Chief Program Officer Jobs

DC SCORES is seeking an executive-level leader with strong values alignment and extensive experience with strategic leadership, program evaluation, and personnel management to serve as our Chief Program Officer (CPO).

The CPO will report to the Executive Director and work with our fantastic program leaders to ensure that our work is meeting the needs of the community and is making a meaningful impact on the lives of the poet-athletes we serve. This position will have five direct reports.

We encourage applications from qualified candidates who have lived experience as a member of historically underrepresented communities, particularly the Black and Latinx communities we predominantly serve.

Key Responsibilities

Program Strategy and Leadership

• Develop and articulate the overall program strategy in collaboration with the Executive Director and the Board of Directors.
• Provide visionary and strategic leadership to ensure programmatic excellence and alignment with the organization's long-term goals.
• Develop and monitor the program department’s budget.
• Continuously assess and identify opportunities for program expansion, improvement, and innovation.

Program Design and Implementation

• Lead the development of comprehensive, evidence-based program models that meet the needs of the target population.
• Lead regular curriculum reviews to develop and adapt program materials and resources.
• Oversee the design and implementation of curriculum, activities, and events, ensuring they align with best practices and program goals.

Program Evaluation and Impact Measurement

• Collaborate with leadership to proactively develop and implement policies, procedures, and practices that intentionally foster and sustain diverse, equitable, and inclusive programming, to ensure that underrepresented groups are welcomed, valued, and provided with equal opportunities for growth, access, and advancement.
• Prepare and present regular reports on program performance to the Executive Director, Board of Directors, and other stakeholders.
• Establish and implement robust monitoring and evaluation systems to measure program compliance, quality, outcomes, and impact.
• Analyze program data to identify trends, assess effectiveness, and inform decision-making.

Staff Supervision and Development

• Support, manage, and develop members of the Program Leadership Team.
• Recruit, hire, and train program staff, ensuring a diverse and talented team.
• Provide leadership, supervision, and mentorship to the program team, fostering a culture of collaboration, accountability, and continuous learning.
• Lead program department’s continuous performance management efforts including annual and seasonal goal setting, conducting regular performance evaluations, and provide ongoing feedback and professional development opportunities.

Community Engagement and Partnerships

• Build and maintain strategic partnerships with schools (including administrators), community organizations, funders, America SCORES affiliates, and other stakeholders to expand program reach and impact.
• Represent DC SCORES in external forums, conferences, and meetings related to youth development and education.
• Collaborate with the Development and Communications teams to support fundraising efforts and cultivate relationships with donors and sponsors.

Requirements

• Proven ability to build and maintain partnerships with diverse stakeholders.
• A passion for DC SCORES’ mission and work in the world.
• Align with DC SCORES organizational values: Team-First Mindset, Youth at the Center, Committed to DEIAB.
• Commitment to social justice & racial equity.
• Strong project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and meet deadlines.
• Passion for soccer or spoken word/poetry.
• Demonstrated experience in designing and implementing innovative and effective programs for underserved youth.
• Minimum of 7 years of progressively responsible experience in program management, preferably in the nonprofit sector.
• Spanish or Amharic fluency
• Experience developing, managing, and evaluating programs, with an eye towards long-term, enterprise-level impact and cross-team collaboration, with the ability to inspire and motivate teams.
• Excellent written and verbal communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to nurture relationships and work collaboratively with internal and external stakeholders.
• Strong understanding of youth development principles and best practices, particularly in after-school and sports-based programs.
• Extra credit (not necessary, but the following are a plus):
• Knowledge of the Washington, D.C. education landscape and community resources is highly desirable.
• Strong leadership and people management skills, with the ability to inspire and motivate teams.

Currently, DC SCORES is operating in a hybrid work model. During our busy programming seasons, our staff members work at least four days per week in-office.

Benefits

We offer a competitive salary of $95,000. In addition, our comprehensive benefits package ensures that employees enjoy a healthy work-life balance and have access to valuable perks and resources.

• Generous paid time off policy (In addition to PTO, our entire office closes for an additional 2.5 - 3 weeks each year (including select mental wellness Fridays, summer break in August, and over the year-end holidays)
• Capital Bikeshare membership
• Access to life insurance, short term disability, and long term disability
• Opportunities to attend D.C. United and Washington Spirit games
• Gym access
• Family leave support (in addition to DC Paid Family Leave)
• Access to a 403B plan
• Annual wellness stipend
• Fully paid health, vision, and dental benefits
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) plan
• Professional development budget
• Monthly commuter benefits