Management Certificate Program (MCP)

The Management Certificate Program (MCP) is a flagship professional development opportunity designed to prepare Commonwealth managers to lead with purpose, navigate complex challenges, and drive meaningful results in public service. Grounded in the Public Service Leadership Model—Becoming Self-Aware, Engaging Others, Leading Change, and Achieving Results—the program equips participants with essential competencies to enhance organizational effectiveness and positively impact the communities they serve.

This program is designed for self-motivated managers who are committed to their own growth and to the success of their agency or secretariat. Through a thoughtfully structured curriculum that blends virtual and in-person sessions, participants will learn from Subject Matter Experts (SMEs), collaborate with peers from across the Executive Department, and apply their learning in real time through a hands-on capstone project aligned with agency priorities.

The 2026-2027 MCP requires participants to attend eight virtual sessions, two in-person sessions, and an in-person orientation over an eight-month period, followed by an in-person graduation in June. Participants are expected to commit approximately 8 hours per month to training and peer networking, in addition to the time needed to plan and implement their project.

Admission to the program is competitive and requires submission of an application. Applications for the 2026-2027 program will be open from July 20, 2026 through August 14, 2026.

Schedule – cohorts are on Wednesdays and Thursdays from 9am – 12pm. Held Virtually on Zoom. Each participant is assigned a cohort but can attend any of the dates available if their cohort date does not work for that class.  

Evaluations – we want to gather data from participants so we can measure success – improvement, behavior, learning, learning transfer, impact, etc.  we will do a pre and post program assessment, evaluations after each class, and one at the end of the program and then 3-months, 6-months, and a year post program.

Assessments – the MCP uses the DiSC behavioral assessment, which is administered in the beginning of the program.

Eight classes will be held virtually on Zoom. Two classes will be held in-person – location and dates TBD. Below are the core topics covered in this program:

• Achieving Results in State Government
• DiSC: Deepen Your Understanding of Yourself and Others
• Strategic Thinking and Planning for Leaders
• Effective Problem Solving
• Project Management Fundamentals
• Crucial Conversations
• Leading Others Through Change
• Organizational Culture
• Facilitative Leadership for Inclusive Teams
• Coaching and Developing Others

_{*Adapted from the Public Service Leadership Model: Public Service Leadership Model • Partners}