Transformers in the Public Sector Cohort

Building on Success, Expanding Impact

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The inaugural cohort — with participants from Arizona, California, Colorado, Louisiana, and Utah — demonstrated the power of collaboration in breaking down barriers and creating equitable opportunities for all workers, including those Skilled Through Alternative Routes (STARs). States piloted new approaches to expand economic mobility, strengthen government workforces, and increase access to careers in public service. Building on this success, Transformers in the Public Sector launched the 2026 cohort with two tracks and an expanded focus on leaders across all levels of government.

The Transformers in the Public Sector Cohort launched in January 2026, and applications are now closed for 2026. If you are interested in joining the next Transformers in the Public Sector Cohort, join the STARs Public Sector Hub and stay tuned for application timelines later in the year.

Track 1 — 2026

State of Arizona
State of Colorado
State of Louisiana
State of Maine
State of New Mexico
State of Ohio
State of Utah
Commonwealth of Virginia
State of Washington
State of West Virginia
CapMetro in Austin, Texas

Track 2 — 2026

Alaska Department Of Natural Resources
State of California
State of Illinois
State of Wyoming

Overview of Cohort Tracks

Track 1: Technical Assistance

Teams receive:

Tailored coaching and implementation support from a dedicated team of experts
Recurring coaching sessions to address challenges, share best practices, and deliver customized guidance
Hands-on support such as reviewing job descriptions, stakeholder surveys, and workforce data
Exposure to a network of peers working on similar challenges

Track 2: Skills-Based Foundations

Designed for public sector teams actively driving implementation of skills-based practices in priority roles: budget/finance (including auditing and procurement), HR/data analysis, or IT/cybersecurity. Designed for teams from any level of government seeking foundational skills-based expertise.

Participants gain:

Foundational training and leadership development
Peer learning opportunities and access to expert resources
Practical tools for implementing skills-first practices in their agencies
Optional participation in in-person convenings

FAQs

Members of Opportunity@Work’s Public Sector Hub–applicants may sign up here for free if not already a member
Public sector teams seeking professional development and a foundation in skills-based talent practices, OR
Teams of government implementers with some authority to change HR policy across a department, agency or entire city, county, or state government workforce
Those with little to no prior exposure to skills-based talent practices, OR
Those with significant experience implementing skills-based talent practices seeking support to drive systems change

Track 2 will provide a basic set of quarterly webinars on foundational topics in skills-based talent practices in the public sector, such as measuring adoption, building skills-first job descriptions, sourcing STARs talent, and using assessments. It will further provide participants access to tools and resources from Opportunity@Work’s Public Sector Hub and insights and personal connection with field leaders who are already driving successful adoption skills-based talent practices. Participants will build a national network of fellow government leaders committed to skills-based talent practices.

Track 1 will guide teams through a structured implementation pilot to integrate a skills-based lens into talent practices for target roles: budget/finance, HR/data analyst, or IT/cyber. Each Track 1 team will be paired with an implementation coaching team composed of staff from Opportunity@Work and The Volcker Alliance.

The coaching team’s primary role is to provide a strategic framework for implementing skills-first practices for a set of target roles, while surfacing opportunities for alignment and peer learning with other participating teams. Beyond strategic guidance, teams will also have access to hands-on support from their coaches. For example, coaching teams may:

Draft, edit, or review marketing materials and position descriptions to use skills-based language
Draft, edit, or review stakeholder surveys (e.g., for HR staff or hiring managers)
Connect teams with relevant partners, subject-matter experts, or tools
Support data analysis or internal benchmarking to evaluate adoption of skills-based practices across government
Provide sourcing support to identify promising talent pools of STARs

The cohort runs from January 2026 to January 2027, with quarterly virtual programming. Teams participating in Track 1 will be expected to join an additional set of individual or small-group conversations and advance key deliverables between meetings. All cohort participants–regardless of Track–will be invited to in-person convenings, including a program kick-off and conclusion which are required for Track 1. Applications are closed for 2026. If you are interested in joining the next Transformers in the Public Sector cohort, join the STARs Public Sector Hub and stay tuned for application timelines later in the year.