Chief Program Officer, EdRedesign Lab

Harvard University • Cambridge, MA

1d • Hybrid

About The Position

The EdRedesign Lab at the Harvard Graduate School of Education seeks an inaugural Chief Program Officer (CPO) to serve as a member of the organization’s Executive Leadership Team. The CPO will oversee the design, implementation, growth, and impact of EdRedesign’s flagship talent development programs and field-building initiatives supporting 70+ communities nationwide to develop cradle-to-career systems of opportunity that place millions of young people and families on pathways to educational attainment and economic mobility. Reporting to the Executive Director, the CPO will catalyze programmatic innovations, cultivate a high-performing and collaborative team culture, contribute to organizational strategy and fundraising, and help position EdRedesign as a leading national hub in US higher education advancing the cradle-to-career place-based partnership field. This role is ideal for a mission-driven leader who combines strategic vision with operational excellence and is passionate about improving outcomes for children, youth, and families through collective impact across education, health, workforce, housing, social services, and related community development systems.

Requirements

• Master's degree or equivalent experience in education, public policy, social work, nonprofit management, public administration, social entrepreneurship, or related field.
• Minimum of 12 years of progressive senior leadership experience managing complex programs, networks, or organizations.
• Demonstrated experience leading cross-sector initiatives involving education, government, nonprofit, philanthropy, and community stakeholders.
• Experience supervising and developing high-performing teams.
• Experience managing multi-million-dollar budgets with significant regional and/or national-level reach.
• Ability to travel for national field-building events, funder meetings, and related programming and national events.

Nice To Haves

• Strong commitment to the mission, vision, and values of The EdRedesign Lab.
• National reputation and recognition in cross-sector collaboration, public policy, education, and/or related fields.
• Strong strategic planning, project management, and organizational leadership skills.
• The ability to represent EdRedesign, the Harvard Graduate School of Education, and Harvard University both internally and externally.
• Excellent written, verbal, and presentation skills.
• Experience leading collective impact initiatives at the federal, state, and/or local levels.
• Experience designing and facilitating leadership development programs, fellowships, executive education, and/or technical assistance.
• Demonstrated success securing philanthropic funding and managing donor relationships.
• Familiarity with higher education-based organizations working at the intersection of research, practice, and policy.
• Experience working with multiple constituencies, including community-based non-profit organizations, philanthropies and major donors, academic partners, and for-profit businesses.
• Ability to work with a team effectively across different projects and work streams.
• Ability to work independently, analyze problems, and develop practical solutions.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership and oversight to EdRedesign’s program team that lead the day-to-day of the organization’s flagship talent development programs and field-building initiatives, including: Institute for Success Planning, EdRedesign Fellowship for Cradle-to-Career Partnership Leaders, By All Means Senior Fellows Program, Student Pathways Programming, and Emerging Talent Development Initiatives.
• Provide strategic financial stewardship and oversight to all of EdRedesign’s flagship talent development programs.
• Lead the development and execution of a multi-year strategy to refine EdRedesign’s programmatic priorities, strengthen and scale flagship programs, and ensure alignment with the organization’s field-building objectives.
• Play a leading role in ensuring effective cross-departmental collaboration between EdRedesign’s program team and the research, communications, finance, and operations teams.
• Ensure program quality, innovation, and measurable impact across all offerings.
• Dedicate time and space with the programs team to pursue innovative practices, pilot new ideas, and adapt programming to emerging needs and sector-wide demand in the field.
• Identify opportunities for program enhancements, and strategic partnerships to fill gaps in the talent development landscape.
• Serve as a member of the Executive Leadership Team that sets the agenda for organization-wide strategic planning, resource allocation, and decision-making.
• Serves as the designated second-in-command on behalf of the Executive Director in their absence, providing leadership and decision-making authority across the organization's programmatic and operational functions.
• Work in close collaboration with EdRedesign’s Executive Team and senior staff to shape cross-departmental alignment, organizational culture, staff professional development, and the development of systems of operational excellence.
• Work in close collaboration with EdRedesign’s Executive Team and senior staff to develop an organization-wide learning and professional development agenda.
• Champion a culture of commitment to EdRedesign’s core values: equity, partnership, humility, vision, and learning.
• Develop and steward strategic partnerships that advance EdRedesign's mission and expand its impact.
• Provide strategic leadership, oversight and coverage to a subset of EdRedesign’s special projects, with a particular focus on emerging programming related to federal, state, and local policy implementation.
• Work in close collaboration with EdRedesign’s senior staff to deepen strategic partnerships across the Harvard University ecosystem with mission-aligned centers, programs, initiatives, faculty, and staff.
• Partner with the Executive Director and development team to secure philanthropic support for programs and organizational growth.
• Contribute to EdRedesign funding proposals for relevant signature initiatives and external engagements.
• Provide strategic support to donor cultivation, proposal development, reporting, and stewardship activities.
• Serve as a spokesperson for EdRedesign in key venues that advance the organization’s thought leadership and field-level contributions, including major conferences and community events.
• Periodically deliver presentations, keynotes, and related talks.
• Participate in relevant panel discussions that advance national field-building.
• Participate in national working groups, steering committees, and related field-building efforts.

Benefits

• Generous paid time off including parental leave
• Medical, dental, and vision health insurance coverage starting on day one
• Retirement plans with university contributions
• Wellbeing and mental health resources
• Support for families and caregivers
• Professional development opportunities including tuition assistance and reimbursement
• Commuter benefits, discounts and campus perks

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Executive