Senior Vice President, Chief Program Officer

Organization: Results for America

Role:  Senior Vice President, Chief Program Officer

Location: Flexible, within the United States

Organization Overview

Results for America (RFA) is the leading, national nonprofit organization helping policymakers at all levels of government harness the power of evidence and data to solve the nation’s greatest challenges. Our mission is to make investing in what works the “new normal,” so that, one day, all government leaders use rigorous evidence and quality data to inform important policy and funding decisions. We believe that data-driven and evidence-based policy decisions should be used to increase the impact of the over $2 trillion that governments spend annually to open opportunities and advance economic mobility. 

Position Overview

RFA is focused on meeting its North Star goals as part of its current 2023-2026 strategic plan and achieving impact at scale through its next strategic plan by reaching key tipping points at the local, state, and federal government levels in three priority areas: shifting government dollars toward “what works,” replicating evidence-based solutions, and building governments’ evidence and data capacity. As RFA focuses on its impact at scale, we seek a Senior Vice President, Chief Program Officer to lead a newly-formed Government as Client Unit. 

The person in this role is responsible for ensuring that all of RFA’s local, state and federal practice work is aligned and directed at moving economic mobility outcomes on The Comprehensive Framework that has guided RFA’s work from the beginning. This will include continuing to increase RFA’s partnerships with PBP networks and in local communities in order to accelerate progress on RFA’s key “scale” outcomes: shift dollars, replicate solutions and build data and evidence capacity.  

This SVP will be responsible for keeping a particular focus on the “to what end” of RFA”s newly-formed Government as Client Unit: leading RFA’s current Local, State, and Federal VPs and teams to align plans, identify and leverage cross-team efficiencies to move toward economic mobility outcomes that matter to communities, especially PBP, and deploy tested services solely in service of achieving RFA’s “scale” outcomes.

This is a full time, exempt position, based in a home office anywhere within the United States.  

Travel up to 50% annually may be required. 

Position Reporting Relationship

The Senior Vice President, Chief Program Officer will report directly to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO)  with dotted-line, joint reporting to RFA’s 3-person Executive Team (CEO, COO, and EVP/CIO). 

Position Responsibilities

Fundraising for Government as Client Unit: 50%

• Lead (build, manage) relationships with 10-15 major donors, partners, foundations, and funders as assigned by RFA’s CEO and Development Team 
• Accountable for progress reporting in weekly Development/CEO meetings
• Oversee/accountable for end-to-end completion of funder products within assigned portfolio (from concept to final proposal), with input from VP, Development; final versions to be approved by the CEO
• Meet specified annual revenue targets (funding from 1-2  funders by end of 2026, and an additional 1-3 by end of 2027)
  
  
• In coordination with RFA’s CEO and Development Team, build and “own” a pipeline of 1-3 strong new RFA funder prospects each year (excluding those currently in RFA’s pipeline)
• Meet with and develop relationships with prospective funders
• Secure new funding from 1 new prospect by mid-2027   
  
  
• Marshal Government as Client Unit VPs and team to achieve fundraising annual goals/targets by:
• Developing and sourcing strong stories of RFA’s impact for fundraising proposals
• Delivering on-time high-quality inputs for proposals/reports
• Progress monitoring core team measures / metrics (monthly metrics-to-message feed to RFA’s Development and Communications Teams; and lead pitching development with clear milestones)
• Lead, mentor, and oversee Unit team VPs, delegating duties and ensuring alignment with strategic objectives to meet aggressive funder proposals targets and deadlines

Leading the Government as Client Unit:  50%

• Lead Government as Client Unit’s staff members to make progress on economic mobility outcomes through shifting dollars, replicating solutions and building evidence and data capacity, including those leading RFA’s work with: (1) local government leaders in coordination with RFA’s What Works Cities Team; (2) state government leaders (including state and local government education agency and workforce agency/board leaders); and (3) federal government leaders in reaching RFA’s annual targets and three-year strategic plan targets in the areas of shifting government dollars toward what works, replicating evidence-based solutions, and enhancing governments’ evidence and data capacity.
• Oversee Unit performance to achieve org wide strategic goals within budgeted parameters and in alignment with RFA’s commitments to racial justice 
• Accountable for Unit budget setting, management & performance 
• Lead strong team culture and model effective people leadership and growth oversight
• Work alongside Senior Vice President peers to ensure alignment across RFA teams
• Serve as an enterprise-wide leader, championing diverse teams and modeling RFA’s values and inclusive culture  
• Model continuous learning and an innovation mindset to speed progress on RFA’s tipping points targets

Experience and Competencies 

The ideal candidate will have the following qualifications and be aligned with Results for America’s mission and organizational values:

Experience and Competencies

• 15+ years of relevant work experience in a variety of org settings and/or sectors
• Government work experience valued
• Prior experience overseeing high-growth or complex teams (including programming, fundraising, administrative and budgeting functions)
• Prior experience partnering with business/development teams to match opportunities to prospective funder interests and shape high-quality pitch/grant proposals.
• Preferred: At least 8 years experience leading multiple staff  

• Proven practice setting and leading teams through change management processes
• Track record of setting, achieving, and leading others to achieve ambitious organizational goals  
• Strategic thinker: demonstrated practice deploying data and research to drive decision-making at a programmatic,cross-team and organizational level
• Confident communicator in any professional setting with a wide set of stakeholders and external audiences (funders, executive leaders, media)
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills; crisp, data-grounded storytelling for foundation and individual funders; ability to synthesize program work and impact into targeted narratives for different funder segments
• Proven practice motivating, influencing & collaborating with internal & external stakeholders to achieve mutual goals, particularly with diverse constituencies in diverse environments. 
• Track record and commitment to collaborate with C-Suite executives to ensure cross-org goals, strategies, and operations align with organizational mission, values, and policies.  
• Adaptive leader: models for others solutions-driven mindset; demonstrated ability to identify needs and lead to solutions in high-ambiguity scenarios
• A commitment to Results for America’s mission and vision; 
• Respect for Results for America’s organizational values.

Salary and Benefits
Results for America offers a compensation package that includes:   

• A competitive base salary commensurate with relevant work experience; and
• A benefits package that includes choice in medical plans; dental/vision coverage; paid time off; a 403b retirement plan with employer contribution.  

The salary range for this position is: $268,000 - $290,000. 

New hires are typically brought into the organization at a salary between the range minimum and the salary range midpoint depending on qualifications, internal equity, and the budgeted amount for the role.   

How to Apply

• To apply for this position, please complete and submit all information in the application/application link. 
• RFA is an equal opportunity employer that values/celebrates diversity and that follows a policy of making all employment decisions and personnel actions without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, partnership status, personal appearance, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, family responsibilities, matriculation, political affiliation, disability, status as a victim of domestic violence, sexual offenses or stalking, military status, veteran status or any other category protected under federal, state or local law.
• Applicants for employment with RFA must have valid work authorization that does not require sponsorship of a visa for employment authorization in the U.S.