Vice President of Programs

Working directly in 42 schools across Richmond and Henrico's East End, Communities In Schools of Richmond (CIS) connects students with the relationships, resources, and opportunities they need to stay in school and achieve in life.

The Vice President of Programs provides strategic and operational leadership for CIS of Richmond's school-based programming, ensuring quality, consistency, and effective implementation of the CIS model. This role leads and develops the program team, builds strong school and district partnerships, oversees program operations, and drives continuous improvement.

This is a full-time position with an ideal start date of January 4, 2027.

• Serve as a key member of the Leadership Team, helping lead CIS as an organization—not simply an individual department.
• Contribute program expertise to organizational planning, growth, and continuous improvement, and help translate strategy into clear priorities and action for the Programs team.
• Lead, supervise, and develop five Program Directors serving schools across Richmond and Henrico, as well as the Community Engagement Manager.
• Set clear expectations, priorities, and measures of success; provide coaching, support, and accountability for performance and results.
• Build a culture of collaboration, trust, accountability, excellence, and care across the Programs team and organization.
• Conduct performance reviews, address performance needs proactively, and support the ongoing professional development of program staff and leaders.

• Provide strategic and operational leadership for programming across 42 partner schools, ensuring high-quality implementation of the CIS model while allowing programs to respond to the unique needs of each school community.
• Oversee the program operations budget in partnership with the Leadership Team and ensure appropriate staffing, resources, systems, and supports are in place.
• In partnership with the Director of Talent Acquisition and Training, remain highly involved in the hiring of Program Directors and Site Coordinators, ensuring strong candidates are identified, selected, and supported through the hiring process.
• Utilize data, evaluation, staff insight, and school feedback to strengthen program design, practice, and outcomes.
• Monitor program performance, identify challenges and opportunities, and ensure timely action to strengthen implementation and impact.

• Build and maintain strong, trusted relationships with principals and school leaders across 42 partner schools, while ensuring Program Directors are the primary points of contact for day-to-day school partnerships.
• Build the capacity of Program Directors to develop, navigate, and sustain strong relationships with school leaders and serve as a resource, thought partner, and organizational link when additional support is needed.
• Develop a strong understanding of the unique priorities, dynamics, and needs of each school community and ensure that insight informs our program strategy and decisions.
• Ensure CIS is responsive to school partner needs while maintaining clear expectations for program quality, consistency, and accountability; step in directly when challenges or opportunities require VP-level engagement.
• Strengthen CIS's relationships and reputation within partner schools by ensuring consistent, high-quality partnership across the organization.

• Build and maintain strategic relationships with district leadership and key staff in Richmond Public Schools and Henrico County Public Schools.
• Serve as a key CIS point of contact with district partners, ensuring strong communication, alignment, and coordination across the organization.
• Develop a strong understanding of district priorities, initiatives, systems, and emerging needs that affect CIS schools, students, and families.
• Represent CIS in district-level conversations and initiatives, identifying opportunities to strengthen the organization's role as a strategic partnership within each district.
• Bring district-level insight back to CIS' Leadership Team to inform program strategy, organizational planning, and decision making.

• Cultivate relationships with community organizations and youth-serving partners that can provide meaningful resources and opportunities for students and families.
• Identify opportunities to deepen and expand community partnerships that advance CIS's mission and program goals.
• Represent CIS in community…