Twice each year, the Massachusetts Municipal Human Resources association offers the Supervisory Leadership Development Program (SLDP) for local government managers and employees.

The interactive learning opportunity is for municipal employees to develop and refine the knowledge, skills and abilities needed for effective supervision while also sharing their own knowledge and experience.

This spring, the training program will be held in-person as three full-day sessions. The training will take place at the Flint Public Library, 1 S Main St., Middleton, on March 27, April 3 and April 10. All sessions will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Attendance of all sessions is required to receive a Certificate of Completion.

The program represents a collaboration of the MMHR, the Collins Center for Public Management at UMass Boston, and the Department of Workplace Learning and Development at UMass Amherst. The class-style program is open to any municipal staff or manager interested in developing or strengthening their management or supervisory skills, particularly as supervisors in a unionized environment. It is applicable to many municipal departments, such as administration, conservation, facilities, finance, human resources, public safety and public works.

The program will focus on skills and strategies for managing self, managing others, managing the work, and managing the system. Specifically, it will cover:

• self-awareness and work styles
• communication and feedback
• respectful workplace practices
• planning, delegating, and employee engagement
• coaching and performance management
• progressive discipline and labor relations

Please note, each session will include independent prep work.

The class can accommodate up to 26 students, and the cost is $900. In an effort to make the SLDP more inclusive and accessible, the MMHR Board and UMass Collins Center have elected to implement a limit of no more than three course participants per municipality. This will make more spots available to a broader range of communities. Information about registration will be available soon. Payment is due to MMHR, 3 Center Plaza, Suite 610, Boston, MA 02108.

The application process is first-come, first-served, but participants will be vetted. If you have questions about the registration process, contact Anneke Craig at acraig@mma.org or 617-426-7272

Cancellation policy: Refunds will be issued only upon written request for all cancellations received by August 27, 2024. After this date you will be obligated to pay, regardless of attendance.