Strategic alignment is essential for digital transformation in the public sector, enabling more citizen-centric services and cross-organizational collaboration. However, research on alignment has primarily focused on intra-organizational dynamics as part of business-IT alignment, overlooking the broader, continuous nature of alignment in digital transformation. Moreover, while some studies propose practical approaches, there is little concrete design knowledge on what works in practice. This study addresses these gaps through a design-based approach, examining how public sector organizations can develop training programs that foster strategic alignment for digital transformation. Using a four-year action design research (ADR) collaboration, the Digital Leaders Academy was designed, a vocational training initiative that has engaged over 330 senior public sector professionals. The research combines participant-observation, internal documents, field notes, interviews, and surveys to develop a tailored a solution while also generating broader insights. Findings highlight key design principles that facilitate alignment. The research contributions include actionable strategies for improving digital transformation alignment, and offering a deeper insight in alignment for digital transformation.