NIH Mid-Level Leadership Program

Purpose

The NIH is committed to playing an active role in advancing the skills of mid-level staff serving as front-line leaders. In addition to providing a collection of junior professional development as well as senior and executive leadership programs, the NIHTC offers a multifaceted, mid-level leadership development program that builds a bridge between senior leadership and junior staff. In filling this gap, the Mid-level Leadership Program provides a core component to a deliberate continuum of leadership development for inspired NIH staff.

Program Features and Structure

  1. A two-phase program designed to enhance learning, target its application, and reinforce retention
  2. Phase 1 of the overall program: An orientation and six 2-day training sessions taking place over a period of six months
  3. Phase 2 of the overall program: A new learning support component comprising six 3-hr webinars over a period of four months to both target and reinforce the learning from the previous seven sessions; followed by a final one-day workshop in which participants discuss next steps in a facilitated group session
  4. Cohort size of 28-32 participants
  5. Initial 360-degree feedback, Myers-Briggs Type personality type indicator (MBTI), Thomas Kilmann Conflict Instrument, and Emotional Intelligence assessments
  6. Personal coaching (2 hours) to review 360-degree feedback and define your specific developmental areas
  7. Leadership development plans
  8. On-the-job assignments to apply learning in the workplace between sessions
  9. Assigned reading articles to facilitate continuous development
  10. Sessions hosted virtually, or at NIH Training Center White Flint or Natcher locations

This program is structured to assess your leadership readiness and provide feedback and developmental guidance. It incorporates a variety of instructional approaches and makes available reinforcement activities to facilitate continuous development.

Tuition: $5235

Content and Current Cohort Program Schedule

Rather than targeting technical supervisory skills, which are addressed through OPM-mandated Supervisory Training, the program will emphasize the following leadership developmental areas:

  1. Self-awareness and fulfilling the leadership function
  2. Understanding and collaborating with others
  3. Strategic business acumen and driving results

Note: The program also complements the NIH Leadership and Management competency group.

Learning Phase Content

Month 1

Session 1: Orientation
(1 day)

  • Program Introduction, Overview, and First Steps
Month 2

Session 2: Leading Self I
(2 days)

  • Transitioning into Supervisory Roles
  • Leadership Styles
  • Understanding Personality Types
  • Results MBTI Assessment / Coaching Appointment
  • Results 360 Assessment
Month 3

Session 3: Leading Self II
(2 days)

  • Emotional Intelligence
  • Personal Effectiveness
  • Self-Motivation
  • Results EQI assessment
Month 4

Session 4: Working with Others I
(2 days)

  • Mindfulness and Resilience
  • Delegation
  • Giving and Receiving Feedback
  • Motivation of Others
  • Conflict Management
  • Results TKI assessment
Month 5

Session 5: Working with Others II
(2 days)

  • Negotiations and Persuasion
  • Collaboration and Breaking Down Silos
  • Matching Story to Context
  • High Impact Communications
Month 6

Session 6: Managing Talent
(2 days)

  • Cultural Intelligence
  • Creativity and Innovation in Public Service
  • Coaching Skills for Leaders
Month 7

Session 7: Driving Results
(2 days)

  • Managing Risk and Crises
  • Change Management
  • Problem Solving
  • Ethical Decision Making

Learning Reinforcement Phase Content

Spans four months and consists of six biweekly webinars followed by a full-day workshop. Utilizing the models, activities, assessments and their developmental learning plan, participants will have the opportunity to apply and share what they have learned in a deeper way.

Virtual Session 1

Influencing Up (3 hours)

Virtual Session 2

Leading Without Authority (3 hours)

Virtual Session 3

Managing a Shifting Workforce (3 hours)

Virtual Session 4

Well-Being (3 hours)

Virtual Session 5

Why Good Leaders Fail (3 hours)

Virtual Session 6

Career and Knowledge Management Tools (3 hours)

Final Workshop

Final, facilitated full-day workshop, featuring session participants’ applied learning leadership successes and challenges.

Requirements

Target:
Current supervisory and non-supervisory GS-12/13/14 and equivalents

Eligibility:
GS-12 and equivalents: One year of NIH experience. None required for GS-13/14.
Must have received at least AE – Achieved Expected Results on recent PMAP.

Selection Process

Individual nominations are initiated, vetted and prioritized at the IC Executive Office level. Nominations are then forwarded to the NIH Training Center for placement. Please contact your IC's nominations POC for the Mid-level Leadership Program for additional details on your IC's specific application* process and requirements.

*While individual applications are not needed for the submission to the Training Center, ICs interested in using an application could make use of and adapt this sample Word template for their own internal vetting process. 

Each year we solicit an initial NIH-wide call for nominations for the Mid-level Leadership Program. Our FY23 call in September filled 6 MLP cohorts (Cohorts 69-74, with monthly startups October 2022 to March 2023). The below 4 additional cohorts will draw from the waitlist generated from that initial call in September. 

FY23 MLP Nomination Key Dates

Cohort Schedules

We are now offering two separate delivery formats.

  1. As with last year, we will continue offering some series that will remain entirely virtual.  
  2. New for this year are blended series that will consist of
    a) three virtual sessions,
    b) four in-person sessions, plus
    c) the closing workshop also to be delivered in-person.

    Please note with these blended series that designated sessions will be either fully-virtual or fully in-person.

Cohort 75 - All Virtual

Cohort 77 - All Virtual

Cohort 78 - Blended

Contact Information

Bob Michon
Mid-level Leadership Program Manager
NIH Training Center
Phone: 301-496-0264
Email: bob.michon@nih.gov

Contact us to ask a question, provide feedback, or report a problem.