The Center for Family Support

Background

The Center for Family Support Inc. is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing support and assistance to individuals with developmental and related disabilities, as well as their families. They offer a range of services, including residential programs and home-based services, to help individuals achieve their goals and live fulfilling lives. The organization is committed to a person-centered approach, tailoring programs to meet the individual needs, preferences, and goals of each participant. They work throughout New York City’s five boroughs, Westchester County, and Long Island in the State of New York and throughout the State of New Jersey.
Position Summary

The Chief Program Officer (CPO) is a senior executive leader accountable to the Chief Executive Officer and Board of Directors for the overall performance, quality, compliance, sustainability, and growth of the organization’s programs and services. The CPO ensures that all New York programs including Residential, Community, Clinical, and Self-Directed Programs—advance the mission, strategic priorities, and long-term vision approved by the Board. The CPO provides enterprise‑level leadership, translates Board‑approved strategy into operational execution, manages organizational risk, and drives programmatic innovation and growth while maintaining regulatory excellence and fiscal discipline. The CPO directly oversees a NY based senior leadership team that includes the Vice President of Residential Services, Vice President of Community Services, Senior Vice President of Self‑Directed Program Services, and Vice President of Clinical Services.

The CPO must have exceptional interpersonal, project management, and problem-solving skills that will enable them to effectively support the members of the Center for Family Support’s team. In addition, they will have a demonstrated capacity to build relationships with both internal and external partners and stakeholders. They will be an integral part of an environment where progress and success are both recognized and built upon.

It is critical that the CPO be capable of integrating smoothly into the senior management, fitting into the organization’s culture. They will provide counsel and support to the Chief Executive Officer and the Executive Team on all program matters and prepare reports for the Board, as well as work on various strategic initiatives.
Excellent negotiation and communication skills are critical. They must be able to work closely with the staff to promote an open, inclusive environment that emphasizes cooperation and teamwork with a minimum of ego. In addition, they will be bright, diplomatic, analytical, of the highest integrity, and possess sound judgment as well as a sense of humor.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Board-Level Accountabilities

• Serve as a key executive partner to the CEO in supporting the Board of Directors’ fiduciary, strategic, and oversight responsibilities.
• Provide regular, accurate, and transparent reporting to the CEO and Board on program performance, outcomes, risks, compliance status, and strategic initiatives.
• Ensure all programs operate in full compliance with federal, state, funding, certification, and licensing requirements, proactively identifying and mitigating risk.
• Advance Board-approved strategic plans by leading programmatic growth, service expansion, and innovation initiatives.
• Ensure organizational readiness for audits, regulatory reviews, and external evaluations.
• Uphold and model ethical leadership, human rights protections, and organizational values across all services.

Executive Leadership and Strategy

• Provide enterprise-wide leadership and direction to all program and clinical operations.
• Partner with the CEO and executive team to develop, implement, and monitor multi-year strategic plans and growth initiatives.
• Translate Board-level strategy into measurable operational goals, outcomes, and performance metrics.
• Identify emerging service needs, funding opportunities, and strategic partnerships that support long-term sustainability.
• Collaborate with executive peers across Finance, Human Resources, Information Technology, Quality Improvement, and Planning to ensure organizational alignment.

Program Oversight and Quality

• Ensure consistent delivery of high-quality, person-centered services aligned with the organization’s mission and values.
• Lead a continuous quality improvement framework that uses data, performance metrics, and stakeholder feedback to drive excellence.
• Ensure meaningful engagement with individuals receiving services and their families to inform quality and service design.
• Oversee licensure, human rights protections, clinical integrity, and program standards across all services.

Financial Stewardship and Risk Management

• Prepare and manage the annual operating budget for programs in partnership with the CEO and CFO.
• Ensure financial sustainability of all program and service lines through sound fiscal management and performance monitoring.
• Identify and mitigate operational, financial, and compliance risks impacting program performance.
• Support Board-level financial oversight by providing clear reporting on programmatic financial performance.

Leadership and Talent Development

• Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing executive and senior management team, including Program Directors, Regional Directors, and the Vice President of Clinical Services.
• Ensure effective succession planning, leadership development, and retention strategies for program leadership roles.
• Foster a culture of accountability, transparency, collaboration, and continuous learning.

Competencies

• Strategic and enterprise leadership: Translates mission and Board‑approved priorities into long‑range strategies that drive organizational growth, sustainability, and high‑quality service delivery.
• Operational oversight of complex, multi‑site programs: Leads diverse residential, community, and self‑directed service lines with consistency, efficiency, and disciplined execution.
• Regulatory compliance and risk stewardship: Ensures full adherence to federal, state, licensing, and funding requirements while proactively identifying and mitigating organizational risk.
• Continuous quality improvement and performance analytics: Uses data, KPIs, and stakeholder feedback to evaluate outcomes, strengthen service quality, and guide evidence‑based improvements.
• Financial acumen and resource management: Oversees program budgets, monitors financial performance, and ensures responsible stewardship of assets and funding streams.
• Governance partnership and Board engagement: Provides transparent, data‑driven reporting to the CEO and Board; supports informed governance and strategic oversight.
• Cross‑functional collaboration and organizational alignment: Works seamlessly with Finance, HR, IT, Quality, and Planning to ensure coordinated operations and unified organizational direction.
• Leadership development and talent cultivation: Builds and mentors a high‑performing leadership team; advances succession planning, coaching, and professional development.
• Change management and organizational adaptability: Leads complex change initiatives with clarity and engagement; strengthens culture, resilience, and operational consistency.
• Executive communication and stakeholder engagement: Communicates with clarity and professionalism; builds strong relationships with individuals served, families, staff, regulators, and community partners.

Qualifications and Requirements

• Minimum 10 years of progressive professional experience, including at least 5 years in senior executive or enterprise‑level leadership overseeing complex, multi‑site human services, or healthcare programs.
• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree preferred.
• Demonstrated experience collaborating with and supporting Boards of Directors.
• Proven success leading strategic planning and organizational growth initiatives.
• Experience managing organizational risk and ensuring strong governance practices.
• Demonstrated ability to drive performance through data‑informed decision‑making.

Physical Requirements

Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or listen. The employee frequently is required to sit; stand; walk; use hands to finger, handle or feel; and reach with hands and arms. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 15 pounds.

Compensation and other information

Compensation is expected to be in the $200 – $210K range. The Center for Family Support offers a comprehensive benefits package. This will be an in-office position requiring travel in and around the New York metropolitan area.

The Center for Family Support is an equal opportunity employer, and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identification, national origin, ancestry, age, marital status, citizenship status, veteran status, disability or any other criterion specified by federal, state or local laws, in the administration of its employment policy. The Center for Family Support strongly encourages applicants from all cultures, races, educational backgrounds, life experiences, socio-economic classes, sexual orientations, age, gender, and physical abilities to apply.