Organization Overview
Los Angeles Education Partnership (LAEP) is a nonprofit organization that advances educational equity with an annual organizational budget of $12-13 million. Together with families, schools and the community, LAEP facilitates access to and opportunities for quality educational and wellness practices so that children thrive from diapers to diplomas.
Position Summary
The Chief Program Officer (CPO) is a key member of the executive leadership team, responsible for driving the strategic vision, design, implementation, and evaluation of all programs. This role ensures that the organization’s mission to advance education equity is reflected in every aspect of program delivery, community engagement, and internal culture. The CPO will be a compassionate and strategic leader who fosters an environment of trust, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
Key Responsibilities
Program Vision, Strategy, and Oversight:
- Oversee the development and execution of a comprehensive program strategy that advances the organization’s mission and vision.
- Establish and monitor programmatic goals that prioritize equitable outcomes and disrupt systemic barriers to education.
- Oversee the design, implementation, and evaluation of all programs, ensuring they are effective, scalable, and culturally responsive.
- Design and implement performance monitoring systems, including quarterly reports, scorecards, and other data-driven tools, to assess progress toward strategic goals and programmatic outcomes.
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure timely data collection, community input, analysis, and reporting that informs decision-making and continuous improvement.
- Manage program budgets and resources effectively to achieve maximum impact.
Internal Leadership & Collaboration:
- Lead and manage a diverse team of program directors and staff, cultivating a culture of learning, accountability, adaptability, and continuous improvement.
- Foster a positive and supportive work environment that prioritizes staff well-being, professional development, and work-life balance.
- Conduct regular one-on-one meetings with approximately six direct reports, providing mentorship, constructive feedback, and opportunities for growth.
- Champion staff-led initiatives and create pathways for employees to contribute to program strategy and organizational culture.
- Partner with CEO, finance and HR to align program goals with organizational capacity and resources.
- Collaborate with Director of Evaluation, Accountability and Impact to ensure development of robust monitoring and evaluation systems to track program outcomes and inform strategic decisions.
- Ensure all programs comply with relevant laws, regulations, and grant requirements.
External Partnerships & Community Engagement
- Build and maintain strong, authentic relationships with community partners, students, families, and school districts.
- Oversee processes for gathering and integrating community input into program design and evaluation, ensuring our work is community-driven.
- Act as a key spokesperson for the organization, representing our programs and mission at conferences, community events, and with donors.
- Partner with the Marketing & Communications Director to ensure that program narratives, impact stories, and public messaging reflect community voice, uplift equity, and honor the dignity of the people we serve.
Fundraising & Development Collaboration:
- Collaborate with the Development Director to articulate program impact for grant proposals and donor reports.
- Cultivate relationships with funders by serving as a program liaison, providing program-specific updates, and co-presenting with the development team at donor meetings.
- Provide programmatic expertise to support the creation of compelling fundraising materials and pitches that effectively communicate our mission and outcomes
Qualifications
- Minimum of 10 years of progressive program leadership experience within the nonprofit, education, or related sectors.
- Proven track record of designing, implementing, and scaling successful programs and program evaluations.
- Demonstrated experience in a leadership role that prioritizes staff well-being, professional development, and a positive organizational culture.
- Experience in community engagement and a commitment to integrating community voice into program design.
- Experience working in close partnership with development/fundraising teams to align programmatic work with funding priorities and reporting requirements.
- Exceptional strategic thinking, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to build consensus and inspire others.
- Bachelor’s degree required; master’s degree in a relevant field (e.g., Education, Child Development, Evaluation, Nonprofit Management) preferred.
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