The Elizabeth Peabody House, Vice President of Programs & Learning

Job Description

Job Description:\n\nORGANIZATION \nFounded in 1896, The Elizabeth Peabody House (EPH) is a community-based nonprofit organization dedicated to strengthening children, families, and communities in Somerville, Massachusetts. For more than 130 years, EPH has partnered with families to provide high-quality early childhood education, out-of-school time programming, food access, wraparound support and resources that help children thrive and families build stability.\nToday, EPH serves a racially, culturally, linguistically, and economically diverse community through a continuum of programs designed to meet families' educational, developmental, and basic needs. As the organization enters an exciting new chapter guided by its 2026–2030 Strategic Plan, EPH is investing in stronger organizational systems, deeper integration across programs, and a clearer commitment to being a visible, trusted community anchor. \nEPH is undertaking a significant organizational redesign that creates three Vice President roles to distribute leadership, strengthen organizational capacity, and position the organization for continued growth. This is a pivotal moment for a leader eager to help shape the future of one of Somerville's most trusted community institutions.\nTo learn more, please visit \nThe Vice President of Programs & Learning is a newly created executive leadership role responsible for ensuring that every program at Elizabeth Peabody House contributes to one integrated vision for children and families.\nReporting to the Chief Executive Officer, the Vice President will oversee EPH's educational programs—including toddler, preschool, after-school, and summer learning—as well as the organization's Food Access Program. They will directly supervise the Director of Food Access, three Education Program Directors, and, over time, a Director of Family Engagement and Experience.\nThis leader will move beyond managing individual programs to build a cohesive continuum of services that connects educational excellence with family well-being. They will help the organization answer critical questions such as:\n\n What should every child know, believe, and be able to do throughout their journey at EPH?\n How do educational programs, food and other stabilizing resources, and engagement work together to empower children and their families?\n How can assessment and data become drivers of organizational learning, innovation, and continuous improvement?\n\nThe ideal candidate is a systems thinker who sees connections others miss, enjoys leading leaders, and is energized by building new structures in a mission-driven organization. They are equally comfortable coaching program directors, analyzing outcome data, facilitating strategic conversations with the CEO and Board, and translating a compelling Theory of Change into language that resonates with educators, families, funders, and partners.\nThis is an exceptional opportunity for a collaborative executive leader who is ready to build organizational capacity, strengthen program quality, and push the boundaries of what is possible for children and families across the Elizabeth Peabody House community.\nRESPONSIBILITIES\nKey Responsibilities of the VP of Programs and Learning include:\nStrategic Leadership & Vision\n\n Serve as a member of the Executive Leadership Team, helping shape organizational strategy, priorities, and decision-making.\n Develop and execute a comprehensive strategy for EPH's education, family engagement, food access, and future workstreams that align with the organization's mission and Strategic Plan.\n Build an integrated continuum of services that strengthens outcomes for children and families across programs rather than operating as individual departments.\n Identify opportunities to expand organizational impact, deepen partnerships, and increase program effectiveness.\n Translate strategic priorities into actionable implementation plans with measurable goals and clear accountability.\n Anticipate emerging trends and community needs, positioning EPH to respond proactively and innovatively, with an eye on meeting the needs of youth and young adults.\n Foster a culture that embraces thoughtful experimentation, continuous improvement, and learning.\n\nProgram Leadership & Integration\n\n Provide executive oversight for all education programs, including toddler, preschool, after-school, and summer programming, as well as EPH's Food Access Program.\n Ensure programs operate as an interconnected system that reflects a shared vision for supporting children and families.\n Strengthen alignment across programs so families experience coordinated, seamless services.\n Develop consistent expectations for program quality while recognizing the unique goals and needs of each program.\n Lead strategic planning and annual goal-setting across all program areas.\n Identify opportunities to strengthen collaboration among program leaders and eliminate organizational silos.\n Ensure program models remain responsive to community needs while maintaining fidelity to EPH's mission and values.\n\nLearning, Assessment & Continuous Improvement\n\n Champion a culture in which assessment, evidence, and continuous improvement inform decision-making at every level of the organization.\n Design and strengthen organization-wide systems for measuring program quality, participant outcomes, and organizational impact.\n Develop meaningful performance indicators that align with EPH's Theory of Change and strategic priorities.\n Support Program Directors in using qualitative and quantitative data to improve program design and implementation.\n Regularly analyze organizational performance trends and translate findings into strategic recommendations.\n Build systems that allow EPH to learn across programs and continuously refine its work.\n Partner with staff to establish cycles of reflection, learning, and improvement.\n\nPeople Leadership & Talent Development\n\n Directly supervise the Director of Food Access, three Education Program Directors, and future Director of Family Engagement and Experience.\n Build a strong leadership team through coaching, mentoring, and ongoing professional development.\n Establish clear performance expectations and accountability systems for leaders across the department.\n Foster collaboration, trust, and shared ownership among Program Directors.\n Support leaders in solving complex operational and programmatic challenges.\n Identify opportunities to strengthen leadership capacity throughout the organization.\n Contribute to recruitment, hiring, onboarding, succession planning, and retention of exceptional talent.\n Promote a workplace culture grounded in equity, inclusion, collaboration, and continuous learning.\n\nSystems & Organizational Effectiveness\n\n Develop systems that improve communication, coordination, and decision-making across programs.\n Create structures that enable programs to work together efficiently while maximizing organizational resources.\n Identify operational challenges and lead cross-program problem-solving efforts.\n Build processes that improve consistency, accountability, and effectiveness.\n Partner with colleagues across finance and development to ensure programs are well-resourced.\n Lead programmatic change initiatives that strengthen EPH's long-term reach and impact.