For more information, contact: Jennifer Benbow at jbenbow@dev.ourpublicservice.org or (202) 495-3339
Mid-career professionals are key to ensuring teams can achieve their missions. Strengthening your leadership foundation will allow you to assume greater responsibility for leading others, managing complex projects, and working across teams.
The Foundations in Public Service Leadership Program will enable you to develop the skills to effectively influence others, lead teams and drive change within your department.
In this course, you will learn how to:
- Enhance your own leadership style.
- Improve your communication skills.
- Understand how to successfully lead others to achieve outcomes and goals.
By the end of the program, you will be able to adapt your leadership style to meet the needs of your projects and have a positive impact on the way your team, department and customers serve the public.
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How to Apply
Completed applications must include your personal information, professional experience, and objectives in addition to your supervisor’s endorsement. 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 departments have specific application guidelines for their employees. Before submitting your application, please make sure that you are following your department’s internal guidelines and that you have permission from your leadership to participate in this program.
Facilitators
Our facilitators bring a wealth of knowledge and best practices as leadership development experts and as former supervisors and project managers. They understand the challenges of leaders at this level and use course concepts to help participants develop new habits.
Program Structure
The program includes nine half-day virtual sessions conducted via Zoom for Government over the course of five months. Each session is four hours long from 1–5 p.m. Eastern Time.
The program also includes a one-hour virtual orientation and kickoff session on August 4, 2026 from 1–2 p.m. EDT.
During virtual classroom sessions, experienced instructors facilitate engaging conversations, share best practices on key course concepts, and form peer groups to encourage accountability. Guest speakers with extensive government and private sector expertise provide real-world perspectives on overcoming public sector leadership challenges.
Our classroom lessons are reinforced through multiple activities, including:
- Executive coaching: You will be paired with an executive coach for two one-hour sessions. This is an opportunity to discuss your individual development based on results from your personal 360 leadership assessment and address your current workplace challenges.
- Accountability groups: You will workshop ideas and share best practices during in-class group break-out discussions and in between sessions.
- Session pre-work: Prior to each session, you will be required to read articles and watch videos related to the upcoming session.
The classroom sessions, combined with pre-work between sessions and one-on-one coaching, total 36 hours of coursework. You are expected to prepare for and attend every session.
Prior to applying to the program, please review the program schedule and confirm your availability for the one-hour orientation and kickoff session and nine half-day sessions.
Topic 1: Becoming Self-Aware
Session 1: August 11, 2026
Understanding Yourself
- Understand program components
- Get to know cohort participants
- Explore and define your core values as a leader
Session 2: August 25, 2026
Recognizing Your Impact
- Identify how your decisions, emotions, and communications impact your team(s)
- Change behaviors that negatively impact your team(s)
Topic 2: Engaging Others
Session 3: September 15, 2026
Cultivating Your Team Culture
- Understand key elements to build trust with others
- Learn strategies to create a welcoming environment
Session 4: September 29, 2026
Enhancing Your Team Norms
- Understand how to elevate collaboration in a hybrid work environment
- Navigate conflict and feedback within your team
Topic 3: Leading ChangeTopic 3: Leading Change
Session 5: October 20, 2026
Navigating the System
- Identify how to engage stakeholders in your system
- Develop strategies to influence positive outcomes
Session 6: November 3, 2026
Experiencing Change
- Understand strategies that support the adoption of change
- Establish measures of accountability for yourself and your team
Topic 4: Achieving Results
Session 7: November 17, 2026
Creating Change
- Foster an innovative culture for your team
- Understand change management principles to increase buy-in
Session 8: December 1, 2026
Embracing Change
- Understand how to leverage technology in accomplishing team goals
- Apply a data-driven process to make evidence-based decisions
- Identify strategies for adapting in evolving environments
Synthesis and Reflection
Session 9: December 15, 2026
Synthesis and Reflection
- Develop strategies for applying lessons learned
- Reemphasize your commitment to public service and stewardship of public trust
“This has been the best training I’ve ever participated in over the course of my career. It has changed my approach to leadership, and it’s changed my perception on matching my individual values to the work that I do.”
“The program gave me a chance to reflect on my core values, learn additional tools to help build relationships with colleagues, and gain a newfound appreciation for my organization’s leadership.”
FAQs
Who is Eligible to Apply?
The Foundations in Public Service Leadership program is for mid-level leaders in local, state or federal government who lead teams, projects, or people. This includes team or work group leaders, project leaders, new supervisors, technical experts, cross-functional liaisons, direct support to principals and federal GS-12 to GS-13s. You must also have support from your department or agency.
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.
How will I know if I am accepted?
The Partnership for Public Service reviews applications after the application deadline. You will receive an email from enroll@dev.ourpublicservice.org notifying you of your acceptance status within two weeks after the application deadline, if not earlier.
If we have an agreement with your agency to accept you as part of an internal selection process, you will probably receive notice from your agency first, but your acceptance is not confirmed until you have received a notification from the Partnership.
Can I reapply if I am not accepted into the program?
Yes, you may reapply if you meet the program’s minimum qualifications.
Is there an application fee?
No. There is no fee to apply to the Partnership’s programs.
How much is tuition?
Tuition for the Foundations in Public Service Leadership program is $4,500, 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.
When is the tuition deadline?
Your tuition payment should be arranged prior to the program’s start date. We will provide the specific due date in the email notifying you of your acceptance into the program.
What forms of payment do you accept for tuition payment?
We accept the following forms of payment: credit card (Visa, MasterCard or American Express), purchase order or Standard Form 182 (SF-182), Automated Clearing House (ACH) transfer or check. With your program acceptance email from the Partnership, you will receive instructions on the different ways to make a payment.
You will also be asked for tuition payment information so the Partnership can direct your tuition invoice to the appropriate contact. We will work directly with the agency contact—such as a training coordinator or human resources specialist—who is responsible for paying tuition.
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.
Where will sessions take place?
All Foundations for Public Service Leadership sessions will take place online via the Zoom for Government platform. Please ensure you have access to Zoom for Government on your computer.
What should I do if I miss parts of a session or an entire session? Do you offer make-up sessions?
Graduation from Partnership programs is contingent upon full attendance and participation in our training sessions. In the event of a conflict, please notify a Partnership staff member as soon as possible, even before the first session is held. Should you miss any part of a session, we will work with you to provide resources for the missed content.
Who should I contact if I have more questions about this program?
If you have additional questions, please contact Jennifer Benbow at jbenbow@dev.ourpublicservice.org or call (202) 495-3339.