Advanced Public Sector Policy and Strategy Development (3-days) online course

This three-day programme equips public sector leaders with essential skills in strategic leadership, policy development, and stakeholder engagement. Participants will learn to set clear goals, use the ‘policy cycle’ for effective policymaking, and evaluate complex contexts. The course also covers navigating political environments, resolving conflicts, and engaging stakeholders. Additionally, attendees will develop expertise in evidence-based analysis, monitoring policy implementation, and fostering a strong risk culture to ensure resilient and sustainable results.

Day — 1 Setting the right direction: Strategic vision and planning

• The importance of goals and objectives: Setting meaningful objectives
• The importance of a structured approach: Understanding and using the ‘policy cycle’ to develop robust policies
• The importance of understanding your context: Evaluating complex contextual factors

Day — 2 Politics and the public sector

• Aligning and resolving conflict between political objectives, conflicting demands and incompatible priorities.
• Civil servants working directly with elected/appointed Ministers
• Engaging with Stakeholders

Day — 3 The importance of a strategic approach

• Analysis of evidence
• Monitoring and evaluating policy implementation
• Risk management and risk culture

Course Review

• Summary and recap of key learning objectives
• Action Planning

• Permanent Secretaries, Cabinet Secretaries and all Civil Servants.
• C-Suite Officers and Chairpersons of Non-profit organisations and Charities.
• Senior Public Sector Officers who work directly to lead Politicians.
• Elected and appointed Policymakers, Managers, and Planners in Governments, Public Agencies, and Non-profit organisations.
• City Council Members, Mayors, City Managers, Administrators, and Planners.
• Senior officers who work with Public Services to achieve broader community outcomes, e.g., Public Health and Well-being, Economic Development, and Community Relations.
• Police Chiefs, Fire Chiefs, and their staff.
• School Board Members, Administrators, and staff.
• Board Members and Company Secretaries.
• Non-executive Directors
• Directors, Deputy Directors, and Senior Managers.
• Heads of Departments
• Transformation Leaders
• Change Managers
• CSR and Sustainability Managers and staff.
• Risk Managers and professionals.
• Community Relations Managers and Executives.
• Health, Safety and Environmental Managers and officers.
• Legal and Compliance Managers and professionals.
• Managers and staff who wish to develop responsible strategic practices.
• Managers and staff concerned with influencing or implementing organisational strategies.
• Those who wish to capitalise on and grasp all strategic opportunities for their organisations.
• Those who wish to promote the strategic success of their organisation.

• Set meaningful policy objectives that support successful delivery
• Use a structured approach to developing effective policy
• Analyse the contextual factors that affect your policy area effectively
• Understand, anticipate, and facilitate resolution of conflicts between competing agendas
• Successfully negotiate your responsibility as an impartial civil servant
• Develop and use a stakeholder map to create a comprehensive stakeholder engagement plan
• Assess, use, and communicate the value of high-quality evidence
• Design a robust monitoring and evaluation framework
• Develop an appropriate risk register