Job Description
OUR MISSION: Our mission is to inspire and empower all young people to take control of their future.
OUR VISION: We envision a world where everyone has access to an equitable path to success.
PROGRAM DESIGN: RTS facilitates a variety of youth programs including after-school, summer camps, retreats, conferences and summer employment opportunities reaching thousands of young people throughout NYC each year. RTS emphasizes the youth development practice of the
Circle of Courage in all our programs; creating an environment of
Belonging , where young people can build their
Independence , find and develop their
Mastery skill, and practice
Generosity in their communities. At the core of our programs are staff training strategies that enable our young professionals to develop extraordinarily meaningful relationships with the young people in their care who we call
Our Future Leaders because that is what they all are.
PRIMARY FUNCTION : The Chief Program Officer provides executive leadership and strategic direction for all Roads to Success programs, ensuring they are high-quality, mission-aligned, and responsive to the evolving needs of youth, families, and school partners. The CPO oversees the development, implementation, and evaluation of program models including afterschool and community school initiatives while guiding senior program staff, setting organizational standards, and driving continuous improvement. This role ensures that all programming advances organizational goals, meets funder and district expectations, and delivers meaningful, measurable impact across communities served.
ORGANIZATIONAL ROLE: Reports To: Chief Executive Officer
Supervises: Deputy Director of After School Programs and Deputy Director of Education and Career Pathways
Schedule: Fulltime Monday- Friday, Occasional weekends
Compensation: $115,000-$140,000
RESPONSIBILITIES: - Provide visionary leadership for Roads to Success’s program portfolio, ensuring all initiatives align with the organization’s mission, strategic goals, and quality standards.
- Develop, train, and supervise the Program Team , fostering a culture of professional growth, accountability, and high performance.
- Oversee the coordination, integration, and delivery of all programs, contracts, and related services , ensuring seamless operations and strong collaborative relationships across departments.
- Ensure expectations of funders, partners, constituents, clients, and other key stakeholders are consistently met through high-quality program execution and responsive communication.
- Lead data-driven decision-making by coordinating, monitoring, and analyzing relevant program and operational data to inform planning, improvement, and resource allocation.
- Leverage the Youth Development Impact Learning System (YDILS) to enhance organizational efficiency, transparency, and cross-team collaboration.
- Manage and strengthen program operations , providing strategic guidance to improve, expand, and evolve current initiatives.
- Develop new program concepts, pilot projects, and innovation strategies , and guide the successful integration of effective pilots across multiple RTS programs.
- Represent Roads to Success and the Chief Executive Officer at committees, task forces, conferences, speaking engagements, panels, and trainings, serving as a key ambassador for the organization.
- Cultivate and maintain positive relationships with school partners, community organizations, government agencies, and funders to support and grow RTS’s programmatic impact.
- Ensure compliance with licensing, contractual, and regulatory requirements , including oversight of reporting, monitoring, and quality assurance processes.
- Perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned by the Chief Executive Officer , supporting organizational priorities and strategic initiatives.
QUALIFICATIONS: - Educational Requirements: Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree in Education, Youth Development, Public Administration, Social Work, or a related field preferred.
- Professional Experience: Minimum of 5–7 years of experience in youth development, afterschool programming, or community school leadership, including at least 3 years in a supervisory or management role.
- Systems Knowledge: Familiarity with NYC DOE operations, Community School frameworks, DYCD contract requirements, and related compliance systems.
- Communication Skills: Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present information clearly to internal teams, school partners, and external stakeholders.
- Relationship-Building: Demonstrated ability to build and maintain positive relationships with diverse stakeholders, including school leaders, staff, families, community partners, and funders.
- Technical Proficiency: Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite (Outlook, Excel, Word), Google Workspace, DYCD Connect, and other data management platforms.
WORKING CONDITIONS: - The position is based in New York City and requires regular travel to multiple program sites across the boroughs.
- Must be comfortable working in NYC Department of Education school buildings as well as various community-based locations.
- Ability to work occasional evenings and weekends to support events, trainings, or special program needs.
- Occasional work travel as assigned for conferences, briefings and partnership trips
- Must be able to navigate stairs and lift or carry materials weighing up to 25 pounds as needed.
COMPETENCIES Y
outh Development Expertise - Deep understanding of positive youth development principles, including social-emotional learning and career readiness.
- Ability to design and implement evidence-based programs that foster confidence, resilience, and life skills in youth.
- Knowledge of adolescent development stages and strategies for engaging diverse youth populations.
Cultural Competency - Skilled in working with individuals from diverse cultural, racial, and socioeconomic backgrounds.
- Ability to create inclusive programs that respect and celebrate differences.
- Commitment to equity and ensuring all youth feel valued and represented.
Operational Leadership - Proven ability to oversee program strategy, execution, and evaluation.
- Experience managing budgets, supervising staff, and ensuring compliance with organizational policies.
- Strong problem-solving skills and resource allocation expertise to maintain program efficiency and quality.
Communication and Collaboration - Excellent verbal and written communication skills for engaging stakeholders, staff, youth, and partners.
- Ability to build strong relationships across departments and external organizations.
- Skilled in articulating program goals and inspiring collaboration toward shared objectives.
Adaptability - Flexibility to respond to changing needs, trends, and challenges in youth development.
- Ability to innovate and adjust strategies to remain relevant and effective.
- Resilience under pressure and capacity to lead teams through organizational changes.
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER We are an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.
We are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace where all employees feel welcome and valued. We believe that diversity and inclusion are essential to our success in serving youth.
DISCLAIMER This job description is intended to provide a general overview of the position and its essential functions. It is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all the duties and responsibilities that may be assigned to the staff member. The specific duties and responsibilities of the position may change from time to time, as determined by the needs of the organization.
The staff members must be able to perform the essential functions of the position satisfactorily, with or without reasonable accommodation. Reasonable accommodation will be provided to enable employees with disabilities to perform the essential functions of their job, absent undue hardship.
Job Tags
Full time, Contract work, Summer work, Casual work, Work at office, Monday to Friday, Afternoon shift,