Chief Program Officer

Description:

Primary Responsibilities: The Chief Program Officer provides oversight and leadership for the vision,
strategy, and implementation of comprehensive advising support and wraparound interventions for all
Wallin Education Partners (WEP) program participants. As a member of the senior leadership team, the
Chief Program Officer participates in research and decision making to guide the future direction of the
organization. As a result, this position represents the programs department in the overall operations of the
organization. The Chief Program Officer is also responsible for the culture of the programs department,
including working across WEP to ensure organizational effectiveness and efficiency to support program
participants.

Leadership (25%)

Provide vision and direction for team, inclusive of management and operations.
Develop policies and procedures related to programmatic requirements and approaches to advising.
Collaborate with the finance team on policies and procedures for financial aid disbursement.
Create and ensure a positive work environment that fosters positive morale and a healthy,
supportive, and collaborative culture.
Work collaboratively with senior leadership team to increase public awareness and identity of
programs, particularly among philanthropic and university partners.
Contribute to the development and launch of new initiatives, with potential to lead and provide
oversight for successful new programming.

Management (25%)
Lead the recruitment, hiring, onboarding, and training of new managers and advisors.
Provide supervisory oversight and manage performance reviews for programs staff (direct
supervision for Scholar Program Managers).
Establish, communicate, and model exceptional student support and outstanding quality work.
Prioritize ongoing staff growth and development through coaching and support.
Troubleshoot student issues and act as a first line of consultation for advising staff.
Establish a culture of trust, collaboration, and team unity.
Program Design (25%)
Oversee the design, implementation, and communication of program structure and curriculum to
support successful outcomes for scholars, preparing them for future post-graduate and career
success.

Develop program-wide communication strategies and campaigns to support student learning and
engagement with the program, their home institutions, and donor partners.
Create and maintain relationships with college and university leaders at partner institutions in
student affairs and academic affairs divisions.
Oversee development and implementation of new programming to promote student engagement and
academic and co-curricular success.

Research and Evaluation (15%)

Design and implement a monitoring and evaluation plan to measure outcomes across programs.
Develop and maintain systems to track retention and progress towards degree completion for
individual students, and across the program.
Collaborate with staff to evaluate the impact of the program on short, medium, and long-term
outcomes, contributing to continuous quality improvement and external reporting.

Financial Management, Budgeting, and Advancement (10%)
Develop and manage budget for programs function.
Provide monthly expense reports, when requested.
Complete various tasks and perform miscellaneous projects as requested by President/CEO.

Minimum Qualifications and Experience:

Master’s degree or equivalent experience in higher education, student affairs, organizational
development, social work, counseling required (terminal degree preferred).
Eight or more years of progressive leadership experience in higher education and/or in the
educational nonprofit sector.
Excellent collaboration, and relationship-building skills to effectively work with a diverse
group/variety of people and personalities, including developing relationships with Board members,
donor and corporate partners, volunteers, and staff.
Expertise in developing and implementing programs focused on ensuring successful college
outcomes for scholars, particularly those supporting low-income and underserved populations.
Experience in change-management and partnering with other members of senior leadership to
strengthen the culture of the organization and improve effectiveness and efficiency.
Experience in designing and implementing DEI-focused processes and procedures to support the
program, scholars, team members, and related stakeholders.
Experience supervising and managing staff and developing high performing teams.
Preferred Qualifications and Experience:
Expert skills in all Microsoft Office 365 including Teams, SharePoint, Outlook, and other Microsoft
suite apps. Must be able to easily learn in-house programs that drive efficiency and effectiveness.

Beyond the basic qualifications, candidates must demonstrate a commitment to Wallin Education Partner’s
mission and values—and a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion through learning, training, and
dialogue on an ongoing basis.