This right here. I think about 15 - 20 years ago, regular graduate non-scholarship civil servants were expected to end their careers at MX10 (SAD/DD).

However, in 2013 or 2014, MX11A was introduced as a speed bump to MX10, and it's clear that at this point in time, the vast majority of regular graduates will end their careers here. Some will get to MX10 as DD, and a very small number will make it to director as vanilla MX9s (i.e. on their org's fast track, but not on the Public Service Leadership Programme), but only heading corporate divisions (e.g. HR, finance, planning).

Policy director roles are reserved for 'scholars'.