Chief Programs Officer

Job Purpose/Summary

The Chief Programs Officer (CPO) serves as the executive leader responsible for the vision, quality, and impact of all programmatic work across the organization. As a key member of the senior leadership team, the CPO ensures alignment between program execution, organizational strategy, and long-term growth priorities. This role is uniquely accountable for defining what high-quality programming looks like at scale; translating that vision into clear standards, systems, and supports; and ensuring consistent implementation across all affiliates and teams. The CPO bridges strategy and execution by overseeing executive directors and state program leaders while building the infrastructure necessary to expand impact effectively and sustainably.

Duties and Responsibilities

Management of Affiliate Leadership

• Directly hire, supervise, coach, and develop affiliate Executive Directors, developing each to achieve their professional and organizational goals.

• Guide and oversee affiliate Annual Operating Plans (AOPs), supporting Executive Directors in defining plans to meet the goals determined in collaboration with State Chiefs for annual budget revenue and expenses. Additionally, help Executive Directors in setting ambitious, high-impact, achievable affiliate goals while ensuring ongoing accountability and progress toward results.

• Support annual strategic planning and budgeting processes. Monitor and ensure that responsibilities outlined in State Operations Agreements are being observed in line with those processes.

• Support Executive Directors to define and build affiliate team culture while maintaining state-wide programmatic culture and cohesion.

• Reinforce and elevate programmatic consistency, standards, expectations, and outcomes across all regions.

Management of State Programs Team

• Directly hire, supervise, coach, and develop state programs team leaders (generally directors and above).

• Identify areas of opportunity and gaps in programming and developing programming and staffing strategy to increase programmatic outcomes.

• Guide and oversee state program teams’ Annual Operating Plans (AOPs), supporting state program leaders in setting ambitious, high-impact, achievable goals while ensuring ongoing accountability and progress toward results.

• Support annual strategic planning and budgeting process.

• Build team culture and programmatic cohesion.

Program Standards & Culture

• Define and maintain statewide program standards, including affiliate and accreditation-aligned expectations.

• Establish clear conditions for effective program implementation across diverse communities and sites.

• Build and sustain a strong, cohesive program culture across both affiliate leadership (Executive Directors) and state program teams.

• Ensure alignment between values, expectations, and day-to-day program execution.

Quality, Assessment, & Continuous Improvement

• Define and oversee organization-wide program quality standards and success metrics.

• Define and hold organization-wide program outcomes and impact measures while overseeing role-specific performance expectations held at the state program director level (for ISS, Data, Special Programs, or other roles).

• Continuously and realistically raise the bar for program quality and effectiveness.

• Lead data-driven decision-making by maintaining a consistent pulse on program performance; conducting gap analyses across programs, partnerships, and data systems; and building research-backed and data-driven programmatic best practice recommendations.

• Ensure integrity and completeness of data systems to accurately reflect program impact.

• Partner with the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) on accreditation, assuming ownership over programmatic and data elements, bringing in the state programs team where appropriate.

Strategic Direction & Growth

• Lead organizational strategic planning related to programmatic direction, expansion, deepening, and impact.

• Drive prioritization of initiatives to ensure focus on highest-impact work.

• Partner with CFO and affiliate Executive Directors on budgeting to align financial resources with program strategy.

• Develop and execute growth and expansion plans, including identifying conditions required for successful scale, piloting and modeling new approaches before broader rollout, and packaging CIS programmatic offerings for schools, districts, and counties.

• Translate vision into actionable frameworks that support thoughtful, sustainable program operations at a high quality and expansion in alignment with the organization’s strategic plan.

Operational Alignment & Efficiency

• Partner closely with Operations, HR, and Finance to ensure strong cross-functional alignment.

• Drive consistency and efficiency in policies, procedures, and program implementation systems.

• Develop clear, scalable “packages” of program offerings, including: defined service models (e.g., menu of services), replicable structures for expansion into new regions or contexts, and replicable deepening of services or new programs.

• Ensure the organization has the systems, staffing, and infrastructure required before scaling.

Thought Leadership & Strategic Influence

• Serve as the organization’s leading voice on programmatic strategy, integrated student supports, and dropout prevention, both internally and externally.

• Provide expert guidance to senior leadership, ensuring programmatic decisions are grounded in best practices, data, and field trends.

• Build and maintain strong relationships with national partners, contributing to and shaping broader network strategy and priorities.

• Represent the organization in cross-sector spaces, including with peer executives, funders, and community leaders.

• Identify and cultivate strategic partnerships that strengthen program quality, expand reach, and increase organizational influence.

• Collaborate with internal teams to translate external insights into actionable improvements in programming and strategy.

• Contribute to the organization’s reputation as a leader in education and student support through speaking, writing, and network engagement.

Qualifications and Competencies

Qualifications include:

• 10–15+ years of progressive leadership experience in education, youth development, or nonprofit programming, including significant experience overseeing multi-site or regional programs.

• At least 5+ years’ experience in nonprofit, programmatic, or school leadership roles required, with demonstrated record of success in strategic planning, multi-million dollar budget oversight, people management of large teams, and programmatic oversight.

• Bachelor’s degree required, advanced degree in education, public administration, social work, or a related field preferred.

• Seasoned, experienced management professional. High level of interpersonal and communication skills (written and oral communication) a must.

• Well-connected in education, social service and/or nonprofit community.

• Excellent organizational, training, coordination, strategy and leadership skills.

Competencies include:

• Proven experience managing senior leaders (e.g., Executive Directors, Senior Directors) and leading through layers of management.

• Deep expertise in program design, implementation, and evaluation, particularly in education, dropout prevention, or student support services.

• Demonstrated success driving program strategy, scaling impact, and improving outcomes across diverse communities.

• Experience leading or contributing to organizational strategic planning and translating strategy into execution.

• Strong background in data-driven decision-making, including using data to assess program quality, identify gaps, and drive continuous improvement.

• Experience working in complex, cross-functional environments, with a track record of partnering effectively with operations, finance, HR, and external stakeholders.

Work Environment & Physical Demands

• Work environment is indoors and climate controlled. Maybe exposed to outdoor weather conditions.

• Moderate noise levels as found in a business office and classroom setting.

• Use of own automobile.

• Must be able to pass a criminal background check, possible fingerprinting, and drug screen.

• Travel required across the state as needed

Candidate level of experience and expertise may assess a higher rate.