Chief Program Officer at West Side Federation for Senior and Supportive Housing

About the Role

The Chief Program Officer (CPO) plays a critical leadership role in advancing and optimizing WSFSSH's social services programs for residents and the Older Adult Centers' participants. The CPO provides strategic oversight of the services in WSFSSH's residential portfolio, including our shelter, supportive, independent and congregate care housing programs as well as WSFSSH's three Older Adult Centers.

Key Responsibilities

• Steward WSFSSH's program strategy through direct oversight of shelter services, supportive housing residential services, including case management, cross-building programs, and evidence-based models utilizing a trauma-informed approach and a client-centered focus.
• Ensure that WSFSSH is well positioned to develop, identify, and implement new programs that address critical needs or gaps in services to the community.
• Understand whom the agency is serving, how its programs are structured and funded, how money is being spent, and what it costs to deliver high-quality services efficiently.
• Present impact data and implications to executive leadership ensuring that stewardship of funded programs is supported and advanced by evidenced outcomes.
• Strengthen systems for communication and data collection to ensure the organization effectively measures programmatic trends, outcomes, and opportunities. Work closely with program and administrative teams to refine how data and impact are tracked, analyzed, and communicated internally and externally.
• Build and cultivate strategic partnerships with other nonprofit groups, community groups and external stakeholders to position WSFSSH as a national leader in older adult supportive housing and programing.
• Oversee and manage all aspects of the programs and initiatives including the coordination, integration and delivery of all programs and related services.
• Establish program success metrics, in partnership with funders and agency stakeholders, design services that drive toward program goals and accelerate tenant participation and progress, and keeps programs scalable, sustainable, agile and resource-efficient.
• Create and monitor transparent, agency-wide data dashboard for use across buildings and programs. Develop and cultivate a data-driven culture prioritizing continuous improvement across different programs and departments.
• In collaboration with the finance team, ensure existing program expenditures are aligned with contractual requirements.
• Promote an environment that embeds diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility, and fully integrates these values into the organizational culture. Foster a workplace culture that inspires high-level performance, collaboration, accountability, and professional and respectful interactions; embeds best practices for effective feedback and communication at all levels of staff engagement.
• Develop leadership capacity by delegating accountability and building internal pathways for staff growth and advancement.
• In partnership with the finance team, ensure program budgets, financial systems, and planning strategies support fiscal stability and accurately reflect the organization's financial realities.

Required Skills and Experience

• Minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible experience in the human services sector, including in a leadership capacity.
• Significant knowledge regarding programs and services for an aging population is required.
• Bachelor's degree required; relevant master's degree is preferred. A social work background is required and licensure (LMSW or LCSW) is a plus.
• Demonstrated experience in program innovations, supervision, clinical oversight, funders relationships and fiscal management.
• Expertise in developing and monitoring metrics to measure programmatic outcomes for homeless services, mental health/substance abuse services, housing services or other related fields.
• Excellent writing and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to collaborate with a dynamic leadership team to manage within a rapidly growing organization.
• Strong community relationships in New York City, across government sectors, preferably with an emphasis on health and human services.
• Adaptable and able to multitask and work within a fast-moving environment, while also driving toward clarity and solutions.
• Demonstrated resourcefulness in setting priorities and guiding investment in people and systems with the greatest quality and impact.
• Proven success leading senior teams and large, diverse staff groups while fostering an inclusive, collaborative, and mission-driven organizational culture. A leader who inspires trust, encourages teamwork, and develops high-performing talent.
• Experience managing complex budgets and programs supported by government contracts and philanthropic funding, with a strong understanding of compliance, reporting, and blended funding models.
• Intermediate level Excel and PowerPoint; good working knowledge of Word.

Additional Details

This role requires four days in person with one day remote. Local travel to sites within Manhattan and the Bronx are necessary.

Benefits

• Medical insurance
• Free/low-cost vision and dental insurance
• Paid time off includes 11 paid holidays and 24 vacation days
• 403(b) retirement plan, 3% employer match
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Employer paid benefits including life, accidental death, EAP, disability and HRA
• Employee paid voluntary benefits including FSA/DCA, commuter and STD
• Parental leave, 6 weeks paid 100% pay

Equal Employment Opportunity

WSFSSH is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EEO); employment is based on qualifications, without discrimination on the basis of race, creed, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, military status, citizenship status, genetic predisposition or carrier status, or any other protected characteristics as established by law.