Chief Program Officer, EdRedesign Lab

Job Summary

The EdRedesign Lab at the Harvard Graduate School of Education seeks an inaugural Chief Program Officer (CPO) to serve as a member of the organization’s Executive Leadership Team. The CPO will oversee the design, implementation, growth, and impact of EdRedesign’s flagship talent development programs and field‑building initiatives supporting over 70 communities nationwide to develop cradle‑to‑career systems of opportunity for millions of young people and families.

Reporting to the Executive Director, the CPO will catalyze programmatic innovations, cultivate a high‑performing and collaborative team culture, contribute to organizational strategy and fundraising, and help position EdRedesign as a national hub in U.S. higher education advancing the cradle‑to‑career place‑based partnership field.

• Lead support for the Institute for Success Planning, EdRedesign Fellowship for Cradle‑to‑Career Partnership Leaders, By All Means Senior Fellows Program, Student Pathways Programming, and Emerging Talent Development Initiatives.
• Provide strategic leadership, coaching, mentoring, and professional development to the program team.
• Provide financial stewardship and oversight to flagship programs.
• Develop and execute a multi‑year strategy to refine programmatic priorities, strengthen and scale flagship programs, and align with field‑building objectives.
• Ensure effective cross‑departmental collaboration with research, communications, finance, and operations teams.
• Maintain program quality, innovation, and measurable impact.
• Dedicate time for innovative practices, pilot new ideas, and adapt programming to emerging needs and sector demand.

• Serve on the Executive Leadership Team, setting organization‑wide strategic planning and resource allocation.
• Act as second‑in‑command in the Executive Director’s absence, providing leadership across programmatic and operational functions.
• Collaborate with the Executive Team and senior staff to shape cross‑departmental alignment, culture, staff development, and systems of operational excellence.
• Develop an organization‑wide learning and professional development agenda.
• Champion a culture focused on equity, partnership, humility, vision, and learning.

• Develop and steward strategic partnerships with national nonprofits, higher education institutions, networks, service programs, community organizations, local governments, school districts, and related spheres of influence.
• Provide oversight of special projects focused on federal, state, and local policy implementation.
• Deepen strategic partnerships across the Harvard University ecosystem.
• Partner with the Executive Director and development team to secure philanthropic support.
• Contribute to funding proposals for signature initiatives and external engagements.
• Provide support to donor cultivation, proposal development, reporting, and stewardship.
• Serve as spokesperson at conferences, community events, and national working groups.

The role is hybrid. The Chief Program Officer may work in the Harvard office at least part of the week or primarily remote, in consultation with the Executive Director.

• Master’s degree or equivalent experience in education, public policy, social work, nonprofit management, public administration, social entrepreneurship, or related field.
• Minimum 12 years of progressive senior leadership experience managing complex programs, networks, or organizations.
• Demonstrated experience leading cross‑sector initiatives involving education, government, nonprofit, philanthropy, and community stakeholders.
• Experience supervising and developing high‑performing teams.
• Experience managing multi‑million‑dollar budgets with regional and/or national reach.
• Ability to travel for national events, funder meetings, and related programming.

• Strong commitment to the mission, vision, and values of The EdRedesign Lab.
• National reputation and recognition in…