Chief Program Officer

Organizational Overview:

CASA-NYC is a volunteer-based, not-for-profit organization that advocates for children and youth involved in New York City’s child welfare system. Our mission is to ensure that their needs are met and rights protected, and that children in foster care move quickly into safe, stable, nurturing, and permanent homes - with their families of origin whenever possible.

The children, youth, and families we serve have been impacted by intergenerational trauma, structural racism, and chronic poverty. We are actively working to fully integrate trauma-informed, anti-racist principles into our work. We partner with family members and their allies to support them in overcoming barriers to safety, stability, family reunification, and equitable outcomes.

We are committed to advancing racial justice and value the dynamism and perspective that staff diversity and inclusion bring to the work and culture of our organization. We strive to promote behaviors, attitudes, and policies that enable us to work inclusively and effectively in cross-cultural situations with clients, co-workers, and community partners. We actively recruit and seek to grow and maintain a staff that is diverse along many axes, including but not limited to race, ethnicity, and national origin; disability; socioeconomic background; and sexual orientation and gender identity; and to develop pathways to leadership opportunities for people from historically oppressed populations and people with lived experience in child welfare and other systems impacting the people we serve.

Position Description:

CASA-NYC seeks an experienced, dynamic, and mission-driven Chief Program Officer (CPO) to lead its advocacy programs and oversee all aspects of program strategy, supervision, evaluation, and innovation. This is a newly created position on a team that has seen significant growth in recent years. The CPO will guide and support a team of approximately 20 members of our program staff, including three program directors who will report directly to the CPO. They will ensure the highest quality advocacy for children and youth in foster care, at high risk of foster care placement, and transitioning from foster care. Reporting to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), the CPO is a key member of the senior leadership team and will work in close collaboration with CASA-NYC’s CEO, Chief Development Officer and Chief Operating Officer, as well as external stakeholders, including court personnel, city agencies, and nonprofit partners.

Key Responsibilities:

Organizational Leadership and Strategy:

• Provide strategic leadership for CASA-NYC’s programs, ensuring alignment with organizational mission, values, and goals
• Collaborate with the CEO, board, staff and program participants on long-term program planning and organizational growth, including development and implementation of strategic plans, new program initiatives and strategic partnerships
• Promote and communicate a compelling picture of CASA-NYC’s vision and strategy with the goal of motivating internal and external stakeholders to action
• Play a lead role in the development and implementation and CASA-NYC’s equity and anti-racism strategy, including collaborating with the leadership team to build a just and supportive workplace

Program Management:

• Directly supervise the program leadership team, including the Director of Advocacy, Director of Youth Services and Director of Volunteer Services
• Oversee recruitment, onboarding, training, and supervision practices to maintain a highly skilled and engaged staff and volunteer corps
• Oversee quality assurance and drive continuous improvement, including through the collection and dissemination of relevant program data and setting and monitoring of program goals and metrics
• Ensure compliance with National & State CASA program standards and grant requirements
• Oversee government contracts (currently three) including collaborating with development and fiscal staff on proposals, collaborating with program staff on reporting, and ensuring benchmarks are met
• Arrange/provide program coverage as needed
• Support planning and execution of program-related events and activities including annual volunteer appreciation event and holiday party/gift drive
• Oversee the distribution of small grants for direct client support

External Collaboration and Representation:

• Build and maintain strong relationships with external stakeholders including family court partners, legal service providers, child welfare agencies and community-based service providers and advocacy groups
• Represent CASA-NYC in citywide coalitions, task forces, and advocacy efforts
• Collaborate with the CEO and development & communications department to support fundraising activities, including meeting with individual and corporate donors and assisting with the development of proposals for and metrics for private foundations
• Be knowledgeable about child welfare policies at the city, state and federal level

Qualifications:

• Minimum 10 years of leadership experience in child welfare, youth services, legal advocacy, public interest, and/or related nonprofit leadership roles
• Demonstrated success managing high-performing teams and leading cross-functional program operations
• Exceptional people management and communication skills; the ability to motivate, support, and unify diverse program leaders
• Understanding of NYC services for children, youth and families, including child welfare, juvenile justice, court and related service systems
• Strong organizational, analytical, and strategic thinking skills
• Strong verbal and written communication skills
• Experience and skills in public speaking
• Effective problem-solving and critical thinking skills
• Commitment to CASA-NYC’s mission and values, including a demonstrated commitment to racial justice and equity
• Willingness and ability to work in person at Manhattan office a minimum of 50% of work week, more as needed, including occasional evening hours for events, bi-monthly board meetings and volunteer training
• Willingness and ability to travel throughout NYC including to participate in in-person meetings and hearings in the family courts of each borough
• Master’s degree in social work, law, public administration, or related field preferred
• Fluency in Spanish or other second language a plus

CASA-NYC is an equal opportunity employer and encourages people of color, immigrants, LGBTQ-identified and differently-abled candidates to apply.

Salary ranges from $112,500to $135,000, depending on qualification and experience (higher range includes salary differential for multiple languages, additional degrees and/or training certifications). A competitive benefits package includes a 401(k) retirement plan with generous match, health, dental, vision, flexible spending accounts, pre-tax transit costs and paid time off.

To apply please email jobs@casa-nyc.org with “CPO” in the subject line. Please send a resume and detailed cover letter explaining your interest, passion, and experience, with a specific answer to the following required question:

How have your background and experiences, professional or otherwise, prepared you to contribute to CASA-NYC's ongoing efforts to increase equity and advocate for justice for children and families disproportionately impacted by the child welfare system?

Feel free to think broadly about your response to this question, applying relevant aspects of your life, personal and professional experiences. Please also reference in your cover letter where you saw this posting.

A competitive benefits package includes a 401(k) retirement plan with generous match, health, dental, vision, flexible spending accounts, pre-tax transit costs and paid time off.