POSITION SPECIFICATION

Chief Program Officer, The Door

New York, NY

ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY

Reporting to the CEO of The Door and Broome Street Academy, the Chief Program Officer (“CPO”) will serve as a strategic, entrepreneurial, and mission-driven leader responsible for advancing the organization’s programmatic vision, operational excellence, and impact for the young people it serves.

As a key member of the executive leadership team, the CPO will oversee the day-to-day operations of The Door’s comprehensive portfolio of youth development programs and services. This leader will work closely with senior leadership and program teams to ensure programs operate effectively, remain responsive to emerging community needs, and continue to deliver measurable outcomes for the young people and communities The Door serves.

Headquartered in Lower Manhattan with an additional site in the South Bronx, The Door employs approximately 300 staff members and operates with an annual budget of roughly $32 million. The CPO will lead a large and diverse team of program leaders and staff across multiple program areas and locations, with six direct reports.

This is a highly visible leadership opportunity for a collaborative executive energized by youth development, social justice, and systems change, and motivated to strengthen one of New York City’s most respected youth-serving organizations.

Key responsibilities include:

Program Leadership & Strategic Oversight

• Provide strategic leadership and operational oversight for The Door’s diverse portfolio of youth development programs located at the organization’s SoHo headquarters, Bronx satellite site, and supportive housing units in the East Village.
• Manage program compliance for all The Door program contracts including public and private funders and regulatory bodies.
• Develop mechanisms for consulting, technical assistance, and program model sharing of best practices.
• Ensure that The Door reflects best practices and core principles of youth development and diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• Foster a strong organizational culture aligned with The Door’s values and grounded in collaboration, equity, and trauma-informed practice.
• Maintain an integrated partnership with The Door's charter high school, Broome Street Academy (“BSA”), and program integration for the BSA student body.
• Represent and lead The Door's advocacy and program agenda with government, nonprofit, and advocacy organizations, in partnership with The Door’s Vice President of Policy and Strategy.
• Ensure that the agency is well positioned to develop, identify, and implement new programs that address critical needs or gaps in services to the community; know whom the agency is serving, how its programs are structured and funded, how money is being spent, and what it costs to deliver high-quality services efficiently.
• Integrate and include the voice and activism of participants in Door programs and the development of The Door programming.

Management & Operational Excellence

• Lead, manage, and mentor The Door program staff, including direct supervision of senior leaders.
• Develop leadership capacity across the organization by delegating with accountability and building internal pathways for staff growth and advancement.
• In partnership with Human Resources, ensure that program staff on all levels reflect the diversity of the populations served at The Door. Drive an open culture of collaboration, integration, quality, innovation, data-driven decision-making, and intelligent use of resources. Working with Human Resources, facilitate labor management meetings and represent The Door at union negotiations; ensure that The Door maintains fair labor practices.
• In partnership with administrative leaders, optimize administrative functions and performance, including Facilities, HR, Finance, Development, IT, and Program Evaluation to strengthen accountability and service delivery.
• In partnership with the CFO, ensure program budgets, financial systems, and planning strategies support fiscal stability and accurately reflect the organization’s financial realities.

Public and Private Fundraising

• In partnership with the CEO and Development Department, steward relationships with local, state, and federal government agencies and institutional funders that support The Door’s programs. 
• Work with the CEO and Development team to identify and pursue new government and foundation funding opportunities while serving as a key program liaison to funders.

Advocacy, Field Leadership & Community Engagement

• Position The Door as a national leader in youth development by supporting program staff in establishing senior leaders as program and advocacy voices in their respective fields, and by serving as an external representative to strengthen the organization’s visibility and support.
• Strengthen systems for communication and data collection to ensure the organization effectively measures programmatic trends, outcomes, and opportunities. Work closely with program and administrative teams to refine how data and impact are tracked, analyzed, and communicated internally and externally.
• Position The Door as a program leader relied upon by media outlets for coverage on issues affecting the young people it serves, including public policy, social justice, and advocacy.
• Promote awareness of The Door’s programs and services while strengthening community partnerships and referral networks.

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE

The Door seeks a dynamic and experienced nonprofit leader with a deep commitment to youth development and social justice. The ideal candidate will bring strong operational leadership, program management expertise, and the ability to inspire teams while navigating the complexity of a large, multi-service organization.

The ideal candidate will bring:

Youth Development & Program Leadership — Significant experience leading complex youth development or social service programs serving a population of diverse adolescents and young adults in an urban environment, with a strong understanding of holistic and trauma-informed approaches. Experience with one of The Door’s growing sectors, including workforce, immigration, and/or housing, is a plus.

Strategic & Operational Leadership — Demonstrated ability to balance long-term strategic vision with strong operational execution across multiple programs, teams, and services in a complex organization.

Team Leadership & Culture Building — Proven success leading senior teams and large, diverse staff groups while fostering an inclusive, collaborative, and mission-driven organizational culture. A leader who inspires trust, encourages teamwork, and develops high-performing talent.

Commitment to Equity & Social Justice — Deep understanding of racial equity, systemic inequality, and trauma-informed practice, with the ability to lead thoughtful conversations and organizational change around these issues.

Nonprofit Financial & Funding Leadership — Experience managing complex budgets and programs supported by government contracts and philanthropic funding, with a strong understanding of compliance, reporting, and blended funding models.

External Leadership & Partnership Building — Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to represent the organization effectively with funders, government partners, community stakeholders, and the media.

Mission-Driven and Reflective Leadership — An authentic commitment to The Door’s mission and values, with a self-reflective leadership style, strong listening skills, and the ability to motivate and guide teams through change with empathy and clarity.

EDUCATION: Bachelor’s degree required. Graduate degree preferred.

COMPENSATION: $200,000 - $220,000, commensurate with experience with generous benefits.

TO APPLY: Please submit a resume and a thoughtful cover letter.

For more information about The Door and its programs, please visit https://door.org/

The Door is an equal opportunity employer and strongly encourages applications from people of color, persons with disabilities, women, LGBTQ+, and other underrepresented applicants. The Door seeks a diverse pool of candidates. Salary will be negotiable, commensurate with experience.

The Door

Founded in 1972, The Door is one of New York City’s leading youth development organizations, serving more than 11,000 young people ages 12–24 each year from across the city. Through its integrated model, young people can access a wide range of services—including health and mental health care, education and career development, legal services, supportive housing, recreation, and nutritious meals—free of charge and completely confidentially.

A defining feature of The Door’s approach is the coordination of services under one roof, enabling truly holistic, wraparound support. The Door is also home to Broome Street Academy, its in-house charter high school serving approximately 300 students annually. Widely respected in New York City and beyond, The Door has built a national reputation for innovation in youth development and for empowering young people to reach their full potential.