Chief Program Officer
Scion Executive Search has been retained to identify the incoming Chief Program Officer (CPO) on behalf of our inspirational client, NAF! NAF is a national education nonprofit dedicated to preparing high school students of all backgrounds and capabilities—especially students who may lack access to opportunities for college, careers, and to be future ready.
Reporting directly to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), this full-time, remote position is for immediate hire and can be based anywhere across the United States with a preference for the East Coast. This exciting role also offers the opportunity to create long-lasting, positive impacts for students across the nation!
ABOUT NAF:
NAF brings schools and businesses together to better prepare students of all backgrounds. Since 1980, NAF has led a movement for immersive, career-focused teaching and work-based learning. With the support of NAF community-based advisory boards, schools connect with the workforce to fuel shared progress—from creating culturally responsive curriculum and paid internship opportunities, to fostering innovation and building future-ready businesses. NAF helps students explore career options, create a plan for the future, and take part in hands-on, work-based learning unlike anything traditional public education systems can offer. NAF puts students on a path to achieving their full potential.
NAF has grown from one NAF Academy of Finance in New York City to hundreds of academies across the country focusing on growing industries including finance, hospitality & tourism, information technology, engineering, and health sciences; and support programs of study that are aligned with the National Career Clusters Framework. During the 2022-23 school year, over 112,000 students attended over 600 NAF academies across 38 states and territories. In 2022, NAF academies reported 99% of seniors graduated with 88% of graduates planning to go to college.
POSITION OVERVIEW:
A vital member of the Executive Leadership Team (ELT), the incoming CPO will report to the CEO and partner with the ELT to define and execute strategic program development in alignment with NAF’s mission, vision, and values. The CPO will be tasked with providing visionary leadership to a high-performing team of remarkable, dedicated staff while also advancing NAF’s incredible work. This individual will strategize to expand NAF’s reach and impact for students across the country. The incoming CPO will also establish and track program priorities, manage program budgets and metrics, and be involved in raising funds for NAF. This role will ensure the highest standards are met with accordance to independent program reviews, academy assessments, graduation rates, and other measurable outcomes.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Lead the development and implementation of NAF’s program strategy and initiatives in alignment with the organization’s strategic plan.
- Serve on the ELT, contributing to the overall strategic direction of the organization, including analyzing organizational and network progress through annual and longer-term goals.
- Provide ongoing, visionary expertise to growing and evolving NAF’s programmatic impact, keeping in alignment with NAF’s Outcomes-Driven Work-Based Learning (ODWBL) approach.
- Lead the Program team in daily oerations; provide guidance, management, development opportunities, evaluations, and accountability to ensure financial and programmatic goals are achieved; ensure alignment throughout the team to bring NAF into its next phase of growth.
- Contribute to and promote NAF’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Access (DEIA) strategy; continuously certify that programmatic efforts are in alignment with DEIA efforts.
- Supervise the continued development of streamlined processes for measuring student outcomes and impact.
- Oversee the development and implementation of network expansion strategies, site-based engagement, and all policies related to membership in NAF’s network.
- Produce and utilize analytical measures to ensure successful outcomes in all areas of NAF programs, continuously improve based on these analyses
- Facilitate and foster a robust and active community of learning, convening, and practice across the NAF network, which includes oversight of NAF’s annual conference.
- Ensure that the network is consistently supported with the tools, resources, systems, and technical support required for sustainable growth and improvement with full commitment to the NAF model.
- In collaboration with the Chief Partnership Officer and Chief Strategy Officer, facilitate outreach to national corporate partners, organizations, and governmental officials to support NAF’s programmatic goals and to influence public policy.
- Aid the Chief Partnership Officer in cultivating and growing NAF’s ecosystem of employer partners, from the growth and development of advisory boards to the engagement of major corporate partners.
- Ensure proper stewardship of grants and other resources within the department’s portfolio.
- Aid the Chief Advancement Officer in cultivating and stewarding relationships with prospective and current funders and corporate partners; support the development of proposals and reports.
- Provide guidance and oversight to the curriculum with key Program staff on a regular basis to ensure relevancy and effectiveness.
- Research, prospect, and prioritize opportunities for strategic expansion in areas identified with ideal conditions for NAF expansions.
- Conduct program plan oversight, including risk management and contingency planning.
- Collaborate with the IT Team to support ongoing updates and development of NAF network resource platforms.
QUALIFICATIONS:
- Sincere passion for NAF’s mission, vision, and values including proven dedication to education reform and students from under-invested communities.
- Bachelor’s degree required; preference for degrees in nonprofit, public, or business administration, education, community, or economic development.
- Master’s degree or PhD preferred.
- Minimum of ten years’ related experience working in educational program development connecting students to workplace opportunities and business-education partnerships.
- Minimum of seven years’ experience in leadership roles.
- Demonstrated experience leading a major, national program or organization, including developing and sustaining partnerships at the executive level.
- Effective executive leadership skills in the field of education and/or workforce development.
- Accustomed to a highly collaborative, transparent work environment; excited about fostering this type of work environment.
- Entrepreneurial and strategic approach to business planning and program development.
- Robust skills in project and team management.
- Ability to prioritize and delegate to multiple teams, ensuring responsibilities are completed on time, within budget, and with a high level of quality.
- Proven experience in coaching, mentoring, managing, and developing high performance teams.
- Established ability to increase organizational growth, transition, and evolution.
- Exceptional written and verbal communication skills.
COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:
In addition to a competitive base salary of $270,000, NAF also provides a generous benefits package with date-of-hire eligibility for medical, dental, and vision benefits with a semimonthly benefits allowance (i.e., discretionary funds) totaling $13,100 annually! Employees keep any funds not spent on medical benefits, sans appropriate withholdings, which can be used to fund other benefits or outside costs, premiums, or deductibles. This inspiring organization also offers access to a medical Flexible Spending Account (FSA) as well as a Health Savings Account (HSA) for those electing an eligible High Deductible Health Plan; a Dependent Care Flexible Savings Account (DCFSA); $50,000 in employer-paid group-term life and AD&D insurance; in addition to other employee-paid voluntary disability, life and AD&D insurance plans offered at discounted rates. These robust benefits also include training and development courses, MarketPlace Perks at Work, an Employee Assistance Program (EAP), free access to Healthiest You, Headspace, and employer-paid professional development! Furthermore, upon attaining plan eligibility after six months of full time employment in a single calendar year, NAF contributes 8% of employees’ gross salary to a 401(k) retirement plan with all funds fully vested! In addition to all of this, NAF offers twelve paid holidays per year, a highly flexible, paid time off (PTO) policy, additional paid sick leave, and extended leave of absence PTO under qualifying circumstance.
APPLICATIONS AND NOMINATIONS:
NAF has retained the services of Scion Executive, a national executive search firm specializing in corporate recruitment, to assist in conducting this important search. For immediate consideration, please apply with your resume and cover letter, formatted in Microsoft Word, via: https://scionexecutivesearch.com/job/9778.
Please address applications to:
Kristi Horita Marcouillier, Senior Associate
Scion Executive Search
Review of applications, nominations, and expressions of interest will begin immediately and continue on a confidential basis until an appointment is made.
ABOUT OUR FIRM:
Scion Executive Search is an award-winning, retained executive search firm! Through innovative team building and recruitment solutions, Scion Executive Search seamlessly bridges the gap in interim and executive searches. Our track record and recruitment process have made us one of the top recruitment firms in the nation.
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