Nonprofit Chief Program Officer

Nonprofit Chief Program Officer (Remote CPO)

$150,000-$160,000

Join a team that makes a difference in the lives of children and teens in the US foster care system!

Overview

The National Adoption Association (NAA) is strengthening its organizational leadership capacity to support increasing programmatic complexity, cross-program integration, membership engagement, professional learning initiatives, certification efforts, and long-term strategic growth. As part of this evolution, NAA is establishing a Chief Program Officer (CPO) role to provide executive-level leadership across its program portfolio and strengthen organizational alignment, coordination, and execution.

The Chief Program Officer (CPO) is a vital member of NAA's senior leadership team and serves as the organization's lead executive for program strategy, integration, and delivery. Reporting directly to the Chief Executive Officer, the CPO oversees NAA's federally funded programs while also providing strategic leadership for membership engagement, professional learning, certification initiatives, and practitioner-facing content.

As a strategic partner to the CEO, the CPO helps ensure that NAA's programs, partnerships, and initiatives operate in alignment with the organization's mission, vision, and strategic priorities. This role serves as a central point of accountability for cross-program coordination and organizational integration, helping reduce reliance on the CEO for day-to-day program alignment and execution as the organization continues to grow.

About the National Adoption Association (NAA)

The National Adoption Association (NAA) is the national leader in advancing best practices in adoption from foster care. We believe that adoption is addition, not subtraction. We unite birth, kin, and adoptive families for the benefit of children and youth in care to maintain familial and meaningful connections.

Education and Experience

The ideal candidate has experience within the Administration for Children and Families, executive-level strategy and advocacy experience for systems change, and a background in child welfare philanthropy. Additional experience and educational requirements are noted below.

• Bachelor's degree required. Master's degree preferred.
• A minimum of 10 years of progressive leadership experience in child welfare or related human services fields required.
• Minimum of five years in an executive-level leadership role with responsibility overseeing complex national child welfare programs and supporting organizational strategy required.
• Experience with ACF cooperative agreements, grants, or large-scale initiatives required.
• National child welfare experience overseeing federally funded programs or as a funder of child welfare programs preferred.
• Experience supporting professional learning, membership engagement, certification, technical assistance, or other field-facing initiatives strongly preferred.
• Experience working with executive leadership, boards of directors, funders, and external partners preferred.
• Demonstrated experience leading cross-functional work and coordinating across multiple programs, stakeholders, or teams.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Child Welfare & Permanency Expertise. Deep knowledge of child welfare practice, permanency, foster care adoption, kinship, guardianship, post-adoption support, and related systems and policies. Understanding of barriers that contribute to racial and ethnic disproportionality and inequitable outcomes.
• Executive Program Leadership. Demonstrated ability to lead complex programs and supervise senior leaders in a mission-driven environment. Experience strengthening alignment, accountability, and coordination across multiple initiatives or teams.
• Organizational Integration & Change Leadership. Ability to improve cross-program collaboration, establish clear ownership and accountability, and support organizational effectiveness in a growing and evolving environment.
• Strategic Thinking. Ability to translate organizational vision and strategic priorities into practical plans, initiatives, and measurable outcomes while managing complexity and competing priorities.
• Professional Learning & Field Engagement. Experience supporting professional learning, membership engagement, technical assistance, certification, training, or practitioner-facing initiatives that strengthen the field and advance best practices.
• Political Savvy & Relationship Management. Ability to navigate complex organizational, governmental, and external dynamics with diplomacy, sound judgment, and emotional intelligence. Experience working within federal child welfare systems, including the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) or Children's Bureau environment, is strongly preferred.
• Entrepreneurial & Organizational Development Mindset. Ability to translate vision, strategic ideas, and emerging opportunities into practical programs, partnerships, and operational plans that support organizational growth and impact.
• Data Informed Leadership. Ability to analyze complex information and use data, outcomes, and stakeholder feedback to guide decision-making, improve performance, and support organizational learning.
• Collaborative Leadership. Builds trust and productive working relationships across teams, partners, boards, and stakeholders. Encourages collaboration, information sharing, and thoughtful problem-solving.
• Effective Communication. Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to engage diverse audiences, facilitate alignment, and represent the organization with credibility and professionalism.
• Project & Program Management. Strong organizational and project management skills, including the ability to manage multiple priorities, support high-performing teams, and ensure timely execution of complex work.
• Integrity & Accountability. Demonstrates high ethical standards, sound judgment, accountability, and commitment to high-quality outcomes.

