Leadership Excellence for Acquisition Professionals Quick Details Location Virtual Duration 184 total hours | 5 months Dates January to May 2026 Cost $6,999 Audience High-performing acquisition professionals with three to five years of experience in their field. Apply byFriday, Dec. 19th at 5 p.m. EST For more information, contact: Jennifer Benbow at jbenbow@ourpublicservice.org or (202) 495-3339 FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES Leadership Excellence for Acquisition Professionals Our government’s ability to serve the public depends on the strength, expertise and leadership of mission-support functions. While this work is usually done behind the scenes, it is imperative to build the leadership attributes of mission-support professionals because of their wide-ranging impact, the interconnectedness of their work and their ability to positively impact strategic decisions. The Leadership Excellence for Acquisition Professionals Program prepares acquisition professionals to become better leaders by focusing on the four core tenets of the Partnership’s Public Service Leadership Model: self-awareness, engaging others, leading change and achieving results. By the end of the course, participants will be able to make values-based decisions, use their roles to build strong partnerships, identify how to drive positive impact within their organizations and demonstrate enhanced leadership attributes. Experienced instructors will introduce proven leadership techniques, facilitate engaging conversations, and guide activities and workshops on course concepts. Throughout the program, participants will also work in a team of four to seven participants to provide and receive peer coaching and feedback on workplace challenges. In addition to time spent in session, participants should plan to spend an average of three to five hours per week working with this group throughout the program. Apply now! Program details PDF Federal leaders, click here! Sign up for email updates to learn more about our Leadership Excellence for Acquisition Professionals Program How to Apply Completed applications must include: Personal information. Professional experience. Development goals for the program. A current resume. Supervisor endorsement. Applicants should write short-answer responses that demonstrate how their career goals align with the expectations of LEAP participants. Program content is geared toward individuals with leadership experience who seek positions or roles of increased responsibility. We have high standards for all participants and evaluate their applications to ensure they will be able to contribute fully to the program. Applicants can save their application and return to complete it at any time. At the time of application, applicants must be high-performing, acquisition professionals who have at least three to five years of experience working in their field, including contracting experience. Program Structure The program includes five three-day virtual sessions over the course of five months. Each session is 6.5 hours long, running from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time. The program also includes a 1.5-hour virtual orientation session. All sessions will take place via Zoom for Government. Participants will be placed in cohorts, each led by an executive coach, and the program includes plenary-style sessions where all cohorts join together to participate in cross-functional activities. Experienced instructors will introduce proven leadership techniques, facilitate engaging conversations, and guide activities and workshops on course concepts. 360 Leadership Assessment Participants complete a self-assessment based on the Partnership’s Public Service Leadership Model competencies and receive feedback from peers, supervisor(s) and direct reports on their demonstration of these competencies. Executive Coaching Using results from their personal 360 leadership assessment, participants are paired with an executive coach for a one-hour, one-on-one coaching session to discuss their individual development and to address their current workplace challenges. Peer Workshops Within their cohorts, participants brainstorm ideas and share best practices through in-class group coaching scenarios and breakout group discussions. Session Pre-Work Prior to each session, participants read articles and watch videos, which provide context for the course topics. Guest SPeakers Participants will hear from guest speakers with extensive federal and private sector expertise. These speakers will provide real-world perspectives on identifying and solving public sector challenges. Session Details All sessions will take place via Zoom for Government. A mandatory orientation session will be held virtually on January 7, 2026, from 1:00 to 2:30 p.m. EST. Session 1: January 13-15, 2026 Defining your Leadership Style Understand the significance of emotional intelligence in the workplace. Commit to personal development through continuous learning. Increase self-awareness through exploration of core values and motivations. Session 2: February 17-19, 2026 Developing High Performing Teams Identify techniques to support productive teamwork. Cultivate relationships to achieve buy-in with stakeholders. Develop strategies to maximize cohesion and effectiveness of a team. Session 3: March 24-26, 2026 Championing a Culture of Change Identify ways to drive change from your level. Acquire techniques to establish credibility and effectively persuade others. Support an innovation mindset and risk-taking on your team. Session 4: April 21-23, 2026 Results Driven Decision-Making Learn techniques to hold yourself and your team accountable for achieving results. Define ways to make data-driven, customer-focused decisions. Understand how to achieve outcomes while navigating the federal environment. Session 5: May 12-14, 2026 Building a Strategic Mindset Develop a plan for being more strategic and consultative in the workplace. Explore how to build and maintain resilience throughout your career. Solidify personal leadership aspirations. FAQs Q: Who is eligible to apply? The Leadership Excellence for Acquisition Professional program is designed for acquisition professionals who have at least three to five years of experience working in their field. This includes team or work group leaders, project leaders, new supervisors, technical experts, cross-functional liaisons or direct support to principals. 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 Leadership Excellence for Acquisition Professionals program is $6,999, 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 Leadership Excellence for Acquisition Professionals 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: Jennifer Benbow at jbenbow@ourpublicservice.org or (202) 495-3339 Back to course catalog Staff Members from the Partnership staff will work with you throughout the Leadership Excellence for Acquisition Professionals Program to ensure that your experience goes smoothly.
