Chief Program Officer

Chief Program Officer

The West Side Federation for Senior and Supportive Housing, Inc. (WSFSSH) is a community‐based organization whose mission is to provide safe, affordable housing with supportive services within a residential setting which enhances the independence and dignity of each person. WSFSSH develops, manages, and provides housing for low‐ income older persons, many of whom live with mental illness and/or have experienced homelessness.

Position Description

The Chief Program Officer (CPO) plays a critical leadership role in advancing and optimizing WFSSH's social services programs for residents and the Older Adult Centers' participants. The CPO will work closely with senior leadership and program teams to ensure programs operate effectively, are proactive to community needs, and deliver measurable outcomes.

Job Duties & Responsibilities

Program Management and Strategic Leadership

• Steward WFSSH's program strategy through direct oversight of shelter services, supportive housing residential services, including case management, cross-building programs, and evidence-based Mosels utilizing a trauma-informed approach and a client-centered focus.
• Ensure that WSFSSH is well positioned to develop, identify, and implement new programs that address critical needs or gaps in services to the community.
• Understand whom the agency is serving, how its programs are structured and funded, how money is being spent, and what its costs to deliver high-quality services efficiently.
• Present impact data and implications to executive leadership ensuring that stewardship of funded programs is supported and advanced by evidenced outcomes.
• Strengthen systems for communication and data collection to ensure the organization effectively measures programmatic trends, outcomes, and opportunities. Work closely with program and administrative teams to refine how data and impact are tracked, analyzed, and communicated internally and externally.
• Build and cultivate strategic partnerships with other nonprofit groups, community groups and external stakeholders to position WSFSSH as a national leader in older adult supportive housing and programming.

Program Development, Quality and Evaluation

• Oversee and manage all aspects of the programs and initiative including the coordination, integration and delivery of all programs and related services.
• Establish program success metrics, in partnership with funders and agency stakeholders, design services that drive toward program goals and accelerate tenant participation and progress, and keeps program scalable, sustainable, agile, and resource-efficient.
• Establish Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and metrics to assess program effectiveness. Identify gaps of service and create innovative solutions. Establish short and long-term goals for services design and implementation.
• Drive initiatives to introduce new programs and innovations for the benefit of WSFSSHs staff, residents and clients. Establish empowering programming beyond activities for residents and clients.
• Direct cross-functional teams and data and evaluation tools to assess, evaluate, and align programs to ensure they are effective, impactful, and compliant with funder requirements and organizational mission.
• Create and monitor transparent, agency-wide data dashboard of use across buildings and programs. Develop and cultivate a data-driven culture prioritizing continuous improvement across different programs and departments.
• In collaboration with the finance team, ensure existing program expenditures are aligned with contractual requirements.

Management and Operational Experience

• Promote an environment that embeds diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility, and fully integrates these values into the organizational culture. Foster a workplace culture that inspires high-level performance, collaboration, accountability, and professional and respectful interactions; embeds best practices for effective feedback and communication at all levels of staff engagement.
• Develop leadership capacity by delegating accountability and building internal pathways for staff growth and advancement.
• In partnership with the finance team, ensure program budgets, financial systems, and planning strategies support fiscal stability and accurately reflect the organization's financial realities.

Required Skills / Abilities

• Significant knowledge regarding programs and services for an aging population is required.
• Expertise in developing and monitoring metrics to measure programmatic outcomes for homeless services, mental health/substance abuse services, housing services or other related fields.
• Excellent writing and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to collaborate with dynamic leadership team to manage within a rapidly growing organization.
• Strong community relationships in New York City, across government sectors, preferably with an emphasis on health and human services.
• Adaptable and able to multi and work within a fast-moving environment, while also driving toward clarity and solutions.
• Demonstrated resourcefulness in setting priorities and guiding investment in people and systems with the greatest quality and impact.
• Demonstrated ability to balance long-term strategic vision with strong operational execution across multiple programs, teams, and services in a complex organization.
• Proven success leading senior teams and large, diverse staff groups while fostering an inclusive, collaborative, and mission-driven organizations culture. A leader who inspires trust, encourages teamwork, and develops high-performing talent.
• Intermediate level Excel and PowerPoint; good working knowledge of Word.

Education & Experience

• A minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible experience in the human services sector, including in leadership capacity.
• Bachelor's degree required; relevant master's degree is preferred.
• Demonstrated experience in program innovations, supervision, clinical oversight, funders relationships and fiscal management.
• Experience managing complex budgets and programs supported by government contracts and philanthropic funding, with a strong understanding of compliance, reporting, and blended funding models.

Benefit Overview

Westside Federation for Senior & Supportive Housing offers full-time employees a comprehensive choice of benefits that include Medical, Dental, Vision, 403(b) retirement savings, Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA), Life & Disability, Employee Assistance Program (EAP), commuter benefits and more. Voluntary benefit options and time off includes 11-12 paid Federal Holidays as well as vacation and sick time.

EEO Statement

WSFSSH is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EEO); employment is based on qualifications, without discrimination on the basis of race, creed, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, military status, citizenship status, genetic predisposition or carrier status, or any other protected characteristics as established by law.