New York Common Pantry

Chief Program & Strategy Officer — Position Description

About New York Common Pantry

New York Common Pantry is one of the city’s largest hunger relief organizations, providing food assistance, case management services, senior food provision, nutrition education, and hygiene services. We are a dynamic, mission-driven organization experiencing rapid growth and expansion.

NYCP is a poverty-fighting organization that reduces hunger and promotes dignity, health, and self-sufficiency by using a holistic approach. Last year, we assisted over 800,000 visitors, served over 12.5 million meals, and accessed $10.8 million in public benefits resources for our guests. Through an array of programs that we offer, we look to establish long-term stability for those we serve.

The Opportunity

The Chief Program & Strategy Officer (CPSO) is a key member of the executive leadership team and NYCP’s senior leader for programs, impact strategy, government affairs, and research. Reporting to the Chief Executive Officer, the CPSO provides strategic leadership and oversight for all direct-service programs while helping shape the organization’s long-term growth, public policy engagement, and impact measurement. The CPSO ensures that NYCP’s programs are mission-aligned, responsive to community needs, operationally effective, and positioned for sustainable growth. The role leads a broad portfolio encompassing food programs, social services, nutrition education, program quality and innovation, research and evaluation, government relations, and strategic planning. The CPSO supervises senior program, analytics, and government affairs leaders and works collaboratively across development, finance, operations, communications, and human resources.

Key Responsibilities

Program Leadership & Service Excellence

• Provide executive leadership and oversight for all NYCP programs and services.

• Ensure high-quality, client-centered, equitable, and culturally responsive service delivery.

• Strengthen integration among programs to maximize client outcomes and access to services.

• Monitor program performance, quality, compliance, and operational effectiveness.

• Support program leaders in developing high-performing teams and strong management practices.

• Identify opportunities for innovation, expansion, and continuous improvement.

Strategy & Organizational Growth

• Lead implementation of the programmatic components of NYCP’s strategic plan.

• Advise the CEO and Board on emerging community needs, trends, opportunities, and risks.

• Develop strategies that expand NYCP’s impact, geographic reach, partnerships, and service models.

• Lead planning related to program growth, new initiatives, and mission impact.

• Foster a culture that balances data-driven decision making with dignity-centered service delivery.

Government Affairs & External Partnerships

• Develop and execute NYCP’s government affairs and public funding strategy.

• Cultivate productive relationships with elected officials, government agencies, and public-sector partners.

• Monitor legislative, regulatory, and funding developments affecting food security, poverty alleviation, public benefits, and nonprofit services.

• Collaborate with executive leadership on advocacy priorities and public policy engagement.

• Represent NYCP with government, coalition, and community stakeholders.

Research, Data & Impact

• Oversee research, evaluation, data analytics, and impact measurement functions.

• Establish organizational performance metrics and outcome frameworks.

• Ensure that program and organizational decisions are informed by high-quality data and analysis.

• Lead development of dashboards, performance reports, and insights for executive leadership and the Board.

• Promote a culture of learning, accountability, and evidence-based practice.

Executive & Team Leadership

• Serve as a member of the executive leadership team, contributing to organization-wide planning and decision making.

• Supervise, mentor, and develop senior leaders across programs, analytics, and government affairs.

• Collaborate closely with the Chief Finance & Administration Officer, Chief Development Officer, and other senior leaders.

• Support Board committees and provide reports, analyses, and strategic recommendations.

• Help cultivate a culture rooted in collaboration, accountability, innovation, and respect.

Qualifications

• Advanced degree (e.g., MS, MA, MSW, PhD) in public administration, social work, public policy, public health, nonprofit management, or a related field preferred.

• Minimum of 10 years of progressive leadership experience in human services, anti-poverty work, public health, community development, or a related nonprofit field.

• Significant experience managing complex programs, multiple departments, senior-level staff, and substantial budgets.

• Demonstrated success in strategic planning, organizational growth, and systems-level leadership.

• Experience working with government agencies, public funding, contracts, and regulatory compliance.

• Strong understanding of program evaluation, data analytics, and performance management.

• Exceptional communication, relationship-building, and leadership skills.

• Commitment to NYCP’s mission and values of dignity, health, equity, and self-sufficiency.

FT Benefits: 

• Paid Holidays 

• Paid Time Off, including Vacation, Personal, and Sick

• Medical, Medical Expense Reimbursement Plan, Dental, and Vision insurance

• Limited Purpose and dependent care FSA

• 403(b) Retirement Account 

• Employer-Paid Life Insurance and Long-Term Disability

• Voluntary Life Insurance

• Voluntary Pet Insurance

• Pre-tax Transit Benefits

This is not an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, skills, efforts or requirements, or working conditions associated with the job. While this is intended to be an accurate reflection of the current job, management reserves the right to revise the job or to require that other or different tasks be performed as assigned. This description does not constitute a contract of employment and NYCP may exercise its employment-at-will rights at any time.

New York Common Pantry is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to you without regard to race, creed, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy, marital status, age, veteran status, medical condition or disability, genetic information, gender identity, or any other protected status under federal, state, or local law.