Leadership ICMA

Leadership ICMA - Now Accepting Applications!

Leadership ICMA is an intensive, one-year program designed to cultivate essential leadership competencies for professionals in local government management. Selected participants, who are not yet eligible for credentialing, will join a cohort of leaders to complete a series of twelve courses and a capstone project. All Leadership ICMA graduates receive one year of experience "credit" toward the ICMA Voluntary Credentialing Program.

Program Details:

Tuition $2,500 plus Leadership Assessment $75 

Timeline and Key Dates

• April 1 to April 2, 2025, In-Person Event: The Leadership ICMA program begins with a two-day session at the Pfister Hotel in downtown Milwaukee, WI. This session includes both orientation activities and two program courses. Participants are responsible for their travel costs.
• April 2025 to March 2026 Hybrid Learning Experience: Participants will continue to learn together through a blend of experiences, as described below:
• Monthly self-paced (online) courses that include short video lessons, recommended readings, interactive content, and self-reflection activities 
• Monthly virtual instructor-led discussions to expand on self-paced content and share experiences with each other
• October 25-29, 2025, In-Person Event: The cohort will meet at the ICMA Annual Conference in Tampa/Hillsborough County, Florida, from. This session will cover two face-to-face program courses, along with additional group learning opportunities and networking within the profession to strengthen connections with senior city managers. Participants are responsible for their registration and travel costs.
• Capstone Project: The learning experience will culminate in a capstone project that demonstrates mastery of the concepts presented throughout the program.

Who Should Apply:

Applicants must be ICMA members who are not yet credentialed and have at least three years of senior management experience in local government or a related field with experience in multiple departments. They must have the support of their employer for the educational and travel costs associated with the program as evidenced by a signed commitment form. Upon acceptance, if you have not taken the Leadership Assessment within six (6) months of applying for Leadership ICMA, you will need to complete it prior to February 28, 2025. (Results of the assessment remain confidential and are not considered in the review of applications.)  

Your Course of Study

• Personal Leadership: Engage in a variety of team-building activities designed to develop a solid foundation for positive, honest, and collaborative engagement over the course of the Leadership ICMA program. As a participant, you will explore your personal leadership style, mindset, and values, as you work with your peers to build personal resilience. 
• Ethics in Local Government: Examine ethical leadership and its practical applications in modern local government management. Grounded in the ICMA Code of Ethics, this course will help you consistently model ethical behavior and maintain an ethical culture in your organization. 
• Healthy Organizational Culture: Identify the elements of a healthy culture and how to build a strong organization with engaged employees who deliver for the community. Explore emotional intelligence in yourself and how it can impact your effectiveness as a leader. 
• Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: Delve into diversity, equity, and inclusion and how they can be applied to ensure positive outcomes for your workplace and the community you serve. 
• Communication and Collaboration: Effective communication is key to successful local government leadership. Analyze negotiation skills, storytelling, and technical communication skills that will help you connect with your audience and communicate in an authentic and transparent way. 
• Strategic Leadership: Explore what it takes to be a strategic leader who works toward a flexible, agile organization that stays focused on and committed to fulfilling its mission. 
• Political Astuteness: Become adept at navigating political environments in an apolitical manner, deploying tact and diplomacy to achieve results for the community. 
• Leading Impactful Projects: Examine project management, plan implementation, and change management and the skills you need to be effective as you lead your organization. 
• Leading in Times of Crisis: Learn how to plan for emergencies and develop the resilience you need to face the unexpected and project strength and leadership. 
• Creativity and Innovation: Explore systems innovation, along with the technological tools and advancements that work toward building a future-focused organization. 
• Working with Elected Officials: Learn how to build and maintain a solid working relationship with your governing body. Define roles, set boundaries, and onboard elected officials so that your organization can run efficiently and effectively. 
• Community Engagement: Consider methods of engagement and how to reach constituents where they are to help them be active participants in their government.

Capstone

The capstone project requires participants to demonstrate their competence in the concepts presented throughout the Leadership ICMA program. Through individual or group work, participants will select and complete a capstone project that is designed to contribute to ICMA’s body of work. Examples of capstone projects include research projects, articles, and learning experiences. Participants are individually evaluated to determine whether they have met the criteria for graduation.

Application Package and Instructions

The application deadline is December 31, 2024. Before submitting your application, ensure that you have completed the application essay questions and secured completed reference and commitment forms. You will be asked to upload these documents along with your resume on ICMA’s learning management system. The reference letter must be printed on the signee’s letterhead.

Your completed application package should include the following materials:

• Document containing the answers to the Essay questions
• Resume or Curriculum Vitae
• Reference Form signed by the person who completes it
• Commitment Form signed by the Chief Manager or Executive Officer of your organization.

Once you are accepted into the program, and before February 28, you will need to complete the ICMA Leadership Assessment. Please direct any questions to Nedra James, Senior Program Manager of Leadership Development, at njames@icma.org or 202-962-3648.

 Apply