Strategy and Organizational Development

our services

Improving careers, one course at a time.

The Strategy and Organizational Development Unit provides responsive and innovative leadership, organizational development, human resources communication, professional development, compliance, policy and human resources project management for employees, departments, agencies, and the public to promote individual and organizational excellence.

Common Requests

Learning Management System

Virgin Islands Certified Public Manager Program

Perform: Employee Performance Evaluations

New Employee Information

Brilliant Customer Service

Fellowships and Leadership Programs

The Morris F. de Castro Fellowship provides an up-to-$45,000 grant for one (1) year to pursue advanced studies or training in an area vital to the Government of the U.S. Virgin Islands and is available (by selection) only to active USVI Government employees.

Eligible employees may be nominated after at least one (1) year of service. The application period is January 1st - April 20th of each year.

The Morris F. de Castro Fellowship is managed by the Virgin Islands Board of Education.

Learn more about the Morris F. de Castro Fellowship and the eligibility requirements: Morris F. De Castro Fellowship | Virgin Islands Board of Education (myviboe.com)

The GVI Fellows Program is a two-year, entry-level position with rotations of three to six months in various agencies within the Government of the Virgin Islands (GVI). During the two-year program, individuals will complete challenging rotational assignments under the supervision of an assigned Departmental Fellowship Coordinator.

GVI Fellows are full-time employees with the same benefits as other GVI employees. Fellows will work alongside a mentor who will guide them through a range of assignments, training, and professional development opportunities. In the second year of the fellowship, candidates will be responsible for identifying and completing a business challenge project that addresses a critical issue in the Government of the Virgin Islands. Upon successful completion of the program, Fellows will have the opportunity to seek full-time employment within any GVI agency.

For more information, please click here.

EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM (ELDP) - U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS

Eligible USVI Government employees with at least 2 years of continuous, full-time service may apply for selection to attend the intensive 9-month Executive Leadership Development Program (ELDP).

About ELDP:
The ELDP was developed in 2008 to assist the insular governments with professional development and retaining the qualified and skilled staff needed to lead insular governments into the future. The U.S. Virgin Islands Executive Leadership Development Program (ELDP) is administered by the Graduate School USA’s Pacific & Virgin Islands Training Initiatives (www.pitiviti.org), with support from the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Office of Insular Affairs (www.doi.gov/oia).

The ELDP offers five major components: formal training, mentoring, various development and reading assignments, and major team project. Each training session will blend technical, managerial, and leadership skills development. Participants will be assigned projects and activities that must be completed between training sessions. These assignments will have practical workplace applications, and they will be monitored closely and evaluated by ELPD instructors.

Minimum Qualifications (USVI candidates):
You must be employed with the U.S. Virgin Islands Government on a full-time basis for the past two calendar years from the date of your application. (For example, if you are applying in July 2024, you must have been continuously employed by the U.S. Virgin Islands Government since July 2022.) Although a bachelor’s degree is strongly recommended, it is not required. Individuals employed in the areas of finance, accounting, budget, and audit are encouraged to apply. However, the program is open to all qualified USVI Government employees, including semi-autonomous agencies and component units, and diversity in professional experience is considered in the selection process.

Applying for the ELDP USVI:
Candidates for ELDP USVI are usually recruited every two (2) years. The next ELDP USVI Program runs from September 2024 to June 2025. 2024-2025 ELDP USVI applications closed in July 2024: Click here to view the 2024-2025 ELDP USVI application and the 2024-2025 EDLP Program Description.

Learn More About ELDP: ELDP IN THE US VIRGIN ISLANDS (pitiviti.org)

See current and past ELDP USVI participants: Program Participants (pitiviti.org)

VIRGIN ISLANDS CERTIFIED PUBLIC MANAGER® (CPM) PROGRAM

The Virgin Islands CPM Program is an on-island, 14-month, nationally accredited management development and certification program. VI CPM is co-sponsored by the Division of Personnel and the University of the Virgin Islands and is accredited by the National Certified Public Manager® Consortium. The program’s primary goal is to improve the performance of public sector managers and supervisors and the organizational performance of state, local and federal governments.

The VICPM program is open to employees within local and federal government agencies, non-profit organizations, and private sector businesses within the U.S. Virgin Islands.

The 2025-2026 VICPM online application is open through June 23, 2025.

Learn more: Virgin Islands Certified Public Manager Program | USVI Division of Personnel (dopusvi.org)

Additional Information

The demand for transformative, strategic and collaborative HR services continues to grow within the GVI.

The Strategy and Organizational Development Unit manages HR Policy, Equal Employment Opportunity, Employee & Organizational Training Development, HR technology projects, HR forms and special initiatives such as the Employee Opinion Survey, Career Incentive Program and the Donated Leave Program.

The Strategy and Organizational Development Unit coordinates training activities for employees of the Government of the United States Virgin Islands. We provide onsite and virtual training in various topics including:

Conflict Resolution
Customer Service
Interpersonal Communication
Respect at Work: Harassment Prevention (general)
Respect at Work: Harassment Prevention Training for Supervisors

*For Microsoft 365 training resources, please visit the Microsoft 365 Training Center.

EMPLOYEE ORIENTATION
New Employee Welcome (N.E.W.) is the official employee orientation of the Government of the U.S. Virgin Islands (GVI) and formally receives new (as well as recently promoted and transferred) team members to the Executive Branch. N.E.W. empowers new/promoted/transferred employees with knowledge and resources to help them have a successful start in their new job position with the GVI. N.E.W. is part of the first day on the job, and new/promoted/transferred employees are required to participate in N.E.W. on their first day before beginning the duties of their new job position.

What's covered:

An overview of the following:
- the GVI organization and its purpose, mission, and vision
- employee benefits and programs
- payroll
- time and attendance
- performance and conduct
- general personnel policies
- career development opportunities and resources

Workplace Harassment Prevention training and Equal Employment Opportunity resources
- Includes the full initial Sexual Harassment Prevention training for new employees (as required by law)

Time: 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Location: N.E.W. participants are expected to physically be at their agency/department to participate in their scheduled N.E.W. session, which will be led by the GVI's Division of Personnel via a Microsoft Teams virtual meeting.

Registration: New hires are to be registered for N.E.W. by their hiring agency's Human Resources (HR) office.

Brilliant Customer Service is the USVI Government's official customer service workshop. The goal of the workshop is to help employees be more brilliant at the basics of delivering reliable, responsive, high-quality services by putting the USVI Government's Customer Service Standards into action.

Learn more about the Brilliant Customer Service workshop and view upcoming workshop dates and registration instructions: Customer Service Workshop| USVI Division of Personnel (dopusvi.org)

Our Team

Let your voice be heard.

Employee Opinion Surveys are sent out daily to 50 employees, when it's your turn, take the survey to let us know how you feel!

gabriel knight

Chief of Strategy and Organizational Development

340-774-8588 ext. 5134
gabriel.knight@dop.vi.gov

Dianne Bynoe-Davis

Training Coordinator

340-774-8588 ext. 5129
dianne.bynoe@dop.vi.gov

KARRELYN BLAKE

Employee Relations Specialist

340-774-8588 ext. 5105
karrelyn.blake@dop.vi.gov

CHARISMA LEWIS