Chief Program Officer, EdRedesign Lab at Harvard University — Cambridge, MA

Job Summary:

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.

Job-Specific Responsibilities: Strategic Leadership and Oversight of Flagship Talent Development Programs

• The Chief Program Officer will 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 — supporting cross-sector collaborations across the nation to develop relationship-based personalized systems of support for young people and families.
• EdRedesign Fellowship for Cradle-to-Career Partnership Leaders — supporting the comprehensive leadership development of the next wave of senior leaders of cradle-to-career place-based partnerships.
• By All Means Senior Fellows Program — a visiting fellowship for exemplary senior leaders of place-based collaborative action.
• Student Pathways Programming — advancing strategies to enroll Harvard students and emerging young professionals across the nation into careers in the cradle-to-career place-based field.
• Emerging Talent Development Initiatives — emerging efforts to build replicable talent development infrastructure within Harvard Graduate School of Education degree programs, HGSE professional education and the broader Harvard University ecosystem. The development of strategic partnerships with mission-aligned US higher education institutions and national field-leading talent development programs and organizations.

Key program-level responsibilities:

• Provide strategic leadership, coaching, mentoring and professional development support to the EdRedesign program team.
• 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.

Organization-wide Leadership and Cross-Departmental Alignment

• 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.

Strategic Partnerships, Fundraising and External Relations

• Develop and steward strategic partnerships that advance EdRedesign's mission and expand its impact. Identify new opportunities to expand the footprint of the cradle-to-career place-based partnership field with national nonprofits, higher education institutions, national networks, national service programs, community-based organizations, local governments, school districts, and related spheres of influence.
• 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.

Working Conditions:

EdRedesign is a hybrid work environment with some staff working in the office at least part of each work week while other staff are primarily remote. The Chief Program Officer may opt for either work arrangement in consultation with the Executive Director.

Basic Qualifications:

• 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.

Additional Qualifications and Skills:

• 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.
• Appointment End Date:
• Standard Hours/Schedule: 35 hours per week
• Compensation Range/Rate (including Shift Differential if applicable):
• Visa Sponsorship Information: Harvard University is unable to provide visa sponsorship for this position
• Pre-Employment Screening: Identity and Education

Work Format Details

Salary Grade and Ranges

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