Chief Program Officer (CPO)

Reports to Chief Executive Officer (CEO) | Location: New York, NY | Full-time, exempt

About the Role

The Chief Program Officer (CPO) is a senior executive leader accountable to the Chief Executive Officer and Board of Directors for the overall performance, quality, compliance, sustainability, and growth of the organization’s programs and services. The CPO ensures that all New York programs—including Residential, Community, Clinical, and Self-Directed Services Programs—advance the mission, strategic priorities, and long-term vision approved by the Board. The CPO provides enterprise-level leadership, translates Board-approved strategy into operational execution, manages organizational risk, and drives programmatic innovation and growth while maintaining regulatory excellence and fiscal discipline.

The CPO directly oversees a New York-based senior leadership team that includes the Senior Vice President of Residential Services, Vice President of Community Services, Senior Vice President of Self-Directed Program Services, and Vice President of Clinical Services.

Board-Level Accountabilities

• Serve as a key executive partner to the CEO in supporting the Board of Directors’ fiduciary, strategic, and oversight responsibilities.
• Provide regular, accurate, and transparent reporting to the CEO and Board on program performance, outcomes, risks, compliance status, and strategic initiatives.
• Ensure all programs operate in full compliance with federal, state, funding, certification, and licensing requirements, proactively identifying and mitigating risk.
• Advance Board-approved strategic plans by leading programmatic growth, service expansion, and innovation initiatives.
• Ensure organizational readiness for audits, regulatory reviews, and external evaluations.
• Uphold and model ethical leadership, human rights protections, and organizational values across all services.

Responsibilities

Executive Leadership and Strategy

• Provide enterprise-wide leadership and direction to all program and clinical operations.
• Partner with the CEO and executive team to develop, implement, and monitor multi-year strategic plans and growth initiatives.
• Translate Board-level strategy into measurable operational goals, outcomes, and performance metrics.
• Identify emerging service needs, funding opportunities, and strategic partnerships that support long-term sustainability.
• Collaborate with executive peers across Finance, Human Resources, Information Technology, Quality Improvement, and Planning to ensure organizational alignment.

Program Oversight and Quality

• Ensure consistent delivery of high-quality, person-centered services aligned with the organization’s mission and values.
• Lead a continuous quality improvement framework that uses data, performance metrics, and stakeholder feedback to drive excellence.
• Ensure meaningful engagement with individuals receiving services and their families to inform quality and service design.
• Oversee licensure, human rights protections, clinical integrity, and program standards across all services.

Financial Stewardship and Risk Management

• Prepare and manage the annual operating budget for programs in partnership with the CEO and CFO.
• Ensure financial sustainability of all programs and service lines through sound fiscal management and performance monitoring.
• Identify and mitigate operational, financial, and compliance risks impacting program performance.
• Support Board-level financial oversight by providing clear reporting on programmatic financial performance.

Leadership and Talent Development

• Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing executive and senior management team, including Program Directors, Regional Directors, and the Vice President of Clinical Services.
• Ensure effective succession planning, leadership development, and retention strategies for program leadership roles.
• Foster a culture of accountability, transparency, collaboration, and continuous learning.

Skills

• Strategic and enterprise leadership: Translates mission and Board-approved priorities into long-range strategies that drive organizational growth, sustainability, and high-quality service delivery.
• Operational oversight of complex, multi-site programs: Leads diverse residential, community, and self-directed service lines with consistency, efficiency, and disciplined execution.
• Regulatory compliance and risk stewardship: Ensures full adherence to federal, state, licensing, and funding requirements while proactively identifying and mitigating organizational risk.
• Continuous quality improvement and performance analytics: Uses enterprise-level data, KPIs, dashboards, and stakeholder feedback to evaluate outcomes, monitor risk, improve service quality, and guide evidence-based operational and strategic decisions.
• Financial acumen and resource management: Oversees program budgets, monitors financial performance, and ensures responsible stewardship of assets and funding streams.
• Governance partnership and Board engagement: Provides transparent, data-driven reporting to the CEO and Board; supports informed governance and strategic oversight.
• Cross-functional collaboration and organizational alignment: Works seamlessly with Finance, HR, IT, Quality, and Planning to ensure coordinated operations and unified organizational direction.
• Leadership development and talent cultivation: Builds and mentors a high-performing leadership team; advances succession planning, coaching, and professional development.
• Change management and organizational adaptability: Leads complex change initiatives with clarity and engagement; strengthens culture, resilience, and operational consistency.
• Executive communication and stakeholder engagement: Communicates with clarity and professionalism; builds strong relationships with individuals served, families, staff, regulators, and community partners.

Requirements

• Minimum 10 years of progressive professional experience, including at least 5 years in senior executive or enterprise-level leadership overseeing complex, multi-site human services or healthcare programs.
• Advanced degree in Human Services related field, Business or Public Administration.
• Demonstrated experience collaborating with and supporting Boards of Directors.
• Proven success leading strategic planning and organizational growth initiatives.
• Experience managing organizational risk and ensuring strong governance practices.
• Demonstrated ability to drive performance through data-informed decision-making.

Benefits

• 401(k)
• Dental Insurance
• Flexible schedule
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Referral program
• Tuition reimbursement
• Vision insurance

Pay

$200,000 - $210,000/yr.