Partnership for Public Service logo
Emerging HR Leaders Forum
Close

Emerging HR Leaders Forum

Quick Details

Location
Virtual
Duration
19 total hours | 6 months
Dates
July to November 2025
Cost
$2,750
Audience
GS-9 to GS-12
HR federal employees
Apply by
June 13, at 5 p.m. EDT

For more information, contact: Eric Feldman at efeldman@ourpublicservice.org or (202) 780-0814.

FOR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES

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 federal careers. Participants develop the foundational knowledge and the professional network necessary to navigate their federal 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 federal HR professionals to engage with and learn from.


Apply  by Friday, June 13, at 5 p.m. EDT  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.

If you have further questions, please see the FAQ section.

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. EDT

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 July 10, 2025, from 1 to 2 p.m. EDT.

Session 1: July 17, 2025

The State of Federal 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: Aug. 14, 2025

Building Relationships
  • Understand key components to build trusting relationships
  • Develop communication practices that promote trust building

Session 3: Sept. 18, 2025

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: Oct. 23, 2025

Taking Initiative
  • Exploring what taking initiative means in the context of federal HR
  • Understand how to identify opportunities to take initiative

Session 5: Nov. 13, 2025

Building Partnerships
  • Gain strategies for making a pitch
  • Learn how to use the five styles of influence

Session 6: Dec. 18, 2025

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.

FAQs

Q: Who is eligible to apply?

The Emerging HR Leaders program is designed for HR employees at the GS-9 to GS-12 levels.

Q: What application materials must I provide to be eligible?

With your online application, you are required to submit a copy of your resume with your professional work experience, both inside and outside of government. You must also submit a supervisor’s approval form. You’ll find a link to this form within the online application. You’ll also be able to upload your resume within the application.

Q: How will I know if I’m 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 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.

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 Emerging HR Leaders program 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?

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’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: Where will sessions take place?

All Emerging HR Leadership sessions will take place online via the Zoom for Government platform. Please ensure you have access to Zoom for Government on your computer.

Q: What should I do if I have to 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.

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

If you have additional questions, please contact Eric Feldman at efeldman@ourpublicservice.org or (202) 780-0814.

Back to course catalog