Chief Program Officer

Future Caucus•Washington, DC

9d•$151,000 - $163,000•Hybrid

About The Position

The Chief Program Officer (CPO) is a senior executive responsible for translating Future Caucus’ strategy into a high-impact experience for lawmakers throughout their lifecycle within the network. This role ensures that the lawmaker experience yields measurable results aligned with the organization's mission and long-term outcomes. The CPO manages a team dedicated to executing exceptional programming and represents Future Caucus’ programmatic strategy and impact to external stakeholders. Key responsibilities include establishing a standard for excellent programming, developing the team's leadership capabilities, and fostering strong organizational learning cycles to inform programmatic decisions. As a member of the executive team, the CPO collaborates with the President & CEO and other senior leaders to ensure cohesion between programmatic and organizational outcomes, and advises on strategic opportunities and threats that enhance the ability of young legislators to govern effectively. The CPO will focus on strategic, sustainable growth for Future Caucus programming, acting as an external representative for the CEO at functions, with funders, and in the media. They oversee a team responsible for strategic planning implementation, the lawmaker engagement lifecycle (from recruitment to alumnihood), cross-state programming and state chapter success, and program evaluation & learning. A strong emphasis is placed on rigorous relationship management, data tracking, seamless internal communications, and collaborative cross-team relationships. The ideal candidate is excited about organizational growth, skilled at translating visionary ideas into execution, experienced in developing leaders, understands the realities of elected officials (especially at the state level), and possesses an entrepreneurial spirit with a commitment to bipartisan collaboration.

Requirements

10+ years of relevant experience
At least 4 years of experience managing senior leaders and multidisciplinary teams across multiple programs on team sizes of 5+
Track record of leading teams to achieve more than they thought possible through strong staff development, coaching & leadership
In-depth familiarity with state-level politics and the day to day governing needs of young lawmakers
A known dot-connector who is more motivated by getting things right than by being right
Natural relationship builder with a knack for network building
Comfortable speaking publicly on behalf of Future Caucus to VIP rooms
Creative, entrepreneurial, and self-motivated
Has a high bar for excellence and an ability to motivate others to achieve it
Detail-oriented and proactive communicator, not only skilled at managing those who report to you, but managing up laterally
Must be located in the Washington, D.C. metro area, or be willing to relocate.

Nice To Haves

Significant experience developing other leaders
Deep understanding of the realities facing elected officials, especially at the state level
Eager to bring an entrepreneurial spirit to their work
Sincere commitment to working across partisan lines

Responsibilities

Supervise, coach & lead a group of program leaders and their direct reports; operating as a multiplier who seeks to unlock the intelligence and potential of all team members
Create and implement information sharing streams across legislator-facing teams that enable more strategic decision making, communication, and cooperation
Model and establish an effective feedback and learning culture across the program team, contributing to a staff-wide living of our organizational values
Set performance goals and accountability systems to build a culture of results-based leadership
Shape and clarify emerging roles, teams, and operating models as Future Caucus grows, working with the senior leadership team to ensure each team member has what they need to do some of the best work of their lives
Develop a team-based environment to motivate and inspire staff to work collaboratively toward vision and goals
Organize work allocation & project management, training, problem resolution, and performance evaluation for your direct reports, and support your direct reports in doing so for their teams
Support the development and management of budgets across all programmatic activities and initiatives, in collaboration with the senior leadership team
Translate Future Caucus’ organizational strategy into clear programmatic priorities, goals, outcomes, and measures of success for the program team
Manage the design & oversee the execution of a strategy for the ideal Future Caucus member lifecycle, from identifying and recruiting prospective members, to onboarding and ongoing engagement, to an “alumni” transition
Monitor emerging needs and interests among key stakeholders such as legislators, partner organizations, and funders, partnering with the executive team to turn field insights into tangible organizational action
Build and execute clear programmatic learning cycles that enable your team to 1) monitor progress to goals; 2) analyze data & adjust to emerging trends; and 3) inform programmatic strategy
Ensure the state chapter model and cross-state programming model work in concert with one another, leading to real outcomes for chapters & lawmakers as a result of the synthesis of deep relationship building, powerful leadership training, innovative policy solutions, and robust press coverage
Lead program input into strategic and annual planning, ensuring alignment to organizational priorities
Support program directors in developing and strengthening strategic partnerships, ensuring the partnerships align with organizational need and enhance organizational strategy
Create and manage accountability systems so that relationship management data is captured in organizational CRM systems across the program team
Think 2-4 years ahead for the entire organization & your teams, looking around the corner to identify strengths, opportunities, threats & weaknesses that the organization should act on
Represent Future Caucus’s programmatic strategy, quality, and impact with credibility before funders, partners, policymakers, and other high-level external audiences
Provide leadership within & thought partnership to the executive team on organizational priorities, work planning, team coordination, and team culture
Participate in quarterly Board of Directors meetings, sharing relevant updates and integrating insights or feedback back into Future Caucus efforts
Collaborate with the Development department to align grant proposals and reports to organizational priorities, making certain that grant requirements are met through programmatic execution and achievements
Perform other related duties as needed