Chief Program Officer

About Beam Center
Beam Center is a collaborative and radically trusting learning community that empowers youth through spectacular and collaborative projects. We believe young people are capable of incredible things and work with over 5,000 youth annually across NYC’s five boroughs through school partnerships, apprenticeship programs, youth employment enterprises, and summer camps. Our work spans from our headquarters in Red Hook, Brooklyn, to our workshop on Governors Island, and our sleep-away camp in Strafford, New Hampshire.

In addition to nurturing youth, we cultivate a thriving community of like-minded peers and mentors who encourage each other’s ambitions and passions. High levels of staff support is a signature element of our model. The BEAM offers staff and participants opportunities to take creative risks, to learn new skills, and to collaborate on big projects in unique ways.

About the Position
The Chief Program Officer (CPO) will serve as a key member of Beam Center’s leadership team, responsible for overseeing the strategic development, implementation, and evaluation of all youth programming. This new role requires a leader who can champion our mission of intergenerational collaboration and creative cooperation while ensuring program quality, sustainability, and growth. The CPO will lead a diverse team of educators, artists, and youth development professionals in delivering transformative experiences that highlight young people as producers of learning and culture.

The CPO will be responsible for ensuring each aspect of our program is designed and implemented to achieve meaningful outcomes. This will require building the capacity of the team; identifying key leading indicators of success; designing robust data collection and evaluation practices; and working closely with all Beam Center programmatic teams. Much of the work of this position will be accomplished by supporting, supervising, and mentoring our Program Directors.

In addition to these responsibilities, the CPO is an important part of a larger team of passionate, dedicated individuals. The CPO will report directly to the Executive Director, and will work alongside all other Beam Center employees to support all-hands-on-deck initiatives, honor the strengths and experiences of the youth we serve, and build relationships to advance our mission.

Responsibilities
Organizational Leadership
Work with other executive-level staff to provide strategic leadership & support high-level decision-making for the organization

Participate in regular Leadership Team meetings

Prepare and provide program reports for Leadership Team & Board of Directors as necessary

Collaborate with Leadership Team & Board of Directors on organizational governance and strategic direction

Participate in Board meetings on an as-needed basis

Strategic Program Leadership
Develop and implement a comprehensive program strategy aligned with Beam Center’s mission of empowering youth through spectacular collaborative projects

Ensure that programmatic aspects of Beam Center’s strategic plan are operationalized at the program level

Lead strategic planning processes for all program areas including school partnerships, apprenticeship programs, youth enterprises, and summer camps

Drive innovation in project-based learning methodologies that integrate technical skills, creative expression, and community building

Identify and incubate new program opportunities driven by youth needs, community partnerships, and emerging trends in maker education and alternative learning

Program Operations & Management
Oversee Beam Center’s ecosystem of internal programs and Enterprises, including all youth training, employment, afterschool, and camp programs

Collaborate with the Director of School Partnerships to ensure program coordination & fidelity across internal & school-based programs

Ensure consistent and clear communication between/across programs; schedule and facilitate Program Team meetings

Collaborate with Program Directors to plan for, allocate, and monitor their various personnel, space, tool, material, and other needs

Ensure safe working environments for staff and youth

Team Leadership & Development
Lead, mentor, support, and supervise a team of Program Directors, Managers, and Coordinators, each of whom has a team of direct reports

Foster a collaborative, equity-centered work environment that reflects Beam Center’s values of radical trust and intergenerational cooperation

Participate in recruitment and hiring processes for key program staff; lead hiring processes where appropriate

Develop staff capacity through trainings and career advancement opportunities

Work with direct reports & other Leadership Team members to create professional development plans for all supervisees

Create systems for effective communication and coordination across multiple programs, program sites, and partnerships

Conduct annual performance reviews for all direct reports

Community & Partnership Development
Build and maintain strategic relationships with community-based organizations and institutions

Serve as an external ambassador for Beam Center’s programming, representing the organization at conferences, panels, and other events as necessary

Coordinate with other Beam Center staff to ensure a cohesive approach to partnerships

Data & Evaluation
Establish and monitor key performance indicators, regularly evaluating programs to optimize youth outcomes and organizational impact

In collaboration with Program Directors, design & implement robust data collection and evaluation systems to measure program impact and youth outcomes

Utilize evaluation tools & program data to drive continual program improvement and decision-making around program expansion

Prepare comprehensive reports for organizational leadership, funders, BOD, and community stakeholders

Maintain compliance with all regulatory requirements for youth programming and funding contracts

Finance & Fundraising
Collaborate with Finance Dept. and Program Directors to develop and oversee program budgets

Work with Finance & Development Dept’s to develop program funding plans and identify specific funding opportunities

Support Development Dept. as needed in program-specific grant-writing and fundraising activities

Participate in the management of relationships with funders and supporters on an as-needed basis

Candidate Requirements
Education & Experience
Advanced degree in Education, Public Administration, Nonprofit Management, or related field strongly preferred

Minimum 7 years of progressive leadership experience in youth development, education, or nonprofit program management

At least 3 years in a senior management role with significant budget and staff oversight responsibilities

Skilled people manager, with experience building and leading teams and guiding team members’ growth and development

Experience with successful partnership development and management

Core Competencies
Adaptive Leadership: Proven ability to lead in dynamic, creative environments with diverse stakeholders and evolving program needs

Program Development: Strong track record of designing, implementing, and scaling innovative youth programs

Project & Team Management: Experience managing diverse teams of 15+ staff members with ability to coordinate complex, multi-site initiatives

Financial Acumen: Demonstrated experience with budget management, supporting grant writing and revenue diversification

Communication Excellence: Outstanding written and verbal communication skills for diverse audiences including youth, families, educators, funders, and community leaders

Collaboration: Able to work with a diverse team, see and honor the strengths of others, and build consensus

Strong critical and reflective thinking with the ability to make strategic and data-driven decisions

Deep understanding of positive youth development principles and trauma-informed practices

Preferred Qualifications
Education-Adjacent Experience:

Familiarity with alternative education models, vocational training, or maker education approaches

Understanding of STEM/STEAM pedagogy and hands-on learning methodologies

Experience with arts-integrated programming or creative youth development

Knowledge of NYC Department of Education systems and out-of-school time programming

Specialized Knowledge:

Background in trades, technical skills, or maker movement principles (fabrication, construction, digital media)

Experience with social enterprise or earned revenue program development

This is a full-time position requiring flexibility across multiple program sites in NYC and occasional travel to New Hampshire. Evening and weekend work may be required during peak programming periods. The role involves both office-based strategic work and hands-on program site visits. Must be comfortable in maker spaces, construction environments, and diverse community settings.

Compensation
Beam Center strongly believes in selecting the top, qualified candidates. As a part of your offer, you can expect to receive the following:

Annual Salary Range
$90,000 – $110,000, commensurate with experience and skills

Benefits

Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance

401(k)/Retirement Plan with employer match

Paid Time Off: holiday, vacation, and sick time

Hybrid work schedule with a minimum of 60% of work in office/in person (role and season dependent)

To Apply
Familiarize yourself with our organization by checking out our website (beamcenter.org), Instagram (@beamcenter.org), and YouTube (youtube.com/beamcenter).

Email the following in one PDF file to [email protected]:

Cover Letter – Address your leadership philosophy around youth development, your experience with program management at scale, and why Beam Center’s mission resonates with you. ( < 300 words)

Resume

Three professional references

Work sample (work photos, curriculum, link to website, etc)

Beam Center is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion.