Chief Program Officer, The Fresh Air Fund

Chief Program Officer, The Fresh Air Fund

Hybrid | New York City | $245,000 - $257,000

About The Fresh Air Fund

The Fresh Air Fund is a youth development organization providing transformative outdoor experiences, at no cost, for New York City children from underserved communities. At six sleepaway camps in New York’s Mid-Hudson Valley, children have new experiences, learn new skills and gain new perspectives. Participants also take part in year-round leadership, career exploration and educational programs. We believe that investing in a child’s journey through life provides an opportunity for young people to learn, grow and thrive in our city and beyond.

Position Overview

The Chief Program Officer (CPO) will provide visionary and strategic leadership for all of The Fresh Air Fund’s programs, including our residential summer camps, year-round youth development initiatives, community outreach, and support services. The CPO will be a key member of the executive leadership team, responsible for aligning all programmatic efforts with the organization’s strategic plan and ensuring the highest quality outcomes for participants. This role requires a forward-thinking, data informed leader who brings deep knowledge of youth development, a strong commitment to equity and the ability to communicate The Fund's work to Board, staff and funders.

This position oversees 6 full-time team members and 500+ seasonal summer staff. Experience with residential camp programs is strongly preferred.

This is a hybrid position based in New York City with an in-office requirement of 3 days per week. Office days are spent at camp in the Hudson Valley during the summer and the CPO is expected to be on-call 24/7 during the summer.

Position Details

Strategic Leadership & Program Innovation

• Lead the implementation of Fresh Air’s strategic plan across all program areas.
• Evaluate, enhance, and evolve current program models and curriculum using data, research, and evidence-based practices.
• Develop a long-term vision and annual plans for year-round programming that deepen engagement beyond the summer.
• Promote a culture of learning, continuous improvement, and innovation.
• Serve as a thought leader in the youth development and camping sectors, representing The Fund externally with partners, funders, and at conferences.
• Ensure program design and execution centers equity, inclusion, and trauma-informed youth development practices.

Program Operations & Management

• Collaborate closely with the Chief Financial and Administrative Officer, Director of Program Management & Operations, and Director of Sharpe Reservation to ensure operational excellence across the program portfolio.
• Be available 24/7 during the summer season to manage emergencies, support staff and ensure high-quality program delivery.
• Collaborate with HR, Legal, and Operations to ensure internal and external regulatory compliance and crisis response readiness.
• Work closely with the Chief Legal Officer to assess and mitigate programmatic risk across all areas of service delivery.
• Oversee hiring, onboarding, and ongoing professional development for more than 500 seasonal staff and 6 full-time team members.
• Oversee summer manuals, training protocols, safety plans, and alignment with camping laws and standards.

Data, Budget, and Impact

• Oversee program budgets and overall fiscal responsibility, ensuring alignment of resources with strategic priorities.
• Use quantitative and qualitative data to assess impact, drive decision-making, and ensure accountability.
• Communicate program outcomes to internal and external stakeholders.
• Serve as the primary point of contact to the Board of Directors on all programmatic matters, providing updates, data, and strategic insight.

Qualifications

• Minimum 10+ years of progressive leadership experience in youth development, nonprofit management, or a related field.
• Significant experience managing residential or 24/7 programs strongly preferred.
• Proven record leading high-impact, equity-centered programs and multi-site teams.
• Expertise in strategic planning, staff development, program design, and evaluation.
• Demonstrated success managing large budgets and aligning resources with outcomes.
• Exceptional communication, collaboration, and relationship-building skills.
• Experience navigating complex compliance and regulatory frameworks, especially related to youth and residential camp programming.
• Master’s degree or equivalent experience preferred.

Compensation, Benefits, Hybrid Work Schedule

Annual compensation for this position $245,000 - $257,000. Benefits include health insurance, dental, vision, 401k, flexible work policy, and paid time off.

This is a hybrid role based out of Fresh Air’s office in Manhattan. In-office requirements are three days per week. During the summer, this position is based at camp in the Hudson Valley three days a week with occasional weekend requirements. The CPO is not required to live onsite at camp.

Benefits include health insurance, dental, vision, 401k, flexible work policy, and paid time off.