Emerging HR Leaders Forum Quick Details Location Virtual Duration 19 total hours | 6 months Dates March to August 2026 Cost $2,750 Audience HR state and local employees, federal GS-9 to GS-12s Apply byFebruary 13, at 5 p.m. EST For more information, contact: Jennifer Benbow at jbenbow@dev.ourpublicservice.org or (202) 495-3339. Emerging HR Leaders Forum The federal HR workforce plays a critical role in bringing the most talented people into government and ensuring they have what they need to succeed. Agencies must invest in the next generation of HR employees to secure the strength of their workforce. The Emerging HR Leaders program is a professional development opportunity for HR employees early in their government careers. Participants develop the foundational knowledge and the professional network necessary to navigate their HR careers and maximize their impact in government. Throughout this six-month program, participants engage in professional development activities and learn from subject matter experts. The sessions emphasize conversation and application to ensure participants understand concepts fully and are capable of using the skills and knowledge they acquire. After graduation, emerging HR leaders build on the connections they developed by joining the Partnership’s Leadership Alumni Network. Multiple cohorts of the program graduate each year, providing them with an ever-growing network of government HR professionals to engage with and learn from. Apply Here Program details PDF Sign up for email updates to learn more about our Emerging HR Leaders Forum How to Apply Completed applications must include your personal information, professional experience and objectives, up-to-date resume and supervisor endorsement form. Carefully consider your short-answer responses to ensure your government career objectives align with our high expectations of participants. You do not need to complete the application in one session; you may save your application and return to it later. Please note, many agencies have specific application guidelines for their employees. Before submitting your application, please make sure that you are following your agency’s internal guidelines and that you have permission from your agency’s leadership to participate in this program. 89% of participants said they gained insight into the workings of other agencies and benefited from information sharing 97% of participants said they would recommend the program to a colleague “This was a fantastic program. A must have for any HR professional that wishes to advance to the next level.” -Former EHRL participant Session Details The program consists of six sessions over the course of six months. Participants attend the program virtually via Zoom for Government, from 1 to 3:30 p.m. Eastern Time. During sessions, experienced instructors facilitate engaging conversations, activities and workshops around key course concepts. We expect that participants will attend every session and adequately prepare for each one by reading reports, case studies and articles. Prior to applying to the program, participants should review the program schedule and confirm their availability. In addition to the six sessions below, participants will attend a mandatory virtual orientation session on March 5, 2026, from 1 to 2 p.m. EST. Session 1: March 12, 2026 The State of GOVERNMENT HR and Your Place in It Explore the importance of emotional intelligence in the workplace Commit to a continuous learning experience within the EHRL program Session 2: April 9, 2026 Building Relationships Understand key components to build trusting relationships Develop communication practices that promote trust building Session 3: May 14, 2026 Understanding and Tackling Problems Discuss the importance of getting to the root cause of a problem Practice a method for discovering the root cause of a problem Explore what steps can be taken to determine potential solutions Session 4: June 11, 2026 Taking Initiative Exploring what taking initiative means in the context of federal HR Understand how to identify opportunities to take initiative Session 5: July 9, 2026 Building Partnerships Gain strategies for making a pitch Learn how to use the five styles of influence Session 6: August 6, 2026 Career Coaching and Celebration Reflect on program models and discuss how to integrate them further as a leader Celebrate your achievements over the past six months Staff Members from the Partnership staff will work with you throughout the Emerging HR Leaders Forum to ensure that your experience goes smoothly. Q: Who is eligible to apply? The Emerging HR Leaders program is designed for HR employees who are currently team or work group members, first-time project leader, aspiring supervisors, developing technical experts, and/or federal GS-9 to GS-12s Q: What application materials must I provide to be eligible? With your online application, you are required to submit a supervisor’s approval form. You’ll find a link to this form within the online application. Q: How will I know if I’m accepted? You will receive an email from a Partnership representative notifying you of your acceptance status within about one week after the application deadline. I’m no longer able to attend, will I receive a refund? Once accepted into this program, your non-refundable tuition payment will be required before the program start date. If you can no longer attend, you may defer your program registration for up to one year. Q: Can I reapply if I am not accepted into the program? Yes, you are able to reapply as long as you meet the program’s minimum qualifications. Q: Is there an application fee? No. There is no fee to apply for a program. Q: How much is tuition? Tuition is $2,750, which includes all course materials (e.g., books, articles and management tools), online collaboration tools for team projects, and access to the Partnership’s resources, expertise and networks. Q: When is the tuition deadline, and what are the options for tuition payment? Tuition payment should be arranged prior to the first session (the specific date will be provided in the first program communication to accepted applicants). We accept the following forms of payment: credit card (Visa, MasterCard or American Express), purchase order or Standard Form 182 (SF-182). The Tuition Form will provide instructions to request a purchase order that can be paid by your agency through Automated Clearing House transfer or check. We will work directly with the agency POC (e.g., training coordinator, human resources specialist) responsible for paying your tuition, but we will need you to provide us with the name, email and phone number of the POC. Any tuition status update requests should go through your agency POC. You are committed to paying the full tuition upon registration. Q: Will I take any personality assessments as part of the program? Yes, participants will complete Gallup’s Top 5 CliftonStrengths assessment prior to kick-off.
