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Excellence in Public Service Leadership: For State and Local Government Leaders
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Excellence in Public Service Leadership: For State and Local Government Leaders

Quick Details

Location
Virtual
Virtual
Duration
120 classroom hours | 173 total training hours
Dates
Nine months | 15 total days
Cost
$8,900
Audience
Leaders of leaders

For more information, contact: Jennifer Benbow at jbenbow@ourpublicservice.org  or (202) 495-3339

FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES

Excellence in Public Service Leadership: For State and Local Government Leaders

For the government to carry out its many missions—from administering vital assistance to responding to natural disasters—they need effective leaders at the helm.

The Excellence in Public Service Leadership program is the premier leadership development course for mid- to advanced- career state and local government leaders. The EXPSL program is based on the Excellence in Government Fellows program, which boasts a 30-year track record developing federal leaders. This program will help state and local public servants develop strong leadership skills through application-based learning, highly interactive activities, authentic self-reflection, personalized coaching and networking.

Session details

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Developing Government Leaders to Meet Today’s Challenges

Government teams face constantly evolving challenges. To meet these challenges, public servants need a professional development program that provides them with fundamental leadership principles and practical, up-to-date leadership tools. Designed specifically for the leaders in state and local government, the EXPSL program is an immersive program that places fellows in cohorts to enable new networking and learning opportunities.

Full cohorts: By sending 25 participants from your state or locality, you can tailor the speakers and content and integrate high-impact group projects. For an extra cost, we can also deliver the program in person in your location or in our Washington, D.C., space, and on an alternative schedule. For more information, contact Jennifer Benbow at jbenbow@ourpublicservice.org or (202)495-3339.

1. Program Structure

  • Cohort-based learning: Fellows are placed in cohorts of up to 30 government leaders led by an experienced executive coach.  
  • Virtual sessions: EXPSL consists of five, multi-day sessions spread across the year. Each of our five sessions are three days long, providing fellows with an immersive experience that leaves ample time to digest program content and build lasting relationships. Multi-week breaks between sessions enable fellows to reflect on program content, apply lessons on the job, and identify real-life challenges to workshop in the future.
  • Two one-on-one coaching sessions: Fellows also receive two individual, one-hour sessions with their executive coach. During this time, fellows use a 360 leadership assessment tool to delve deeper into their leadership development needs.

2. Leadership Content

  • EXPSL aligns with the Public Service Leadership Model, the standard for effective government leadership. The model outlines the core values of government service—stewardship of public trust and commitment to public good—along with four key competencies that all 21st-century leaders need: becoming self-aware, engaging others, leading change, and achieving results. 
  • Sessions focus on the specific capabilities public servants need to advance their careers, emphasizing hands-on practice of those skills.  
  • Fellows who complete the program in full can receive a certification of completion of learning hours.

3. Program Components

  • Coursework
    • The EXPSL program utilizes various learning tools, including simulations and case studies, facilitated discussions, readings, videos, leadership assessments (e.g., Public Service Leadership 360 and the Thomas-Kilmann Conflict Model), and hands-on activities, to achieve the learning objectives of each session. To ensure the program offers the highest quality experience, we continually refresh our educational materials. Our lessons reflect the latest knowledge and best practices, and our case studies examine how government employees confront modern challenges. We use evaluation tools to measure learning and adapt the program to fellows’ needs.
  • Guest Speakers
    • The EXPSL program brings in guest speakers who enable participants to connect classroom lessons to real-world situations. These experiences offer participants a behind-the-scenes look at innovative leaders and organizations from the public, private, nonprofit, and academic sectors. By engaging with these leaders directly, EXPSL fellows make new connections and witness leadership in action.  
  • Impact Projects
    • EXPSL participants apply course concepts to create a results-driven, action-learning project that aims to tackle a complex issue relevant to their work. Throughout the program, fellows work with their program coaches and a peer support group to see projects through from start to finish. Key tasks include defining outcomes, finding sponsors, building buy-in, creating deliverables, and more.  
  • Coaching
    • Coaching and feedback are critical elements of leadership development. That is why fellows receive targeted, individualized support from our team of executive coaches, including two hours of one-on-one executive coaching sessions. 
  • Networking
    • Throughout the program, fellows participate in cohort and cross-cohort activities, as well as program-wide networking events to build relationships with peers across government. By joining a community of leaders from different governments and departments, fellows gain ongoing learning and professional development opportunities that continue after graduation. These activities and opportunities support individual leaders in their career journeys, enabling more impact in government and helping government work more effectively.

