Chief Program and Impact Officer

About Robin Hood

Founded in 1988, Robin Hood finds, fuels, and creates the most impactful and scalable solutions lifting families out of poverty in New York City. The largest poverty fighting organization in New York City, Robin Hood partners with top non-profits in New York City and invests in legal services, housing, meals, workforce development training, education programs, and other vital services that gives New Yorkers in need the tools they need to build better lives. The programs it funds are often the first of their kind and serve as demonstration models to identify what works before being replicated in other cities. Because its Board of Directors covers 100% of all administrative, fundraising, and evaluation costs, every dollar donated goes directly to organizations helping New Yorkers in need.

While Robin Hood’s primary focus is on New York, its impact extends far beyond the borders of the city. Its pioneering, metrics-based approach has become the gold standard for charities around the nation as Robin Hood works to understand and evaluate the impact of its partners to ensure that its philanthropic dollars are utilized to maximum impact. Robin Hood also supports its community partners and their leaders with financial and strategic support and management assistance that allows those organizations to maximize their impact.

Building on our 30 years of experience, Robin Hood is expanding our impact with an explicit focus on lifting families sustainably and measurably out of poverty through supporting the most effective community partners; influencing public policy; raising our thought leadership profile; importing and exporting effective ideas and strategies nationally; and building new collaborations with strategic partners. As New York City emerges from the worst of the global pandemic, we are focused on getting families back on their feet; getting kids back on track; and getting New Yorkers back to work.

Robin Hood also understands that if we are to support families living in poverty find permanent pathways out of poverty and towards financial independence, we must become an effective partner with government, especially at the City and State levels. We do this by leveraging the expertise of those who are closest to the challenges of poverty, including community members, community-based organizations, and others with specialized skills and knowledge. We also aim to collaborate with New York City government to fund program and policy innovations that hold the promise of expanding economic opportunity in New York City – providing nimble “risk capital” for high-potential strategies. In this way, we seek to leverage our philanthropic investments by finding ways to advance the highest-impact strategies at scale.

Given its long-standing reputation among influencers and support of over 200 New York City non-profit organizations, Robin Hood has the unique ability to be a catalyzing force for the poor, bringing distinct constituencies together to develop and spread the most effective strategies to advance economic mobility in New York City and beyond.

Reporting Relationship

The Chief Program and Impact Officer (CPIO) will report to Robin Hood’s Chief Executive Officer and will serve as a critical partner to the Chief Executive Officer, and serves on the Executive Team.

Primary Responsibilities

The CPIO is the key programmatic leader of Robin Hood, overseeing a team of extraordinary and experienced professionals charged with sourcing, supporting, and evaluating a portfolio of hundreds of community partners.  The CPIO is responsible and accountable for the day-to-day strategic and managerial leadership of the core programmatic functions of grant strategy, program operations, public policy, management assistance, and measurement and evaluation. The CPIO will ensure that our grants for programs, policy, advocacy and special initiatives are aligned. The Chief of Programs and Impact also engages deeply with the Robin Hood board and its committees to communicate Robin Hood’s programmatic strategy and leverage the Board’s insights and relationships in support of programmatic goals.

Over the next three years, Robin Hood seeks to respond to the ramifications of COVID-19 while also building new initiatives that can enable intra- and intergenerational economic mobility. Ultimately, the CPIO is responsible for developing a portfolio of effective anti—poverty work driven by New York City’s best performing nonprofits and effective public—private partnerships. That portfolio includes both new models and programs with a track record of success; and combines investments in direct service with investments in policy and advocacy that advance impact at scale. The portfolio also includes a variety of investment types, including grants, loans, or other impact investments. This will build on Robin Hood’s track record of success helping to bring replicable ideas into practice and then to scale – all with a lens toward equity and reaching the most marginalized of our neighbors.

Specific responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

Fund, Develop and Scale Effective Programs and Policy

• Work to achieve the organization’s goals of prioritizing, improving, and scaling the most effective poverty-fighting programs
• Manage the Chief of Grants Strategy to develop program strategy and design a portfolio of effective solutions including both proven solutions and higher-risk investments
• Manage the Chief of Public Policy to develop Robin Hood’s policy strategy and design a portfolio of effective solutions including both proven solutions and higher-risk investments
• Manage the Managing Director of Management Assistance to develop strategy to support the growth and effectiveness of community partners by providing coaching, technical assistance, and other forms of management support
• Ensure that those closest to poverty related challenges, including people with low-incomes, nonprofit providers, community leaders and others contribute to Robin Hood’s strategy. To this end, experience working in or with low-income communities and/or personal lived experience is preferred
• Work with the Program and Impact team and others in the organization to create special initiatives that can have outsize impact in addressing poverty in New York City

Expand Impact Assessment Practices

• Build on Robin Hood’s existing metrics framework to create complementary approaches for gauging influence and systemic impact
• Lead team to develop a process for evaluating and measuring new, innovative solutions to address poverty -- locally, regionally, and nationally
• Work with other members of Robin Hood’s leadership team to ensure integrated strategies for producing and measuring meaningful results
• Identify opportunities to work with government to increase the use of evidence in public sector investments
• Support the use and development of evidence across Robin Hood’s funding and partnership activities

Financial Management

• Act as an effective steward of Robin Hood’s financial resources
• Manage team budgets in accordance with Robin Hood’s policies and procedures and in close consultation with the Chief Finance and Administrative Officer (CFAO)

