparation

Targeted interview preparation for SES candidates, including coaching session, interview prep worksheet, and mock interview.

Support may include:

  • Framing leadership stories using Challenge-Context-Action-Result (CCAR) / ECQ-aligned methods
  • Practicing executive-level responses under pressure
  • Refining delivery, tone, and presence
  • Preparing for follow-up and probing questions

    The goal is not memorization, but fluency and authenticity, so that SES candidates can speak clearly and confidently about their leadership impact.

ECQ Summary Development

Strategic development and refinement of Executive Core Qualification (ECQ) narratives that meet current OPM standards while remaining authentic to the candidate’s leadership experience.

This service includes:

  • Structuring ECQs to demonstrate executive scope and results
  • Ensuring alignment with the current ECQs and sub-competencies
  • Clarifying outcomes, scale, and leadership context
  • Editing for clarity, cohesion, and executive tone

    Although the longform ECQ narrative essays were discontinued in 2025 in favor of ECQ-based interviews, it is still a smart leadership decision to develop ECQ summaries. The process includes a coaching call to help you self-reflect and assess how your career accomplishments align with the new ECQs, followed by tailored feedback as you provide your rough draft stories. 

    Once you receive your professionally written summaries, you will be empowered to use your ECQ summaries in several powerful ways:

  • To enhance your SES resume
  • To prepare for ECQ-based interviews
  • To use in developmental discussions with your current SES/mentor

Two-Page SES Resume Development (ECQs & TQs Integrated)

Development of a concise, executive-level two-page SES resume that integrates ECQs and Technical Qualifications (TQs) in accordance with current federal expectations.

This includes:

  • Translating career experience into a tailored and accomplishment-driven SES resume
  • Integrating ECQs and TQs without redundancy
  • Positioning the candidate for both agency review and QRB consideration

Approach & Background

Lee’s SES work is informed by nearly two decades at CareerPro Global, where he served as a Senior SES Writer/Coach, then Managing Editor, and then Chief Learning Officer. He oversaw a 17-member team of professional/Ses writers, and supported thousands of federal leaders across agencies including NASA, DOD, VA, and many others.

He is known for combining strategic rigor with a calm, human-centered coaching presence, which helps leaders to confidently articulate their impact without exaggeration or performance.

Engagements

SES coaching and application support are offered on a limited basis.

If you are considering SES candidacy and would like to explore fit, availability, or timing, please use the contact page to inquire.