\n Push the organization to think creatively about what is possible while thoughtfully managing change.\n\nFamily & Community Impact\n\n Ensure all programs are centered on the needs, strengths, and aspirations of children and families.\n Help shape the organization's approach to family engagement and, over time, support the development of a comprehensive family engagement strategy.\n Build authentic partnerships with families, schools, and community organizations that enhance program quality, expand learning opportunities, and connect families with needed support.\n Ensure community voice informs program design and continuous improvement.\n\nTheory of Change, Communications & External Leadership\n\n Partner with the CEO to clearly articulate EPH's Theory of Change and strategic vision.\n Translate complex programmatic work into compelling narratives that resonate with families, staff, Board members, funders, and community partners.\n Present organizational data, outcomes, and recommendations to diverse audiences in ways that are accessible and actionable.\n Support fundraising efforts by contributing program expertise to grant proposals, reports, donor engagement, and impact storytelling.\n Represent EPH at meetings, conferences, and convenings.\n Serve as a thought partner to the CEO and Board on issues related to program strategy, impact measurement, and organizational growth.\n\nFiscal & Operational Stewardship\n\n Partner with the CEO and finance team to develop and manage program budgets.\n Ensure responsible stewardship of organizational resources across all program areas.\n Monitor resource allocation to maximize impact and organizational sustainability.\n Ensure compliance with licensing, funding, accreditation, and regulatory requirements.\n Identify opportunities to secure additional resources that strengthen programs and organizational capacity.\n Support long-term organizational planning by aligning program investments with strategic priorities.\n\nEquity & Organizational Culture\n\n Champion equity, belonging, and inclusion throughout program design, leadership practices, and organizational decision-making.\n Foster a culture of curiosity, innovation, accountability, and collaboration.\n Model reflective leadership, transparency, humility, and continuous learning.\n Build an environment where staff feel empowered to contribute ideas, challenge assumptions, and pursue excellence on behalf of children and families.\n Ensure EPH's values are reflected consistently in how programs are designed, evaluated, and improved.\n\nPRIORITIES\nA successful first year in this role for the new VP of Programs and Learning will include:\n\n Build an Integrated Program Strategy that Advances Educational Success - Develop and implement a cohesive vision for EPH's programs that creates a seamless continuum of support from early childhood through school-age programming. Strengthen alignment across programs so every child and family experiences consistent, high-quality services that advance EPH's mission of helping children thrive. \n Establish a Culture of Data, Learning, and Continuous Improvement - Design and implement organization-wide systems for assessment, evaluation, and continuous improvement that move EPH from using data primarily at the individual child or participant level to using evidence to strengthen program quality, measure organizational impact, and inform strategic decision-making. Develop clear outcomes, baseline measures, and continuous improvement cycles that align with the organization's Theory of Change and Strategic Plan.\n Strengthen Leadership Capacity and Organizational Systems - Build the leadership structures, management practices, and systems needed to support EPH's continued growth. Coach and develop Program Directors, clarify roles and accountability, improve collaboration across departments, and establish scalable systems that allow the organization to execute its strategic plan while reducing dependence on the CEO for day-to-day decision making. \n Deepen Family Engagement and Program Partnerships - Develop an intentional family engagement strategy that strengthens relationships from enrollment through program completion while ensuring families remain active partners in their children's learning and development. Cultivate strategic program partnerships that expand access to high-quality educational experiences, enrichment opportunities, wraparound supports, and resources that help children and families thrive.\n Lead the Implementation of EPH's Theory of Change - Partner with the CEO and Executive Leadership Team to operationalize EPH's Theory of Change by translating strategic priorities into measurable action. Clearly articulate the organization's vision and impact to staff, families, Board members, funders, and partners while ensuring programs, systems, and investments remain aligned with EPH's mission, values, and long-term strategic goals.\n\nRequirements\nIn order to fulfill these responsibilities, the ideal VP of Programs and Learning candidate will be:\n\n At least 10 years of progressively responsible leadership experience in early childhood education, youth development, family services, nonprofit leadership, or a related field.\n Demonstrated success leading leaders and overseeing multiple programs or service areas simultaneously.\n Experience building systems that integrate diverse programs into a cohesive organizational strategy.\n A strong understanding of assessment, program evaluation, and continuous improvement, with demonstrated ability to use quantitative and qualitative data to improve organizational outcomes.\n Experience coaching instructional and program leaders while creating cultures of accountability, learning, and professional growth.\n A compelling communicator who can articulate complex ideas—including organizational strategy and Theory of Change—to educators, families, Boards, funders, and other stakeholders.\n Demonstrated success leading organizational change through collaboration, influence, humility, and strong relationship-building.\n Experience serving children and families from diverse cultural, linguistic, and socioeconomic backgrounds.\n A deep commitment to Elizabeth Peabody House's mission and belief that strengthening families requires an integrated approach that combines education, stabilizing supports, intentional partnership, and access to opportunity.\n A culturally responsive leadership style that values inclusion, equity, authentic relationships, deep reflection, and continuous learning.\n\nBenefits\nThis position offers a competitive salary of $110,000 – $125,000, commensurate with experience, along with a comprehensive benefits package including:\n\n Medical, dental, and vision insurance\n 403(b) retirement plan with employer match\n Life insurance\n Short- and long-term disability insurance\n Four weeks of paid vacation\n Ten sick days\n Seventeen paid holidays\n Additional benefits available upon request\n\nTO APPLY\nPlease submit a resume online at Elizabeth Peabody House is an equa l opportunity employer and an organization that values diversity. Recruiting staff to create an inclusive organization is a priority, and we encourage applicants from all backgrounds. Candidates are evaluated solely on their qualifications to perform the work required.