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 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
- A two-phase program designed to enhance learning, target its application, and reinforce retention
- Phase 1 of the overall program: An orientation plus six 2-day training sessions taking place over a period of six months
- Phase 2 of the overall program: A 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 career steps in a facilitated group session
- Cohort size of 28-32 participants
- Initial 360-degree feedback, Myers-Briggs Type personality type indicator (MBTI), Thomas Kilmann Conflict Instrument, and Emotional Intelligence assessments
- Personal coaching (2 hours) to review 360-degree feedback and define your specific developmental areas
- Leadership development plans
- On-the-job assignments to apply learning in the workplace between sessions
- Assigned reading articles to facilitate continuous development
- Sessions hosted virtually, or at NIH Training Center Natcher location
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: $5330
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:
- Self-awareness and fulfilling the leadership function
- Understanding and collaborating with others
- 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 Immediate Steps
Month 2
Session 2: Leading Self I
(2 days)
- Transitioning into Supervisory Roles
- Leadership Styles
- Understanding Personality Types
- Results MBTI Assessment
Month 3
Session 3: Leading Self II
(2 days)
- Emotional Intelligence
- Self-Motivation
- Mindfulness and Resilience
- Results EQI assessment
- Results 360 assessment/ Coaching Appt.
Month 4
Session 4: Working with Others I
(2 days)
- Personal Effectiveness
- Delegation
- Giving and Receiving Feedback
- Collaboration and Breaking Down Silos
- Motivating Others
- High Impact Communications
- Results TKI assessment
Month 5
Session 5: Working with Others II
(2 days)
- Matching Story to Context
- Negotiations and Persuasion
- Conflict Management
Month 6
Session 6: Managing Talent
(2 days)
- Building External Coalitions
- Innovation in Public Service
- Situational Leadership
- 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, while considering next career steps.
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 downloadable and fillable application for their own internal vetting process.
Each year we solicit an initial NIH-wide call for nominations for the Mid-level Leadership Program. Our FY25 call will fill up to 6 MLP cohorts (Cohorts 90-95, monthly startups November 2024 to April 2025). Thereafter, up to four more cohorts may be offered through an additional call for nominations depending on demand. We will update this page with that information by March 2025.
FY25 MLP Nomination Key Dates
- The FY25 Deadline for Nominations has passed.
- Please contact your IC's nominations POC for the Mid-level Leadership Program for any questions regarding your IC's specific plans, application process and requirements.
- IC funding is required.
Cohort Schedules
To support the ongoing interest in both fully-virtual and blended cohorts, both platforms will continue to be offered in 2025. Please note with blended series that designated sessions will be either fully-virtual or fully in-person. Cohort schedules are published on this website while also announced with the fall call for nominations.
NOTE: Bold dates are fully in-person
Cohort 90 – Blended
| Orientation | November 12, 2024 | 9am - 3pm | Virtual |
| Session 2 | December 03-04, 2024 | 8:30am - 4:30pm | Natcher |
| Session 3 | January 07-08, 2025 | 8:30am - 4:30pm | Virtual |
| Session 4 | January 28-29, 2025 | 8:30am - 4:30pm | Virtual |
| Session 5 | February 25-26, 2025 | 8:30am - 4:30pm | Natcher |
| Session 6 | March 25-26, 2025 | 8:30am - 4:30pm | Natcher |
| Session 7 | April 22-23, 2025 | 8:30am - 4:30pm | Virtual |
| Next Steps Workshop | August 06, 2025 | 8:30am - 4:30pm | Natcher |
Cohort 91 – Virtual
| Orientation | December 12, 2024 | 9am - 3pm | Virtual |
| Session 2 | January 02-03, 2025 | 8:30am - 4:30pm | Virtual |
| Session 3 | January 30-31, 2025 | 8:30am - 4:30pm | Virtual |
| Session 4 | February 27-28, 2025 | 8:30am - 4:30pm | Virtual |
| Session 5 | March 27-28, 2025 | 8:30am - 4:30pm | Virtual |
| Session 6 | April 24-25, 2025 | 8:30am - 4:30pm | Virtual |
| Session 7 | May 29-30, 2025 | 8:30am - 4:30pm | Virtual |
| Next Steps Workshop | September 12, 2025 | 8:30am - 4:30pm | Virtual |
Cohort 92 – Blended
| Orientation | January 14, 2025 | 9am - 3pmd | Virtual |
| Session 2 | February 04-05, 2025 | 8:30am - 4:30pm | Natcher |
| Session 3 | March 04-05, 2025 | 8:30am - 4:30pm | Virtual |
| Session 4 | April 01-02, 2025 | 8:30am - 4:30pm | Virtual |
| Session 5 | May 06-07, 2025 | 8:30am - 4:30pm | Natcher |
| Session 6 | May 27-28, 2025 | 8:30am - 4:30pm | Natcher |
| Session 7 | June 24-25, 2025 | 8:30am - 4:30pm | Virtual |
| Next Steps Workshop | October 08, 2025 | 8:30am - 4:30pm | Natcher |
Cohort 93 – Virtual
| Orientation | February 13, 2025 | 9am - 3pm | Virtual |
| Session 2 | March 06-07, 2025 | 8:30am - 4:30pm | Virtual |
| Session 3 | April 03-04, 2025 | 8:30am - 4:30pm | Virtual |
| Session 4 | May 08-09, 2025 | 8:30am - 4:30pm | Virtual |
| Session 5 | May 29-30, 2025 | 8:30am - 4:30pm | Virtual |
| Session 6 | June 26-27, 2025 | 8:30am - 4:30pm | Virtual |
| Session 7 | July 24-25, 2025 | 8:30am - 4:30pm | Virtual |
| Next Steps Workshop | November 07, 2025 | 8:30am - 4:30pm | Virtual |
Cohort 94 – Blended
| Orientation | March 11, 2025 | 9am - 3pm | Virtual |
| Session 2 | April 01-02, 2025 | 8:30am - 4:30pm | Natcher |
| Session 3 | May 06-07, 2025 | 8:30am - 4:30pm | Virtual |
| Session 4 | May 27-28, 2025 | 8:30am - 4:30pm | Virtual |
| Session 5 | June 24-25, 2025 | 8:30am - 4:30pm | Natcher |
| Session 6 | July 22-23, 2025 | 8:30am - 4:30pm | Natcher |
| Session 7 | August 19-20, 2025 | 8:30am - 4:30pm | Virtual |
| Next Steps Workshop | December 03, 2025 | 8:30am - 4:30pm | Natcher |
Cohort 95 – Virtual
| Orientation | April 17, 2025 | 9am - 3pm | Virtual |
| Session 2 | May 08-09, 2025 | 8:30am - 4:30pm | Virtual |
| Session 3 | May 29-30, 2025 | 8:30am - 4:30pm | Virtual |
| Session 4 | June 26-27, 2025 | 8:30am - 4:30pm | Virtual |
| Session 5 | July 24-25, 2025 | 8:30am - 4:30pm | Virtual |
| Session 6 | August 21-22, 2025 | 8:30am - 4:30pm | Virtual |
| Session 7 | September 18-19, 2025 | 8:30am - 4:30pm | Virtual |
| Next Steps Workshop | January 09, 2026 | 8:30am - 4:30pm | Virtual |
Contact Information
For additional information, please contact us at NIHTrainingCenter@nih.gov.