Chief Program Officer (CPO)

ORGANIZATION OVERVIEW:

Founded in 1980, Urban Resource Institute (URI) is committed to the vision of a world free of domestic violence, homelessness, poverty, and trauma, where individuals, families, and communities are safe, stable, and thriving. URI works across the spectrum of prevention, intervention and services to empower individuals, families, and communities, particularly communities of color and other disenfranchised populations, to increase their safety and resiliency. URI is the oldest licensed provider of domestic violence shelter and services in New York State, with 40 years of impact capped in the last five years with significant achievements and expansion leading to its position as the largest provider of domestic violence shelter services in the country. This expansion has afforded URI the ability to serve individuals who have traditionally experienced barriers to accessing shelter services, such as singles and families with pets.

Today, URI is maximizing the impact of organizational growth, expanding its positioning as an Innovative service provider, an influential leader and “Employer of Choice” in its field. URI has annual operating budget of approximately $98 million, more than 700 employees and the capacity to provide services to over 40,000 individuals annually. The organization operates in more than 20 locations around New York City and is recognized as a valued thought-leader in the sector across the US and beyond.

POSITION OVERVIEW:

Reporting to the Deputy Chief Executive Officer, the CPO will serve as a critical member of URI’s Executive Management team. The CPO will be responsible for articulating and implementing URI’s strategic vision and assisting in its thought leadership positioning; oversee a significant portfolio of programs and related services; ensure ongoing evaluation of program effectiveness; identification and implementation of best practices; help to promote and diversify funding through effective resource stewardship at an agency with substantial government funding and a desire to increase its private philanthropic support; raise the agency’s profile through external communications.

The CPO will serve as a spokesperson, ambassador and advocate to internal and external entities as it relates to URI programs, and will serve as a critical team member to oversee a program portfolio that includes: 1) domestic violence residential and legal programs 2) programs for homeless families; 3) economic empowerment; and 4) prevention services, and our quality improve, evaluation and training (QIET). The CPO will also engage URI’s Board of Directors frequently under the direction of the Deputy CEO to ensure that all programs operate in accordance with URI standards.

POSITION REQUIREMENTS, EDUCATION & ESSENTIAL SKILLS:

Leadership, Staff Management and Organizational Strategy
• In partnership with the CEO and Deputy CEO, implement URI’s new strategic plan, as well as develop and implement new initiatives that are consistent with the organization’s mission and vision
• Create and support a high performing culture in the program and operations business area aligned with URIs mission, vision and values in a manner that promotes staff confidence, accountability, and professionalism.
• Develop a team-based environment using a strength-based approach to motivate and inspire staff to work collaboratively towards mission, and vision by clearly communicating agency vision, implementing yearly staff development plans.
• In coordination with the Executive team, play a key role in the overall development, strategic planning, service delivery, and management of the organization across multiple sites and departments.
• Serve as liaison to key government agencies, to include but not be limited to the New York City Human Resource Administration, Department of Homeless Services and the NYS Office of Children and Family Services.
• Represent URI on relevant committees and task forces, as well as at speaking engagements, conference panels and trainings.
• Coordinate with the URI’s Executives on developing new program ideas and pilot projects, including integrating successful pilots into the program department.
• Provide mentoring, guidance, supervision, and professional development to a team of 5-7 direct reports (SVP, Domestic Violence Residential and Legal Programs, the VP, Program for Homeless Families, Senior Director, Prevention Services, Senior Director, Economic Empowerment and VP, Quality Improvement, Evaluation & Training)
• Provide assistance and guidance on how to troubleshoot program and staff performance challenges, mentor direct reports on how to proactively engage in planning to improve program management and performance.
• Facilitate the establishment and tracking of annual department, program specific key performance indicators and promote accountability in achieving these objectives
• Support fund development efforts through the promotion and execution of URI’s annual fundraising event, proposal writing and partnering with the Executive Team to steward funding relationships.
• Ensure efficient and effective deployment of resources consistent with identified toward organizational goals, working with staff to balance workload and effort, and provide regular feedback so that key staff can continuously improve their ability to achieve objectives and promote URI as an employer of choice.

Program Oversight and Evaluation
• Oversee the coordination, integration, and delivery of all programs, multiple and varying contracts and related services, promoting collaborative relationships between program areas and ensuring that the expectations of funders, partners, constituents, clients, and other stakeholders are consistently met.
• Assist in the response to government and foundation requests for proposals and applications in partnership with development and senior staff; coordinate planning and activities necessary for development of model program designs in response to RFPs and RFAs.
• Work closely with the Finance department to budget and monitor programmatic operations to ensure sound fiscal and system management.
• Ensure communication with program leadership to support sound fiscal management within budgetary constraints across all programs
• Coordinate and analyze the appropriate data to inform the programmatic and operational decision- making process.
• Conduct ongoing evaluation of staffing plans to achieve program goals and objectives and participate in hiring decisions for new program staff.
• Participate in the deepening of existing and create new performance and outcome measures for outreach and recruitment, completion rates, employment, retention, college, training, enrollment, completion, and other measures that are core to URI’s mission.
• Assist in the development of assessment protocols to determine the feasibility and sustainability of programs as well as lead to more effective and efficient service delivery.
• Ensure the ongoing analysis and assessment programs based on data collected and implement corrective measures if required.
• Other duties as requested based on department, program and/or organizational needs.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION:

• Passion for URI’s mission, vision and core values with the ability to communicate this passion to others.
• 10+ years of significant leadership management and supervisory responsibility in a complex social services organization, overseeing multiple programs and funding streams
• 5+ years of experience as an Executive, preferably in a non-profit organization, with financial responsibilities and oversight.
• Masters’ degree (MPA, MPH and MBA) is required, PhD and/or JD highly preferred
• Strong business acumen, executive presence with professional integrity and thought leadership skills
• Experience working with city and state government to develop and implement policies as well as programs.
• Demonstrated ability to attract, develop, motivate and retain quality staff and work effectively with the Deputy CEO, CEO, Board members, donors, and volunteers.
• Experience and interest in internal and external communications, partnership development, and fundraising; strong community awareness and astuteness.
• Strong commitment to equity and social justice including a focus on self-awareness and engagement of continuous learning around issues of diversity equity and inclusion; high level of Emotional Intelligence (EQ)
• Demonstrated experience managing a high-performing team in a multi-site structure to include professional development and mentorship.
• Comprehensive working knowledge of program planning, organizational structure, budgeting, administrative operations, and fundraising.
• Demonstrated multiyear expertise in two or more of the following service areas: domestic violence, homeless services, workforce development, prevention, and/or community education and quality improvement and evaluation.
• Strong organizational skills that reflects an ability to perform and prioritize multiple tasks seamlessly
• Expert level written and verbal communication skills with the ability to represent the organization externally across a wide range of stakeholders and constituencies.
• Highly resourceful team-player, with the ability to also be extremely effective independently
• Proven ability to handle confidential information with discretion, be adaptable to various competing demands, and demonstrate the highest level of customer/client service and response
• Demonstrated ability to achieve high performance goals and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment
• Exceptional interpersonal, critical thinking, and communications skills, and the ability to develop positive and productive relationships with a dispersed team to build buy-in across the organization.
• Acknowledge and application of self-care and work-life balance for self and others.

Interested candidates may forward a copy of their resume to careers@urinyc.org for consideration.

Urban Resource Institute provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

This applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, and transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training