TCI’s Core Competencies Release Party 🎉

Elevating Implementation Support Practitioners

June 4, 2024 | 12:00 PM ET | Convert to your time zone

Join us to celebrate the release of our NEW core competencies for implementation support practitioners!

We’ve been referring to 2 sets of core competencies for implementation practice for several years: our Core Competencies for Implementation Practice, and the Implementation Support Practitioner Competencies developed by Allison Metz and colleagues. 

As we’ve been working more and more with people who are occupying and emphasizing the implementation support practitioner role, we realized that developing a new set of core competencies (drawing primarily from those 2 key sources) would help to reflect the full scope of skills that implementation support practitioners need.

Shifting the role of the implementation support practitioner more into the spotlight has been a priority for us for us over the last several years: We launched our Implementation Support Specialist certificate program in 2022, held a joint event on Supporting the Implementation Support Practitioner with the Collaborative for Implementation Practice, and are now releasing this exciting new set of core competencies specifically for this role.

What’s an implementation support practitioner? 

If you’re hearing this term for the first time, you might be an implementation support practitioner and not even know it!

This role supports others in implementing change initiatives (for example, programs or policies). But because implementation support practitioners can be in any sector, industry, or level of the system, there are many different job titles that this role can fall under.

Their work often involves capacity building, coaching, helping with problem-solving, developing tools/resources, or engaging in quality assurance.

Often, these professionals have expertise in the topic area they’re working in (e.g., public health, education, social services, cancer), but are relatively new to implementation science. 

Why are the core competencies important?


For individuals

  • Validate the great work you’re already doing 

  • Identify your strengths and areas for improvement 

  • Direct your career path and skill development 

  • Inspire your organization to fund your professional development 

  • Help you reflect on aspects of your work that involve supporting implementation 

  • Support your personal growth objectives 



For leaders and organizations

  • Develop new positions and role descriptions 

  • Inform hiring processes by outlining the competencies professionals need to have 

  • Build and leverage training programs

  • Help you find new ways to support your staff in furthering their careers

And, perhaps most importantly, these competencies acknowledge and recognize the skills that many implementation support practitioners have, which are often undervalued.  

Our goal with these competencies is to elevate the aspects of the implementation support practitioner role to highlight what makes these professionals good at their jobs. 

Who should attend?

  • Anyone who currently has an implementation support role (regardless of their job title) 

  • Anyone who is looking for a career in supporting implementation 

  • Leaders and managers who want to build or hire implementation support expertise on their teams 

  • Researchers who have an implementation support role or want to partner with professionals who are supporting implementation

It doesn’t matter what field you’re in — we’ll be exploring core competencies for implementation support in general, not core competencies within a particular field. 

At this event, you’ll learn:

  • How to better define the role of the implementation support practitioner 

  • The underlying competencies and support functions that an implementation support practitioner should embody 

  • The different uses for the core competencies to help build teams, set career trajectories, and adequately train people in the field 

  • A simple way to self-assess your competencies and options for building capacity 

New resources on core competencies

We can’t wait to share the 3 linked resources we’ve developed for different audiences. 

White Paper

Core Competencies and Functions of Implementation Support Practitioners

Purpose: Describes how we developed the competencies and functions

Who’s it for? Researchers and others who want to understand the methods we used to develop the competencies, and are looking for a citation for implementation support practitioner competencies.

To be released on May 23! 

PDF Resource

TCI’s Implementation Support Core Competencies and Functions

Purpose: Describes each of the competencies and functions in a practical and accessible way 

Who’s it for? Anyone interested in competencies, including those who are looking to advance their own knowledge and skills, as well as organizations and leaders.

To be released live at our event!

Online Quiz

TCI’s Implementation Support Core Competencies and Functions: Self-Evaluation

Purpose: Provides a way to self-evaluate competencies and functions, plus set priorities for moving forward 

Who’s it for? Anyone interested in reflecting on their unique relationship to each competency and function as well as learning about training options to strengthen those that could be improved 

To be demonstrated live at our event! 

You might be wondering…

  • It’s happening online via Zoom on June 4, 2024 at 12:00 PM ET! Click here to view the event time in your own time zone. We recommend joining on a desktop computer or laptop to take part in the interactive activities, but you’re also welcome to join by phone or the Zoom mobile app.

  • Yes! Register and you’ll receive access to the recording 48 hours after the event.

  • We’re sorry you won’t be able to attend live. We acknowledge our global audience and strive to make our offerings accessible around the world. Given that the majority of our audience is available around this time, we've chosen the Eastern Time Zone but recognize that it's not a convenient time for everyone. Therefore, we’ll make the recording available within 48 hours. We hope you find value in viewing the recording.

  • Yes! If you register to receive the event recording or are on our mailing list, you’ll be sent the direct link to download the PDF resource after the event. It will also be accessible on our website under “Resources” -> “Toolbox”. You’ll find the quiz available on our website as well!!

  • Our first set of core competencies focused heavily on the technical skills of implementation, and the Implementation Support Practitioner Competencies developed by Allison Metz and colleagues focus on the relational aspects of implementation (like co-creation). Our new set of core competencies balances these out.

    We also developed the new core competencies to distinguish between Level 1 implementation support specialists who have foundational implementation support skills, and Level 2 implementation support specialists who have more advanced knowledge and skills. (See our Certificate Program for more on these levels.)

  • Sign up using the form below! You’ll receive a confirmation email with the Zoom link as well as an option to add the event to your calendar. (If you don’t see the email in your inbox, please check your spam/junk folder. If you have any issues, get in touch with us.)

    We’ll also send you reminder emails closer to the event.

  • Not at all! Feel free to just show up. All are welcome.


    But if you’re interested in getting acquainted with some of the topics we’ll be exploring, here are a few related resources:

  • Great question! We strongly encourage you to invite your friends and colleagues to participate! Feel free to share this registration page with them.

    If you're on a computer, you'll see different sharing icons on the left side and at the bottom of the page. Select your preferred sharing method by clicking on the icon of your choice (for example, via social media, email, or copying the URL). You can also click on the last icon to select additional ways to share!

    If you're viewing this page on mobile, you'll see these sharing icons at the bottom of your screen.

Register today!

    By registering, you're providing your consent to be added to TCI’s mailing list. You can unsubscribe anytime.