Vice President of Programs, U.S.

About the role

Location: New York City, NY or Stamford, Connecticut. Travel: Up to 60%. Reports To: Chief Operating Officer (COO). buildOn breaks the cycle of poverty through service (buildon.org). Communities in low-income countries build schools through service. American youth transform their own communities through service and change the world by helping build these schools. As buildOn transitions to a chapter-based model in its U.S. operations, we are seeking a dynamic, mission-driven Vice President of Programs, U.S. This forward-looking role will drive program excellence and innovation across all of buildOn’s U.S. programs. The VP will be a key member of buildOn's Senior Leadership Team and will directly manage the Executive Directors of each chapter on all programmatic matters, as well as the New York Program Director, Connecticut Program Manager, and Director of Community Partnerships. Executive Directors report to the Vice President of Fundraising on fundraising matters. The VP serves as the primary field-facing leader with clear authority over program quality, staff coaching, and chapter accountability to model fidelity across all regions. This is an inspiring opportunity for an ambitious candidate to shape the future of a national youth service movement and amplify buildOn’s impact on students and communities across the country.

Pay

Salary: $120,000 - $145,000

Responsibilities

• Program Methodology Implementation and Accountability: Oversee effective implementation of buildOn's U.S. service-learning methodology across all chapters. Champion fidelity to our program model and core values, and monitor KPIs that measure methodology implementation and effectiveness.
• Regional Strategy & Cross-Chapter Alignment: Set national program priorities and ensure Chapter strategies align with buildOn's overarching vision. Partner with Executive Directors and Program Directors to develop and monitor annual and multi-year program plans, driving accountability through common frameworks and field observations. Holds authority to set program expectations for chapters, require corrective action plans when performance falls short, and approve chapter program plans. Facilitate cross-regional exchange of best practices to build a unified national team.
• Program Leadership & Accountability: Directly manage chapter Executive Directors on programmatic matters, along with the New York Program Director, Connecticut Program Manager, and Director of Community Partnerships. Serve as the primary program quality authority, conducting regular site visits, observing programming, and providing coaching and feedback to regional leadership. Lead the programmatic portion of Executive Director performance reviews in partnership with the Vice President of Fundraising, who leads the fundraising portion. This is a hands-on, field-based leadership role, not an advisory one.
• Program Development & Innovation: Drive development of new program initiatives and continuous improvement of existing programs, aligned with buildOn's Theory of Change. Continually refine curriculum and service activities to deepen student impact and respond to evolving school and community needs.
• Data-Driven Impact & Evaluation: Collaborate with buildOn's Data & Impact (M&E) team to measure program outcomes and evaluate impact. Leverage data to inform decision-making, improve curriculum and delivery, and demonstrate results to stakeholders and funders.
• Staff Learning & Development: Lead ongoing professional development of U.S. program staff and regional leaders through training, coaching, and knowledge-sharing initiatives. Foster a culture of continuous improvement and Constructive Leadership development across all program staff.
• Community Partnerships & External Relationships: Manage buildOn's U.S. immersion program through the Director of Community Partnerships, ensuring high-quality experiences that deepen student and donor engagement.
• School District Relationships: Lead and manage school district relationships, including MoUs, vendor status, and related agreements for non-chapter regions (New York City and Connecticut). In established chapters, support Executive Directors in maintaining and renewing district partnerships, providing guidance but deferring primary relationship ownership to the ED.