Chief Program Officer, Families, Youth & Children

Union Settlement is an East Harlem based nonprofit organization founded in 1895. For 128 years, Union Settlement has provided critical and innovative programming to children, youth, families, and older adults. As a pioneer of the settlement house movement, Union Settlement continues to meet the needs of the ever-changing East Harlem community through its core programs. Through these programs, New Yorkers gain opportunities, develop skills, and become empowered to pursue and achieve their dreams. 

Today, Union Settlement provides services through 33 program sites in approximately 28 locations. Union Settlement’s current programmatic portfolio includes 8 core program areas: Early Childhood Education, Youth Services (including after school programs), Family Services (including the Family Enrichment Center and the Family Childcare Network), the East Harlem Community Partnership, Adult Education, Mental Health Services, Older Adult Centers, and Economic Development.  Union Settlement serves more than 10,000 individuals and nearly 1,000 businesses every year. Strengthened by a dynamic, diverse, and collaborative workforce of more than 350 employees, Union Settlement also serves as a connector, convener, and advocate for East Harlem and its partners.  For more information about Union Settlement’s history, programs and mission, please visit our website at www.unionsettlement.org. 

Position:          Chief Program Officer, Families, Youth & Children

Department:    Executive

Reports to:      Chief Executive Officer

Hours:              Full-time, some hybrid/remote flexibility

Salary:              $155,000 - 175,000

FLSA:                Exempt   

Position Summary: 

The Chief Program Officer (CPO), Families, Youth & Children is an outstanding opportunity for a highly motivated executive leader with extensive Program experience to assume a pivotal role in a fast-growing, highly-respected 128-year-old organization. The CPO will partner with the President and CEO and their peers on the senior cabinet on organization-wide strategy and operations. They will drive, manage, and coordinate initiatives that have impact across the agency, assuring positive client outcomes and continuous alignment with Union Settlement’s overarching mission and goals. Working alongside the senior leadership team as a strategic partner, the CPO will evaluate current service offerings and operations to ensure a sustainable model for the future. The CPO must be aware of the current trends in the human services sector and will foster an environment where data, analysis, transparency, and best practices are used to drive sound business and programmatic decisions throughout the agency.

Reporting to the CEO and as a member of the executive team, the Chief Program Officer (CPO), Families, Youth & Children is a thought partner to the CEO to identify, assess, and develop Provider and Family Service Programs ensuring the delivery of high level, quality, and impactful programs in service to Union Settlement’s mission and commitment to the families of East Harlem. The ideal candidate will have a deep passion for social justice and equity for all children, leadership, and relationship-building skills, and strengths in cultural responsiveness, strategic planning and communication, problem-solving, and team development. The individual will have a history of collaborating with diverse groups of internal and external stakeholders to develop impactful partnerships and achieve ambitious outcomes. Additionally, successful candidates will be highly organized with proven business acumen and bring experience leading significant programs in a social services or educational services organization, especially through times of change. They will be energized by building relationships and enlisting supporters for Union Settlement’s mission. The CPO will be an important external representative of Union Settlement with its key constituents and will nurture strong, reliable teams and a healthy, collaborative, and inclusive internal culture that celebrates a diversity of voices and experiences. 

Responsibilities: 

Programmatic Leadership

• Establish key performance indicators across program portfolio and teams, develop data collection strategies and use data to drive impact, strategy and success. 
• Cultivate leadership through modeling values and performance standards, establishing clear standards of excellence and providing opportunities for professional growth and learning. 
• Oversee budgets to maximize efficiency and program impact and identify fundraising needs.
• Establish relationships with families, community leaders and residents, cultivate partnerships and community conversations to inform programs, services, strategy and goals across program areas.  
• Oversee relationships with government partners and foundation program leads.
• Lead and oversee all aspects of Union Settlement’s Families, Youth & Children Programs to realize excellence in programming and compliance with all regulations.
• Work with Directors and leadership team to design and execute strategy to coordinate cohesive delivery of services across multiple sites in East Harlem.
• Lead teams to ensure standardized processes, practices and systems, maximizing technology and best practices in the industry.
• Standardize processes, practices and systems, maximizing technology and best practices in the industry.
• Facilitate open and inclusive dialogue and ensure Board Committee is apprised of key developments and provided opportunities to engage in active support.

