Office of Professional Development

Senior Leadership Development Program

The Senior Leadership Development Program (SLDP) is intended for Commonwealth employees in Pay Scale Group (PSG) 11 and above, or the equivalent, whose leadership responsibilities have strategic impact across an agency, function, program, or statewide initiative. The program is specifically designed for senior-level leaders whose roles require broad decision-making authority, organizational influence, and accountability for outcomes.

The Senior Leadership Development Program is designed to do more than build leadership awareness. It strengthens the Commonwealth’s capacity to lead through complexity, drive transformation, and deliver results for citizens. By focusing on strategic leadership, cross-agency collaboration, and real-world application, the program equips senior leaders to move beyond managing day-to-day operations and instead shape systems, influence outcomes, and align resources to statewide priorities. Participants gain practical tools and frameworks they can immediately apply to pressing challenges, from workforce development to service delivery and digital modernization.

What sets this program apart is its integrated approach to growth. Through a combination of 360-degree feedback, targeted coaching, and applied learning, participants receive continuous insight into how their leadership is experienced by others and how it evolves over time. This creates measurable behavior change, not just knowledge acquisition. As leaders strengthen their ability to communicate, lead change, and make strategic decisions, the impact extends beyond the individual to their teams, agencies, and the communities they serve. The result is a stronger, more aligned leadership bench prepared to navigate the future of government with confidence and clarity.

The program curriculum is based around case studies, team projects, role playing and scenario planning.

Classes offer a “safe space” for senior leaders to discuss issues they may face in their positions while promoting inter-organizational collaboration.

All classes take place in-person at Harrisburg University in Harrisburg, PA

It is expected that all students attend class in-person on all class dates.

45-50 hours

Class time is 8:30 am – 12:30 pm, except where otherwise noted (Module 1 and Module 8 are extended sessions)

Note: Exact order of Module Topics subject to change based on speaker availability

Module 1: FULL DAY, 8:30 am – 3:00 pm

1. 360 Assessment and Program Framework
   • Facilitated 360 debrief session
   • Participants create a Leadership Growth Plan (1-page):
     • Key strengths to leverage
     • Development goals tied to program modules
     • Real workplace application focus
2. Strategic Leadership in Government Systems

• What distinguishes a strategic vs. operational leader
  • Systems thinking across agencies
  • Leading through ambiguity and competing priorities

• 360 Focus: Strategic thinking, decision-making, big-picture leadership
  • Participants review feedback related to strategic vs. tactical tendencies
  • Reflection: Where am I operating too tactically?
  • Action: Identify one opportunity to elevate thinking to a systems-level decision

Module 2: Resilient Leadership and Executive Mindset

• Decision-making under pressure and public scrutiny
• Managing burnout (self + teams)
• Executive presence and composure

• 360 Focus: Composure, adaptability, leadership presence
  • Participants connect feedback on stress response and executive presence
  • Reflection: How do others experience me under pressure?
  • Action: Practice one visible behavior shift (e.g., pausing, reframing, delegation)

Module 3: Strategic Communication and Public Affairs

• Message mapping for internal and external audiences
• Communicating with legislators, media, and stakeholders
• Crisis communication and trust-building

• 360 Focus: Communication effectiveness, influence, listening
  • Participants analyze feedback on clarity, trust-building, and influence
  • Activity: Apply message mapping to a real issue tied to their role
  • Peer feedback aligned to 360 themes

Module 4: Leading Change and Stakeholder Alignment

• Moving beyond theory – executing change in government
• Stakeholder mapping and resistance management
• Leading cross-agency initiatives

• 360 Focus: Change leadership, collaboration, stakeholder engagement
  • Participants review feedback on how they lead (or resist) change
  • Reflection: Where might I unintentionally create resistance?
  • Action: Map stakeholders for a real initiative and adjust approach

Module 5: Conflict Resolution, Negotiation, and Influence

• Negotiating across agencies and priorities
• Influencing without authority
• Managing political and organizational tension
  
• 360 Focus: Conflict management, diplomacy, influence
  • Participants connect feedback to how they handle tension and disagreement
  • Activity: Practice negotiation scenarios tied to real workplace challenges
  • Peer coaching based on 360 insights

Module 6: Budgeting and Strategic Resource Management

• Using the budget as a strategic tool to align priorities, policy, and outcomes
• Navigating the Commonwealth budget process and making trade-off decisions under constraint
• Allocating resources for impact: workforce, technology, and program investments

• 360 Focus: Decision-making, prioritization, accountability
  • Participants connect feedback to resource allocation and strategic thinking
  • Reflection: How do my decisions signal priorities to others?
  • Action: Align a current budget or resource decision to strategic outcomes

Module 7: Leading People, Culture, and Workforce Strategy

• Leading multi-generational and unionized workforces
• Talent pipelines, retention, and succession planning
• Choosing and developing managers vs. technical experts

• 360 Focus: Team leadership, trust, development of others
  • Participants review feedback from direct reports and peers
  • Reflection: What is it like to be led by me?
  • Action: Build a team-level leadership adjustment plan

Module 8: Innovation and Transformation in the Public Sector

• Driving innovation within constraints: balancing risk, compliance, and public accountability
• Leading digital transformation initiatives (AI, data, and service modernization)
• Creating a culture of experimentation, continuous improvement, and cross-agency collaboration

• 360 Focus: Innovation mindset, risk tolerance, adaptability
  • Participants examine feedback on openness to new ideas and change
  • Reflection: Do I enable or unintentionally block innovation?
  • Action: Identify one innovation or transformation effort to champion

Pre-program: VIRTUAL

• Participants complete a 360 assessment aligned to program competencies
• Feedback collected from supervisor, peers, direct reports, and self
• Each participant identifies:
  • 2 priority leadership growth goals
  • Key behavior shifts

Program participants are divided in teams.

Each team is assigned a mentor/coach.

The mentor/coach meets (in-person and/or virtually) with the team at least once collectively and at least once with each program participant individually.

Coaching session dates, times, and locations will be determined between the assigned mentees and coach.

Attendance at a minimum of 90% of the sessions is required in order to receive a certificate of completion of the program.

This program is a non-degree, non-credit bearing course.

A Certificate of Completion is awarded at the end of the program.

Awarding of a certificate of completion will be based on a pass-fail assessment of the program’s curriculum, attendance, and class requirements.

The following materials are included in the cost of the course:

• PDF versions of slides presented (when available)
• Speaker bios (when available)

2026-2027 Program Fee* per person:

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania: $2,750.00

*Fee is not required at time of application; applicants that are accepted into the program will be provided with an invoice shortly after notification of acceptance.

Application Deadline: Monday, July 27, 2026

Candidate Application

Candidates will complete an application form to present their learning goals, past experiences, expertise, and knowledge they will bring to the cohort for consideration.  [CLICK ON “APPLY NOW” AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS PAGE]

Acceptance Notification

Applicants will be notified by Friday, July 31, regarding their acceptance status. At that time, those accepted will receive full course details and orientation information.

See the specific deadlines under “Next Cohort” at the bottom of the page.