Welcome!

Thank you for your Power Learning Series registration.  We are so excited you have looked to PSHRA® to help you grow in your career.

The Power Learning Series offers you a new way to grow your skills without the time commitment of a full course. 

Learners will explore the critical process for ensuring continuity of leadership and maintaining high-quality public services in local government. This course equips department heads, managers, and HR professionals with practical tools and strategies to identify, develop, and retain future leaders within municipal organizations. 

Expected Outcomes

Upon successful completion of the course, participants will be able to:

• Develop a written succession plan tailored to their department or local government unit.
• Build a pool of prepared and capable employees ready to assume leadership roles when vacancies arise.
• Reduce disruptions caused by retirements, promotions, or unexpected staff departures.
• Foster a culture of continuous learning, mentorship, and career growth within the organization.
• Strengthen organizational resilience by ensuring leadership continuity and institutional knowledge retention.

The course will be delivered over three-weeks with one-hour weekly online meetings.

Recertification Points:  PSHRA-5 and HRCI-5

Don’t hesitate to contact us - PSHRA – Debbie Tankersely-Snook, Associate Director, Member Programs, Membership - meetings@pshra.org.

Making public sector work better®.

Course Syllabus

Succession Planning for Local Government explores the critical process for ensuring continuity of leadership and maintaining high-quality public services in local government. This course equips department heads, managers, and HR professionals with practical tools and strategies to identify, develop, and retain future leaders within municipal organizations. Participants will learn how to align workforce planning with organizational needs, build a talent pipeline, and reduce risks associated with turnover or retirements. The program emphasizes both strategic planning and actionable steps that can be immediately applied in a local government setting.  The course will be delivered over three-weeks with one-hour weekly online sessions.

Overview

Through a mix of instruction, applied frameworks, case studies, and guided analysis, participants will strengthen their ability to interpret policy, assess ethical risks, navigate conflicting pressures, and promote cultures rooted in trust and public service values.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this training, participants will be able to:

1. Understand Succession Planning Fundamentals
   • Define succession planning and explain its importance in local government.
   • Differentiate between succession planning and replacement planning.
2. Assess Organizational Readiness
   • Identify critical roles and competencies necessary for organizational sustainability.
   • Analyze workforce demographics, retirement trends, and turnover risks.
3. Develop a Succession Planning Framework
   • Apply methods for identifying high-potential employees.
   • Create development plans and career pathways that prepare staff for advancement.
   • Integrate succession planning into existing HR and performance management processes.
4. Implement Tools and Practices
   • Utilize assessment tools, mentoring programs, and training opportunities to strengthen leadership pipelines.
   • Establish clear policies and communication strategies that foster buy-in across the organization.
5. Measure and Sustain Progress
   • Design key performance indicators (KPIs) to track succession planning effectiveness.
   • Adapt plans to meet evolving community needs, legal requirements, and workforce challenges.

Expected Outcomes

Upon successful completion of the course, participants will be able to:

• Develop a written succession plan tailored to their department or local government unit.
• Build a pool of prepared and capable employees ready to assume leadership roles when vacancies arise.
• Reduce disruptions caused by retirements, promotions, or unexpected staff departures.
• Foster a culture of continuous learning, mentorship, and career growth within the organization.
• Strengthen organizational resilience by ensuring leadership continuity and institutional knowledge retention.

The course will be delivered over three-weeks with 3 one-hour weekly online meetings.

Please let us know if you run into any problems or have questions as soon as possible.  We want to make sure you are to have the best possible learning experience.  

All your course materials will be found on your course dashboard.

Course Design:

The course will be delivered over three-weeks with three one-hour sessions per week.  You will receive details about the dates, times, and the URL for your course meetings

Time Commitment:

Plan for 1 hour for each online lesson to read, complete activities, and prepare for course meetings. Individuals have varying learning paces, so it might take more or less time for each person. We recommend completing lessons a day or two before the course meeting to allow time for reflection on what you've learned and the development of your plans. All course materials are included on your course dashboard (no textbook is required).

Meetings and Discussions:

• Course Cohort Meetings take place in Zoom Events – You will access them through your course "Content Tab."
• Course Discussion Board take place in Your Course’s Engage Community – You will access the Engage Community through your course "Content Tab."

Course Meeting Session Schedule (subject to change):

• Start Date: 3/30/2026
• Completion Date: 4/13/2026
• Meeting 1:  3/30/2026 - 12:00  - 1:00 pm ET
• Meeting 2:  4/6/2026 - 12:00 - 1:00 pm ET
• Meeting 3:  4/13/2026 - 12:00 - 1:00 pm ET

Certificate of Attendance:  You will earn a Certificate of Completion upon completion of the course.

Cancellation Policy:  Professional Development Cancelation Policy

Recertification Points:  PSHRA-5 and HRCI-5

Making public sector work better®.