Apply

We have high standards for our EXPSL fellows. We will evaluate applications based on numerous criteria to ensure that individuals selected for the program will fully contribute to projects and classroom discussions. 

Applicants should be leaders of leaders or supervisors of other government leaders.  

Applicants should explain how their career objectives align with EXPSL program goals by writing clear and carefully considered short-answer responses.  

The application does not need to be completed in one session.

For further questions, please see the FAQ section.

Session Details

The program consists of five virtual sessions over the course of 9 months. Each session occurs approximately every two months and is three days long.

The program includes a two-hour virtual orientation session.

During the year-long program, fellows remain in their full-time jobs. Fellows also devote up to three hours per week to their impact projects and session pre-work. Fellows are expected to attend all sessions, so applicants should review the class schedule and confirm their availability before applying for the program. Exceptions are made for family and work-related emergencies.

Once accepted into the program, each fellow will be assigned to a cohort led by an executive coach.

Each fellow will also attend a mandatory two-hour virtual orientation session conducted via Zoom for Government.  

All sessions will be conducted via Zoom for Government.

ORIENTATION (VIRTUAL)

KICK-OFF: VALUES, VISION AND MISSION

Engaging Others

STRATEGIC SYSTEMS LEADERSHIP

 

BUILDING PARTNERSHIPS AND COALITIONS

Leading CHANGE and Graduation

“It truly has impacted how I approach my job. Every day, there is some kind of conflict in my work, and the lessons I learned from the program around leading change and leading people, handling difficult situations and resolving challenges, that’s something I apply every day. It really has made me think about different approaches to problems and has helped me immensely.”

—Program Graduate of EIG (which EXPSL is based on)

Read More about EIG’s Impact

Coaches

Our executive coaching team is dedicated to helping participants reach their leadership goals. Our coaches possess a common set of core qualifications and bring a diverse set of backgrounds, global perspectives, and training styles to the EXPSL program. Many are former government leaders representing a wide variety of agencies, and all have extensive experience in public sector executive leadership coaching, organizational development, training and facilitation.

Staff

Members from the Partnership staff will work with you throughout the Excellence in Public Service Leadership Program to ensure that your experience goes smoothly.

FAQs

Q: Who is eligible to apply?

The Excellence in Public Service Leadership program is for leaders of leaders who seek to solve government challenges by driving innovation, inspiring employees and delivering results. Rising leaders who have demonstrated exceptional work are also encouraged to apply. You must:

  • Have a strong record of accomplishment and demonstrate high potential for executive leadership
  • Be willing and able to commit and contribute fully to the program
  • Have the support of your department or agency
Q: What application materials must I provide to be eligible?

You are required to submit one letter of reference from your immediate supervisor.

Q: How will I know if I am accepted?

The Partnership for Public Service accepts applicants on a rolling basis until the application deadline. You will receive an email from enroll@ourpublicservice.org notifying you of your acceptance status within three days after the application deadline, if not earlier.

If we have an agreement with your department 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.

Q: Can I reapply if I am not accepted into the program?

Yes, you may reapply if you meet the program’s minimum qualifications.

Q: Is there an application fee?

No. There is no fee to apply to the Partnership’s programs.

Q: How much is tuition?

Tuition for the Excellence in Public Service Leadership program is $8,900, which includes all course materials (e.g., books, articles and assessments), online collaboration platforms for team projects, and access to the Partnership’s resources, expertise and networks.

Q: 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.

Q: 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 to complete a tuition payment information document so the Partnership can direct your tuition invoice to the appropriate agency contact. We will work directly with the agency contact—such as a training coordinator or human resources specialist—who is responsible for paying tuition. 

Q: I am 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: Where will sessions take place?

For participants in the Excellence in Public Service Leadership program, all sessions and executive coaching meetings will be held online via the Zoom for Government platform.

Q: 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 arrange for you to attend the same session held during the following year’s program.

Q: Who should I contact if I have more questions about this program?

If you have additional questions, please contact Jennifer Benbow at jbenbow@ourpublicservice.org or call (202) 495-3339.

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