Baldrige Examiner Role

Become a Baldrige Examiner | Role | Qualifications | Apply | Testimonials | Award

Examiner Responsibilities

As a Baldrige Examiner® you will

• evaluate applicants for the Baldrige Award—the only presidential award for performance excellence and innovation
• participate in a training course—has been recognized as part of the Baldrige Program's Top Government Leadership Developer Award in the Leadership 500 competition—focused on the New Baldrige Award Criteria for 2024 and the Baldrige award process
• observe the Terms and Conditions of Appointment, including the Code of Ethical Conduct PDF
• independently review an application for the Baldrige Award
• participate in a virtual evaluation team review of the same applicant organization (late June - early August)
• potentially be asked to join a site visit team (June-July) to conduct an on-site review of an applicant organization—one of the most sought-after leadership development opportunities offered by the Program.
• prepare the evaluation as a foundation for the feedback report that is sent to the applicant
• act as an ambassador for the Baldrige Program and for performance excellence
• receive a recognition certificate honoring your efforts in support of the Baldrige Program

Term of Appointment

Examiners are appointed for approximately one year, beginning in March. Examiners must complete a virtual evaluation of an applicant in order to receive credit for being on the Board of Examiners.

Timeline and Time Commitment

Serving on the Board of Examiners requires extensive training for and completion of Virtual Evaluation of an award application, typically about 95 hours between March and May. Additionally, 25-30% of our examiners complete a site visit, a commitment of up to an additional 70 hours during July. A site visit includes virtual interviews with the applicant and possible travel to the applicant's work site. While participating in a site visit is a large time commitment, we strongly encourage our examiners to be available for site visit. Most of our examiners say that the site visit is the most rewarding part of an examiner's work.

• You must be able to accommodate the schedule set by your evaluation team during both the Virtual Evaluation and Site Visit phases of the evaluation process—even if your own professional work requires temporary or extended travel or residence outside the United States.
• You'll be able to complete portions of the work at your workplace or home via telephone and secure Web. 

*Approximate Time Commitment

Code of Ethical Conduct

As a Baldrige examiner, you'll be expected to observe the Code of Ethical Conduct PDF

Adherence to Award Application Review Processes

You'll be expected to meet all the requirements associated with reviewing an organization's award application fairly and competently. For example, you'll need to use the New Baldrige Award Criteria for 2024 and the corresponding evaluation system, adhere to review processes, meet site visit requirements if you participate, and avoid conflicts of interest. Thorough documentation and written communication are essential.

Assignment of Board Members

We assign examiners to award applications with the goal of ensuring the fairest, most competent evaluation possible. If you are selected to the national Board of Examiners, you'll be assigned to an application based on your knowledge and experience and on the need to avoid conflicts of interest.