Vice President of Programs, U.S.

buildOn • New York, NY

3d • $115,000 - $120,000 • Hybrid

About The Position

buildOn is a global nonprofit that unites people through service and education to ignite opportunity. In the U.S., buildOn runs intensive youth service-learning programs in under-resourced high schools, empowering students to transform their communities through service learning. As buildOn transitions to a chapter-based model in its U.S. operations, we are seeking a dynamic, mission-driven Vice President of Programs, U.S. This forward-looking role will drive program excellence and innovation across all of buildOn’s U.S. programs. The VP will be a key member of buildOn’s Senior Leadership Team and will directly manage the New York Program Director, Connecticut Program Manager, and Director of Community Partnerships, while serving as the primary field-facing leader responsible for driving program quality, coaching staff, and holding chapters accountable to model fidelity across all regions. This is an inspiring opportunity for an ambitious candidate to shape the future of a national youth service movement and amplify buildOn’s impact on students and communities across the country.

Requirements

• Deep commitment to buildOn's mission, values, and the transformative power of youth service-learning in underserved communities.
• Bachelor's degree required.
• Minimum 6 years of progressive leadership experience in youth development, service-learning, or community-based nonprofit programs, with a demonstrated track record of achieving results through teams.
• Proven ability to design and lead empowering programs that engage youth.
• Strong leadership, communication, and relationship-building skills, with experience engaging staff, community partners, donors, and external stakeholders including funders and board members.
• Deep knowledge of the systemic barriers facing underserved communities and a commitment to developing youth as drivers of lasting social change.
• Highly organized with the ability to manage multiple programs and priorities simultaneously across regions and teams.
• Committed to continuous learning and reflective practice, with a growth mindset and investment in team development.

Responsibilities

• Oversee effective implementation of buildOn's U.S. service-learning methodology across all chapters. Champion fidelity to our program model and core values, and monitor KPIs that measure methodology implementation and effectiveness.
• Set national program priorities and ensure Chapter strategies align with buildOn's overarching vision. Partner with Executive Directors and Program Directors to develop and monitor annual and multi-year program plans, driving accountability through common frameworks and field observations. With authority to flag concerns and escalate to senior leadership. Facilitate cross-regional exchange of best practices to build a unified national team.
• Directly manage the New York Program Director, Connecticut Program Manager, and Director of Community Partnerships. Serve as the primary program quality authority, conducting regular site visits, observing programming, and providing coaching and feedback to Regional Leadership. While Executive Directors do not report directly to this role, VP findings feed directly into chapter performance reviews and course corrections. This is a hands-on, field-based leadership role, not an advisory one.
• Drive development of new program initiatives and continuous improvement of existing programs, aligned with buildOn's Theory of Change. Continually refine curriculum and service activities to deepen student impact and respond to evolving school and community needs.
• Collaborate with buildOn's Data & Impact (M&E) team to measure program outcomes and evaluate impact. Leverage data to inform decision-making, improve curriculum and delivery, and demonstrate results to stakeholders and funders.
• Lead ongoing professional development of U.S. program staff and regional leaders through training, coaching, and knowledge-sharing initiatives. Foster a culture of continuous improvement and Constructive Leadership development across all program staff.
• Manage buildOn's U.S. immersion program through the Director of Community Partnerships, ensuring high-quality experiences that deepen student and donor engagement.
• Lead and manage school district relationships, including MoUs, vendor status, and related agreements for non-chapter regions (New York City and Connecticut). In established chapters, support Executive Directors in maintaining and renewing district partnerships, providing guidance but deferring primary relationship ownership to the ED.
• Work in close partnership with buildOn’s CEO, COO, and other senior leaders to ensure that program strategy is integrated with overall organizational strategy.
• Contribute to organization-wide decisions and represent buildOn’s U.S. programs to boards and external audiences.

What This Job Offers

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