Role and Responsibilities

1. Executive Program Leadership & Organizational Strategy

• Serve as a key member of the senior leadership team and partner closely with the CEO on organizational strategy, growth, and long-term planning.
• Provide executive oversight and leadership across NAA's program portfolio, ensuring alignment with organizational priorities, mission, and vision.
• Support the development, stabilization, and scaling of emerging initiatives and strategic priorities across the organization.
• Help strengthen organizational integration and coordination across programs, partnerships, membership initiatives, professional learning efforts, and strategic projects.
• Support organizational decision-making by identifying operational, programmatic, and leadership needs associated with growth and increasing complexity.
• Help reduce over-reliance on the CEO for day-to-day program coordination, alignment, and execution by establishing stronger leadership structures, communication, and accountability across program areas.

2. Oversight of Federally Funded Programs & Program Leadership

• Supervise and support senior program leaders responsible for NAA's federally funded programs and other major initiatives.
• Provide leadership, coaching, guidance, and strategic support related to program execution, workplans, budgeting, staffing, partnerships, and performance outcomes.
• Ensure strong coordination and collaboration across program areas while maintaining compliance with funder expectations and organizational standards.
• Serve as a liaison and strategic partner between program leadership, the CEO, and federal partners or grant officers, as appropriate.
• Support continuous quality improvement efforts across programs by reviewing outcomes, identifying opportunities for improvement, and strengthening accountability and effectiveness.

1. 3. Membership, Professional Learning & Certification Initiatives

• Provide executive leadership for NAA's membership engagement, professional learning, certification, and practitioner-facing initiatives.
• Partner with staff, board members, external stakeholders, and subject matter experts to strengthen and expand NAA's professional learning and field engagement strategies.
• Support the development and implementation of certification, professional learning, and related engagement initiatives designed to advance best practices in adoption from foster care.
• Oversee strategies that strengthen member engagement, retention, outreach, and value delivery across NAA's national network.
• Support webinars, trainings, conferences, and other learning opportunities that position NAA as a national leader in child welfare practice and permanency.

1. 4. Fundraising & Strategic Partnerships

• Build and maintain strong relationships with funders, federal partners, national organizations, universities, consultants, and other strategic partners.
• Represent the CEO and organization in external meetings, partnerships, donor conversations, and strategic initiatives, as requested.
• Support organizational growth efforts, including partnership development, grant opportunities, strategic initiatives, and external collaborations.
• Partner with the CEO and Development team to support fund development, strategic positioning, and organizational visibility.

1. 5. Program Performance, Learning & Continuous Improvement

• Oversee systems and processes that support program performance, accountability, evaluation, and organizational learning.
• Use data, stakeholder feedback, and program outcomes to inform strategic decisions and continuous improvement efforts.
• Support the development of performance measures, reporting structures, and evaluation practices that strengthen program quality and organizational effectiveness.
• Ensure programs and initiatives are aligned with organizational priorities, operational capacity, and long-term sustainability.

1. 6. Executive Partnership & Organizational Coordination

• Serve as a strategic partner to the CEO in advancing organizational priorities, strengthening cross-program alignment, and supporting executive-level decision-making.
• Provide leadership and coordination across programs, membership initiatives, professional learning efforts, certification activities, and other strategic initiatives to ensure alignment with NAA's mission and organizational goals.
• Support Board committees and leadership groups relevant to the role, including membership, workforce engagement, professional learning, and strategic initiatives.
• Help strengthen organizational communication, accountability, and coordination across program areas as NAA continues to grow in scale and complexity.
• Support executive leadership functions by representing NAA in meetings, partnerships, funder conversations, and strategic initiatives, as requested.
• Work closely with the CFOO and other senior leaders to ensure strong alignment between program strategy, operational capacity, financial sustainability, and organizational infrastructure.
• Help reduce over-reliance on the CEO for day-to-day program integration and organizational coordination by establishing clearer ownership, stronger communication structures, and more consistent leadership across program areas.

Additional Notes

NAA conducts background checks, including child protective services and sex offender registry checks, on all employees.

This position may require occasional evenings and weekends. This role requires travel approximately three to five times per year for team meetings, events, and other organizational needs.

Benefits and Compensation

The CPO salary range is $150,000 - $160,000, commensurate with experience and education. As a member of our team, you will receive a competitive salary and a generous benefits package, including a gold health plan, dental and vision insurance that is 100% employer paid for employees, employer retirement plan contribution, and professional development opportunities, among others. You will also enjoy meaningful work as part of a dedicated group of professionals making an impact.

How to Apply

Please apply online at https://adoptnaa.isolvedhire.com/jobs/ with a resume and cover letter. Applications without a cover letter will not be considered. Target start date is August 2026.

NAA is an Equal Opportunity employer. We do not discriminate based on race, religion, color, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability, or other protected status.