Programs Include:

• Early Childhood and Education (ECE)
• Youth Services
• Family Enrichment Center
• Childcare Family Network
• East Harlem Community Partnership
• Community Child Care Connection (C4)

Executive Leadership

• Serve as an active thought partner and leader in developing and executing on the organization’s next phase of growth and strategic planning.
• Work collaboratively to identify opportunities and strategies for greater cohesion to realize organization-wide continuum of services, operating efficiencies and broader community impact.
• Strategize with the executive team on organizational matters, including establishing policies, procedures, practices and systems.
• Support the organization on high-level emerging or urgent issues and response activities and communications pertaining to programs and services in the portfolio.
• Cultivate and lead change management strategies to facilitate leadership transition and organizational growth.
• Serve as a subject matter expert in programmatic areas internally and externally, as a representative of the organization and a leader in the field.
• Support the organization in fundraising and development efforts and Board engagement and awareness around program portfolio.

Organizational Leadership and Management 

• Lead team to develop and execute against multi-year strategic goals and annual workplans.
• In partnership with the CEO and board leadership, lead and manage Union Settlement’s strategic board engagement and stewardship. 
• Foster efficient and effective cross-functional teamwork and results-oriented deliverables. 
• Mentor and coach direct reports and support teams, delegating work streams effectively, fostering professional growth, and motivating and holding team members to a high standard of excellence.
• Model ingenuity in leading the evaluation and development of cost-effective and efficient systems, processes, and contract relationships to maximize staff success and impact. 
• Develop and manage budget for all fundraising and marketing activities across the organization. 
• Proven ability to lead strategic planning, manage team execution against measurable goals and objectives, and develop and manage budgets. 
• Ability to organize and prioritize work of a team and cross-functional organizational colleagues and meet deadlines within a fast-paced environment with competing demands. 
• Demonstrated ability to engage in excellent written and oral communication at all levels in an organization. 
• Ability to recruit, motivate, organize and retain a high-performing and diverse team; ability to foster talent development, growth, learning, and improvement. 
• Motivation and ability to foster diversity, equity, and inclusion. 
• Additional duties as assigned by the CEO.

Qualifications: 

• Commitment to Union Settlement’s mission, vision, and values.
• Evident experience and success building a development infrastructure to achieve reliable, timely and transparent operations and realize strategic and annual goals. 
• Demonstrated commitment and experience with the East Harlem community or similar urban communities of Latin, Caribbean, and African American cultures.
• Demonstrated maturity and leadership with the ability to serve as a collaborative and unifying force across departments and at the executive level.
• Superb interpersonal and communication skills, both written and oral; with the ability to influence and engage a wide range of donors and build long term relationships Proficiency in Salesforce donor management software.
• Strong management, budgeting, and reporting experience.
• Willingness to roll up sleeves to realize goals and have impact.
• Exceptional project management skills.
• Minimum of a bachelor’s degree with specialization in human services, nonprofits management, public administration, education, youth or related field; equivalent combination of experience and education may be considered with extensive specialized experience.
• Minimum of 15 years of progressive, related experience, including leadership roles within Early Childhood Education.  Experience in nonprofits and knowledge of East Harlem are a plus.  Commitment to mission is critical.
• Experience with government partnerships, contracting relationships required, Understanding compliance and performance standards for early childhood education required.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.  Proven ability to navigate internal and external relationships, promote morale and culture.  History of developing and managing teams, setting direction and mentoring talent.
• Honed ability to rapidly problem-solve and identify risks. 
• Ability to prioritize, meet deadlines and manage multiple, ranging responsibilities.
• Self-starter and team-player, nimble and flexible work ethic is a must, optimism and can-do attitude.
• Sound judgment and discretion, empathy and compassion.  History of building trust and cultivating relationships. 
• Experience using data to manage performance and report impact, fluency with Microsoft Excel.
• Networks within East Harlem and New York City are a plus.

UNION SETTLEMENT ASSOCIATION IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER