Chief Program Officer

Lantern Community Services Inc; New York (NY); On-site; USD 200,000 - 225,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation assistance

Top 2026 Workplace by City & State NY

Job summary

Lantern Community Services, based in Manhattan, seeks a Chief Program Officer to set the strategic direction of our shelter and permanent supportive housing programs. You will partner with the Executive Director to shape organization-wide program strategy and foster innovation across multiple sites.

Leading a team of about seven senior program leaders, you’ll drive outcomes, ensure fiscal discipline, and build data-informed dashboards while advancing trauma-informed, client-centered services and

Qualifications

• Master's degree in a relevant field.
• 15+ years of progressively responsible experience in human services, incl. 10+ in leadership.
• Experience working in a shelter environment.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and monitor outcome metrics for services.
• Excellent writing and interpersonal skills with cross-functional collaboration.

Responsibilities

• Set the short- and long-term strategic direction for emergency shelter and permanent housing programs.
• Grow and scale the most promising programs and innovations.
• Translate sector trends into organizational strategy.
• Partner with the Executive Director on agency-wide strategy and fundraising priorities.
• Establish program success metrics and build an agency-wide data dashboard.
• Lead and mentor seven senior program leaders and invest in staff development.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Program development

Stakeholder engagement

Team mentoring

Data-driven decisions

Education

Master's degree

Job description

Chief Program Officer

Lantern Community Services Inc New York, New York, United States

About this position

Job Posting Title: Chief Program Officer

Classification: Full-Time, Exempt

Reports to: Executive Director

Location: Manhattan, NY (relocation package available)

Status & Hours: Full-time; occasional evening and weekend hours may be required to support events and organizational priorities.

Compensation: $200,000 – $225,000 annual salary, plus a relocation package for candidates moving to the New York City area.

Who We Are: Lantern Community Services helps New Yorkers impacted by homelessness move from surviving to thriving by pairing safe, supportive housing with wraparound services that build lasting stability and independence. If you believe a steady home can be the start of everything else, you'll fit right in with our mission-first team. Lantern was also recognized as a Top 2026 Workplace by City & State New York—a great place to do meaningful work with people who care!

Where You Will Work: Based in Manhattan, with regular presence across Lantern's emergency shelter and permanent supportive housing sites throughout New York City.

About The Role:

This is a true seat at the table. As Chief Program Officer, you'll set the direction for Lantern's programs and help shape the future of the organization alongside the Executive Director. Lantern already has strong program leaders in place, so this role is about strategy, not day-to-day supervision: you'll look across our entire ecosystem of emergency shelter and permanent supportive housing, decide which of our innovative programs to grow, and bring the vision that takes them further.

If you want to build rather than maintain, and you're ready to do it in New York City, we want to hear from you. Candidates relocating from outside New York are encouraged to apply; a relocation package is available.

Essential Functions:

• Set the vision: Define the short- and long-term strategic direction for Lantern's emergency shelter and permanent supportive housing programs, including case management, integrated service programming, and evidence-based models.
• Grow what's working: Identify Lantern's most promising programs and innovations, decide which to scale, and champion new initiatives that benefit clients and staff.
• Bring the outside in: Track sector trends and emerging best practices and ktranslate them into organizational strategy.
• Shape the whole organization: Partner with the Executive Director on agency-wide strategy, funding priorities, and partnerships with philanthropic organizations, corporations, and local service providers.
• Lead with Establish program success metrics with senior staff, quality assurance, and developers of evidence-informed practices; partner with QA to build a transparent, agency-wide data dashboard; and foster a culture of continuous improvement.
• Prove the impact: Present outcomes and their implications to executive leadership and the fund development team, ensuring programs are effective, compliant with funder requirements, and backed by evidence; work with Finance and Fund Development to keep program spending aligned with contracts.
• Elevate a strong leadership team: Guide and mentor approximately seven senior program leaders, empowering them to run their areas while you focus on the bigger picture.
• Invest in people: Work with Human Resources to assess staff development needs, shape training that keeps service delivery true to its models, and open doors for staff to engage with industry peers.
• Champion the culture: Embed trauma-informed, client-centered practice and Lantern's commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility across all programs.
• Be Lantern's voice: Represent Lantern on committees, task forces, conference panels, and speaking engagements, and contribute to all-staff gatherings, mission and values statements, and Lantern's public and social media presence.

Required Education and Experience:

This role calls for a seasoned, visionary leader with hands-on experience working in a shelter environment.

• Master's degree.
• Minimum of 15 years of progressively responsible experience in the human services sector, including at least 10 years in a leadership capacity.
• Experience working in a shelter environment.
• Demonstrated experience in program innovation, supervision, clinical oversight, funder relationships, and fiscal management.
• Expertise in developing and monitoring outcome metrics for homeless services, mental health/substance use services, housing services, or related fields.
• Strategic vision paired with sound judgment in prioritizing investment in people and systems with the greatest quality and impact.
• Excellent writing and interpersonal skills, and the ability to collaborate with a dynamic leadership team in a rapidly growing organization.
• Adaptable and comfortable in a fast-moving environment, while driving toward clarity and solutions.

Preferred Experience:

• LCSW and/or additional advanced degrees, licensures, or certifications.
• Strong community and government relationships in New York City, particularly in health and human services. Candidates from outside NYC with comparable relationships in their own markets are encouraged to apply.
• A track record of growing, scaling, or launching innovative programs.

This position works primarily in shelter or supportive housing and office environments with frequent interaction across departments. The role may require presence at indoor and outdoor events and occasional exposure to varying noise levels and activity.

Physical Demands: The role may require standing, walking, bending, and lifting or moving equipment such as tables, chairs, or supplies, with or without reasonable accommodation.

Note: Lantern Community Services provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment. Lantern Community Services (Lantern) values the diversity of all our clients, staff, Board of Directors, and partners. By bringing diverse individuals and viewpoints together, we create more vibrant, healthy, and just communities.