; and (B) shall be used by the Department for initial applications for a position as a senior executive to the extent such use will be more efficient and effective and less burdensome for all participants. (b) Certification of executive and managerial qualifications Notwithstanding section 317.502 of title 5, Code of Federal Regulations (relating to certification by a Qualifications Review Board of the Office of Personnel Management), or any successor thereto, the Secretary may make an initial career appointment of an individual to a position as a senior executive if a review board convened by the Department certifies the executive and managerial qualifications of the individual. (c) Position as a senior executive defined In this section, the term position as a senior executive means— (1) a position as a career appointee in a Senior Executive position (as such terms are defined in section 3132 of title 5); (2) an administrative or executive position to which an individual is appointed under section 7306(a) or section 7401(1) of this title