Team Management

• Mentor and develop a team of direct reports, managing work allocation, training, problem resolution, performance evaluation, and the building of an effective team dynamic

• Guide larger, cross-divisional teams outside of direct span of control within Robin Hood where appropriate, as issues and opportunities arise
• Create accountabilities, and development goals; set objectives, review, and manage staff performance, mentor and develop individuals to achieve excellence, original thought, and proactivity in all aspects of their work

General Leadership

• As a member of the executive team, serve as a key thought partner and advisor to the CEO and, with other members of the executive team, provide cultural and strategic leadership to the organization
• Act as a champion for equity

• Lead by example and model a culture of collaboration, transparency, kindness, open communication, and dynamism.
• Build and manage high-performing teams
• Influence and inspire team members at  all  levels    to achieve highest standards of excellence
• Create and maintain communication systems that are straightforward and timely between operational units and across Robin Hood; ensure   information is disseminated  appropriately  within  the  organization

Advance Thought Leadership

• Affirm Robin Hood’s position as a national thought leader in effectively addressing poverty, developing cross-sector partnerships and measuring impact
• Serve as a representative of Robin Hood through public speaking engagements, panel discussions, and other media opportunities

Preferred Qualifications

• A minimum of 15 years of relevant, full-time working experience
• Senior operational responsibility in a non-profit organization or in New York City government is required; experience in both is preferred
• Senior operational responsibility in philanthropy and/or business is preferred, including a background across in various stages or organizational development (e.g., start-up, replication, growth)
• Deep knowledge of New York City’s policy and programmatic landscape and extensive relationships within the public and non-profit sectors
• A background in program evaluation and a commitment to the critical importance of measuring impact as an element of effective philanthropy
• Demonstrated track record of success leading new initiatives where no prior road map exists
• Extensive experience leading, inspiring, managing, and coaching successful teams
• Ability to influence and collaborate with leadership peers and department heads
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to adapt and work well under pressure in a fast-paced, multi-task environment
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills including public speaking
• A master’s or professional degree is preferred
• Ability to be both a long-term strategic visionary and to understand current on-the-ground realities, including the operational constraints and priorities of community-based organizations and local government
• Embraces ambiguity and has a willingness to “roll up their sleeves”
• A high degree of self-awareness, humility, and diplomacy
• Sense of humor and skillful listener

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Robin Hood is committed to promoting diversity, equity, inclusion, and representation in all aspects of its work. As New York City’s largest poverty-fighting organization, Robin Hood believes that building a diverse team is fundamental to its ability to effectively serve and strengthen organizations serving the most vulnerable communities in the city, and to influence the policies that affect them.

Robin Hood believes in the potential that diversity creates – deep and responsive relationships with its community partners; the ability to solve complex problems efficiently and effectively; and, most importantly, the ability of its diverse staff to work to its full capacity.

Robin Hood builds diversity, inclusion, and equity practices into all aspects of its work. Its practices, values, traditions, and beliefs are embedded in the inclusive culture that it creates. Operationally, its formal and informal structures support a work environment that advances the professional development of staff at all levels, allows for innovation, and grounds its work as poverty fighters.

In its workplace, diversity equals representation. Robin Hood seeks to attract and retain a staff that reflects the communities that it serves. Racial and ethnic diversity matter to it, as does diversity among other cultural identifiers (ability, educational background, generation, gender, gender expression religion, immigration status, military status, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status).

Diversity within Robin Hood's staff is enhanced by its efforts at meaningful inclusion. It ensures that team members are empowered to make decisions, offer actionable feedback, and share credit for team success. Further, Robin Hood seeks to develop its talent professionally and has created an intentional focus on mentorship and sponsorship, particularly of junior staff. its goal is to encourage long term talent retention and engagement, while fostering a culture of innovation.

Robin Hood Guiding Principles

As an organization committed to economic mobility, our work is grounded in the following Guiding Principles:

• Diversity, equity, and inclusion
• Proximity and humanity
• Risk-taking and innovation         

Our professional community reflects myriad demographic characteristics, perspectives, and backgrounds, which includes various identities that reflect diversity in gender identity and expression, race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, ability, and socioeconomic status.  Our colleagues have access to opportunity and advancement, as we promote fair and equitable treatment and have encouraged participation by underrepresented groups. As a team, we promote a sense of belonging, high levels of engagement, and shared respect.

• Robin Hood puts people first.
• Robin Hood is unafraid to take action and create solutions.
• Robin Hood is data driven and heart led.
• Robin Hood works the coat check.

Salary and Benefits

Robin Hood offers a highly competitive and comprehensive salary and package of employee benefits and encourages strong work-life balance. This position is located in New York City.

Application Instructions

All applications must be accompanied by a cover letter and résumé. Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the successful candidate has been selected.

To apply for this position, visit: Chief Program and Impact Officer

To nominate a candidate, please contact Dr. Stephanie A. Royal, Chief People + Culture Officer at royal@robinhood.org or 212.844.3555.

All inquiries will be held in confidence.

Please note that Robin Hood Foundation has adopted a COVID-19 vaccination policy to safeguard the health and well-being of our employees. As a condition of employment, Robin Hood employees are required to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19, unless a reasonable accommodation is approved or as otherwise required by law.