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Leadership

Good leaders are indispensable across all levels of government, driving innovation, strategy, collaboration and accountability needed to deliver results for the public.

However, the government is facing a leadership crisis. It does not hold a unified standard for public service leadership, many Senate-confirmed positions remain vacant and senior leaders, while possessing technical expertise, too often lack experience in managing large, complex organizations.

Through signature programs and its Public Service Leadership Institute®, the Partnership advocates for reform, conducts research and administers nationally recognized programs to address these gaps and strengthen public service leadership at federal, state and local levels.

Through the Public Service Leadership Institute®, we can help to foster the type of leaders we need in government—those who are guided by deep a commitment to public good and stewardship of the public trust.

Deb Haaland Former Secretary of the Interior

Best Places to Work in the Federal Government®

The Best Places to Work in the Federal Government® rankings are the most authoritative assessment of how federal employees view their jobs and workplaces, providing insights on employee engagement that are relevant across federal, state and local governments. In 2025, the Trump administration canceled the government’s annual Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey, which informed Best Places to Work. In turn, we issued our first-ever proprietary Public Service Viewpoint Survey to capture how the administration’s actions impacted the federal workforce.

Man holding up his hand with judge

Political Appointee Tracker

Launched jointly with The Washington Post in 2016, our first-of-its-kind political appointee tracker charts the status of Senate-confirmed appointees, holding presidential administrations and Congress accountable for filling critical leadership positions.

Stories

Research and Insights on Public Service Leadership

Drawing on nearly two decades of work with tens of thousands of leaders, we publish original insights, commentary on best practices and policy recommendations to strengthen public service leadership.

Level up your leadership

Explore our programs and training opportunities to develop strong public service leadership skills.