Mission Impossible

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I was recently reading through Barron’s when I came upon this career advertisement for a high ranking position. Let’s read it.

“We’re looking for a proactive leader who can motivate others, one who can embrace and represent the mission, values and goals of the IRS”.

Uh… aren’t these goals mutually exclusive? You are proactive, and a motivator, and yet you are “embracing” the goals of the IRS.

From the IRS web site…

The IRS Mission
Provide America’s taxpayers top quality service by helping them understand and meet their tax responsibilities and by applying the tax law with integrity and fairness to all.

OK, let’s move on.

“If you are an experienced leader with a proven track record in talent management, can work in a fast-paced environment, and have demonstrated skills in change management, we want to talk with you.”

Change management? At the IRS? This is an amazing task that they are throwing in front of this poor guy (or gal). I don’t know about fast-paced either… try getting an answer on anything from the IRS or calling their help line. Gulp.

If all this wasn’t tough enough (representing the IRS “Values” and changing hidebound behavior) then there’s more –

“This is a streamlined critical pay position… this position is outside of the Senior Executive Service”.

What that means in English is that the only way they can pay up to the $215,700 listed in the advertisement is by bypassing all the Federal rules for seniority. Thus as a high ranking HR person in the IRS you are essentially being paid at a rate outside of all the employees whose motivation you are attempting to change… making it truly MISSION IMPOSSIBLE.

Cross posted at LITGM

2 thoughts on “Mission Impossible”

  1. Apparently, the position also requires one possess a expansive vocabulary of contemporary management buzzwords.

    I do find it interesting the the IRS HR people signed off a off-grade payscale for a job that will end up in HR. Makes you go hmmmmm.

    It might be interesting to try to find out who eventually gets the job and if they come from the IRA HR department.

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