Organization Overview

The mission of Onward We Learn is to prepare and inspire young people in Rhode Island to become the first in their families to attend and complete college. From the time they join through their early years of college, participants experience the steady, nurturing presence of caring adults and participate in programs that focus on academic enrichment, personal development, career exploration, and college preparation.

Purpose of the Position

The Chief Program Officer (CPO) serves as a key member of the executive leadership team, responsible for strategic direction, program delivery, and quality assurance across Onward We Learn’s portfolio of services. This role ensures that all programming aligns with grant goals, meets performance benchmarks, and reflects best practices in college access and success. The CPO oversees program directors, manages district partnerships, drives continuous improvement, and collaborates with other Onward senior staff to ensure financial sustainability and organizational excellence.

Job Responsibilities:

Strategic Direction and Implementation

• Set direction for all programming components within and across the organization while maintaining alignment with Onward’s mission, vision, and values.
• Lead the design, implementation, and scaling of programs that support college readiness, access, and success, ensuring all programming reflects evidence-based practices from the field.
• Develop metrics on program effectiveness and use data to continuously improve college success systems and outcomes across the organization.
• Collaborate with colleagues on the executive team on processes and controls that support effective program monitoring and evaluation, ensuring that program goals and objectives are consistently met.

Talent Management and Staff Development

• Supervise, support, develop, and evaluate the Program Directors, providing strong team leadership to all program team members, ensuring they are positioned to deliver high-quality programs and services.
• Conduct regular one-on-one and team meetings, offering coaching, mentorship, and professional development focused on student engagement, data analysis, and program evaluation.
• Determine, implement, and oversee staffing plans that support achievement of program goals and objectives, and refine as necessary.
• Foster a high-performing, collaborative culture; ensure a positive work environment and coordinate professional development for program staff.

Partnerships and External Relations

• Promote Onward’s mission, vision, and programmatic offerings with critical external stakeholders, including government officials, funders, school partners, higher-education institutions, parents/families, and national partners, serving as a senior spokesperson who builds, sustains, and elevates strategic relationships that expand reach, impact, and service opportunities.
• Negotiate, manage, and maintain MOUs with school districts; align services and delivery plans to district college access and preparedness priorities; convey program impact and outcomes; and proactively troubleshoot issues with district leaders to safeguard partnership health and performance.
• Collaborate with executive team colleagues in reporting program success and milestones to funders, key stakeholders, and the public.
• Serve as an organizational representative on committees, task forces, and at external events, including conferences, panels, and training sessions.

Organizational Leadership

• Collaborate and communicate across the entire Executive and Program Leadership, made up of Chiefs, Directors, and individual contributors.
• Serve as a key representative of Onward’s work broadly, and the Programming team’s efforts specifically, in a variety of settings from one-on-one meetings to large presentations at professional conferences.
• Foster a healthy culture for the Programming team, and, alongside the rest of the Leadership Team, to positively influence culture across the entire organization.
• Serve as an active member of the organizational Executive Team, supporting that team’s ability to implement Onward’s strategic plan and deliver on organization-wide goals and initiatives, and report to the Board of Directors, along with the CEO and other team members, on the impact, success, and challenges of the program.
• Partner with Onward colleagues, as needed, to support fundraising, messaging, and organizational storytelling.

Supervisory Responsibilities

• Lead and manage direct report(s) by setting clear expectations, establishing goals and objectives, conducting regular check-ins, and conducting performance evaluations.
• Collaborate with the Senior Director of People and Culture to identify, recruit, and hire additional staff as needed to fulfill job responsibilities.
• Support professional growth and development of direct report(s), including the identification of training and development opportunities in partnership with the Senior Director of People and Culture.
• Provide support and guidance to all staff members in the organization regarding development strategies, messaging, and best practices.

Required:

• Master’s degree and background in youth development, education, or a similar field.
• A minimum of ten years of leadership experience overseeing programs serving youth or communities in a nonprofit, government, or philanthropy environment.
• Demonstrated experience building and managing a high-performing team responsible for delivering multiple programs.
• Exceptional written, oral, and presentation skills with the ability to effectively communicate with senior management, staff, and external stakeholders.
• Proven ability to be an analytic and decisive decision-maker with the ability to prioritize and communicate to staff key objectives and tactics necessary to achieve organizational goals.
• Strong relationship builder and facilitator who can find common ground, build consensus, and strengthen collaboration among diverse stakeholders both within and external to the organization.

Preferred

• Comprehensive working knowledge of program planning, budgeting, administration, and grant development.
• Familiarity with the latest trends in the field of college access and success for first-generation students.
• Experience with the legislative and policymaking process in Rhode Island.

Review of applications will begin immediately. Anticipated start date for this role is May - July 2026

Total Rewards and Benefits

Onward We Learn offers a comprehensive benefits package that helps our employees live their best lives and grow personally and professionally. Our comprehensive benefits package includes medical, dental, vision, disability, life insurance, flex spending accounts, generous paid time off, an Employee Assistance Program (EAP), and a 403(b)retirement plan with organizational match.

Onward We Learn, a non-profit 501(c)3 organization, is an affirmative action equal opportunity employer.