Chief Program Officer
Background
HOPE has a 40-year track record of empowering New Yorkers to build sustainable futures
through comprehensive training, jobs, advancement and lifelong career support. HOPE is an
outcomes-focused organization. Our student-centered approach, employer-driven training,
wide range of support services, and commitment to ongoing engagement yield strong results,
notably a job placement rate of 75% and retention rates of 92% at 90 days and 81% at
one-year. We are focused on expanding our impact and positioning ourselves for growth while
continuing to enhance the quality of our services and build upon our successful outcomes.
This is an exciting time at HOPE, as we formally celebrate our 40th anniversary year and are
planning a roll-out of our refreshed 5-year strategic plan with a vision of being a Home Of
Prosperity and Empowerment, elevating our commitment to the people who rely on us for
HOPE and to the communities that have been most neglected. We plan to increase the focus
on training New Yorkers for in-demand green jobs that offer the best opportunities for living
wage jobs and career pathways. Our green infrastructure programs will work together
intentionally to reduce ambient temperature, support decarbonization, and improve air quality.
The Position
The HOPE Program is seeking a data-driven, entrepreneurial proven leader to serve as the
Chief Program Officer (CPO). The CPO will be an integral member of the leadership team and
report to the Executive Director. The person will manage a team responsible for our participant
outreach, and program delivery for 500+ students and hundreds of graduates annually
(including classroom-based training covering professional skills, digital and financial literacy,
work wellness and mental health, industry certifications, and sector-based hands-on training),
employment placements, and retention and advancement services in our Bronx and Brooklyn
sites. This person will ensure our five current programs and any future programs launched are
high-quality and cost-effective and that program graduates are prepared for and advance in the
Chiefprogram Officer
labor market in a manner that reflects HOPE’s values, best practices and high standards of
care and accountability.
Responsibilities
● Provide high-quality, consistent supervision to 5-6 direct reports responsible for
Recruitment and Admission, Instruction, Business Development, Internships and
Employment, Wellness and Retention, and Green Infrastructure programs.
● Lead the programmatic strategic planning initiatives, which include programmatic
growth, building partnerships with key employers in in-demand sectors, leading external
consortia of providers, and other initiatives that further HOPE’s highly effective
approach to empowering New Yorkers to build thriving careers.
● Support the development department in fundraising efforts including responses to
RFP’s, explaining programs to potential donors and funders, conducting tours through
programs, presenting program outcomes, and responding to detailed questions
regarding programs and ensuring that programmatic services are delivered and
programmatic goals are met per all foundations’ funding sources.
● Provide regular programmatic reports for inclusion in board packages and presentations
at board meetings.
● Manage HOPE’s relationships with Federal, State and City agencies and ensure
programmatic services are delivered & programmatic goals are met per all government
grants.
● Support the finance department by working with them to create program budgets that
meet program goals, review monthly financial reports to monitor program expenses and
make adjustments when necessary.
● Advance the organization’s commitment to excellence by supporting continuous quality
improvement and creating opportunities for staff members, managers, students and
graduates to actively participate in the improvement process.
● Ensure staff development & training Create and foster a culture of professional
compassion that reflects HOPE’s core values.
● Work to evaluate programming and promote improvement through thorough
measurement, planning, training, and implementation activities.
● Take proactive steps to implement and adapt policies to ensure HOPE adheres to
standards of excellence and remains current with the workforce development field.
● Represent HOPE on relevant external committees, workgroups, and task
forces/coalitions and in fundraising opportunities as appropriate.
● Other duties as assigned.
Chiefprogram Officer
Minimum Qualifications
● Minimum of a Master’s Degree in Business Administration, Public Administration or in
relevant Human Service field such as social work, psychology or counseling, or, in the
absence of such degree, comparable experience and expertise.
● Minimum of 7 years of progressive management experience in relevant fields.
● Thorough knowledge of services, funders and service communities that address issues
faced by HOPE students and graduates, including criminal justice involvement,
addiction, unemployment, mental illness, trauma, and homelessness.
● Knowledge and interest in environmental sustainability.
● Creative, innovative, growth mindset with a demonstrated history of successfully
managing change.
● Demonstrated ability to manage staff and programs.
● Demonstrated ability to develop strategies, business plans and budgets to meet
challenging goals.
● Deep demonstrated commitment to working with a comparable client population, and
to nurturing and developing staff and managers.
● Detail-oriented, well-organized, solutions-oriented, data-driven, outcomes-oriented,
professional, compassionate.
● Demonstrated cultural competence and ability to work effectively and sensitively with
diverse staff and clients.
● Excellent written and oral communication skills, strong computer skills, demonstrated
capacity to use data effectively in planning and management, and strong professional
role modeling.
● Proven ability to analyze financial and program data to assess effectiveness, with strong
experience in generating and interpreting reports. Experience with CRM systems,
particularly Salesforce, is highly preferred. Proficiency with Zoom, Google applications
(Docs, Sheets, Slides), and other data management tools is a plus.
● Strong critical thinking and problem-solving skills, with the ability to identify key issues,
and develop innovative solutions. Capable of making data-informed decisions and
adapting strategies to ensure program success in dynamic environments.
● Demonstrated history of competence in working with government and regulatory
agencies.
Salary/Benefits
The salary range is $120,000 – $140,000 and is dependent upon experience. HOPE provides a
full package of benefits including healthcare and dental insurance, retirement plan, competitive
vacation (plus half-day Fridays during summer which is equal to 7.5 additional vacation days,
and 12 paid holidays.