Strategic Initiatives Coordinator

Children's Aid Society; New York (NY); On-site; USD 45,000 - 49,000; Full time

Job summary

Children's Aid Society in New York is seeking a Strategic Initiatives Coordinator to support the Office of Performance Management in advancing the organization’s strategic plan. You will coordinate cross‑functional initiatives, manage projects in Asana, gather and analyze data, and help develop an organization‑wide performance dashboard to inform leaders and drive continuous improvement.

The role requires strong organizational, analytical, and communication skills and collaboration with staff,

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required in social work, psychology, education, public admin, business, or related field; master's preferred.
• Minimum 3 years experience managing projects, coordinating stakeholders, and preparing reports.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, and Excel.
• Proficiency with Asana or Monday required.
• Experience with Microsoft Teams, OneDrive, SharePoint, and Microsoft Forms preferred.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate Strategic Plan initiatives and other priorities across multiple workstreams.
• Maintain project documentation, track tasks and milestones, and prioritize deadlines.
• Coordinate information across divisions to develop organization-wide processes.
• Schedule meetings, agendas, notes, and summaries clarifying decisions and next steps.
• Maintain Asana and other PM tools to organize work and provide visibility.
• Identify challenges and dependencies and communicate them to stakeholders.
• Support cross-functional workstreams with staff, leadership, consultants, and partners.
• Prepare communications for executives and staff.

Job description

Hourly Salary: $32.96 - $35.71

Position Summary

The Strategic Initiatives Coordinator supports the Office of Performance Management (OPM) in completing long-term initiatives as part of the organization's Strategic Plan and implementing additional departmental priorities. This includes demonstrating exceptional organizational, project management, analytical, and communication skills to track and coordinate multiple simultaneous activities involving diverse stakeholders across the organization.

The Strategic Initiatives Coordinator supports initiatives focused on developing meaningful structures for clients to provide feedback on their experiences with Children's Aid, implementing data governance, and creating an organization-wide performance dashboard to guide strategic decisions. The role works collaboratively with OPM staff, organizational leadership, program and central divisions, Information Technology, consultants, and other stakeholders to coordinate activities, track progress, synthesize information, and support the implementation of strategic priorities.

Children's Aid Mission

To help children in poverty to succeed and thrive. We do this by providing comprehensive support to children and their families in targeted high-needs New York City neighborhoods. Children's Aid annually serves children and their families at over forty sites in New York, as well as through three national program models. Children's Aid is concentrating its efforts on creating cradle-through-college pathways in high-need neighborhoods, with a focus on children's health, family stability, education, and social and emotional development.

Culture and Values

• We put children, youth, and families first: We listen to and incorporate the voices of children, youth, and families in all that we do.
• We seek equity and transformation in our communities: We courageously work within and outside systems to create opportunities for children, youth, and families.
• We strive for excellence: We hold ourselves to the highest standards and are committed to continuous learning and improvement.
• We are powered by collaboration: Our work is stronger when we trust, partner, and respect each other and the communities we serve.
• We are driven by compassion: We lead with kindness, care, and empathy and believe in the endless potential of the people we serve and our team.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Strategic Initiatives & Project Coordination

• Support the implementation of Strategic Plan initiatives and other OPM priorities by coordinating activities, timelines, deliverables, and follow-up across multiple workstreams.
• Use excellent project management practices to maintain project documentation, track tasks and milestones, monitor progress, and prioritize competing deadlines across multiple active projects.
• Coordinate with program and central divisions to gather information, understand current practices, identify opportunities, and support the development and implementation of organization-wide processes.
• Schedule meetings, prepare agendas, take notes, and produce summaries that clarify decisions, next steps, responsibilities, and accountability across stakeholder groups.
• Maintain project management tools, including Asana, to organize work, track progress, and support visibility into project activities and deliverables.
• Identify challenges, delays, and dependencies and communicate them to appropriate OPM staff and stakeholders to support timely resolution and maintain project momentum.
• Support cross-functional workstreams by coordinating contributions from staff, organizational leadership, consultants, and other partners.

Client Feedback & Research

• Conduct literature reviews and online research on relevant topics and translate findings into clear summary reports that support OPM and organizational leaders in making informed, mission-driven decisions.
• Support the development, coordination, and analysis of surveys to gather client, staff, and stakeholder perspectives that inform organizational decision-making, strengthen programs, and advance the Strategic Plan.
• Coordinate with programs across the organization to understand existing client feedback practices and support the development of processes for collecting, reviewing, and incorporating client feedback.
• Analyze and summarize qualitative and quantitative information to identify themes, trends, and opportunities that can inform organizational priorities and continuous improvement.
• Support the development of materials that communicate findings, recommendations, project progress, and strategic priorities to Executive, Leadership, staff, and consultant audiences.

Data Governance & Performance Management

• Support the implementation of the organization's Data Governance Strategy and related initiatives in coordination with OPM, Information Technology, consultants, and organizational stakeholders.
• Support the coordination of activities related to the development and implementation of an organization-wide performance dashboard.
• Track project milestones, stakeholder contributions, dependencies, and deliverables related to data governance and performance management initiatives.
• Coordinate communication among OPM, IT, consultants, and organizational stakeholders to support project progress and alignment.
• Assist with organizing and synthesizing information needed to support performance reporting, dashboards, and strategic decision‑making.

Communication & Stakeholder Engagement

• Serve as a clear and responsive point of contact for project communications and resources, using effective written and verbal communication to keep stakeholders informed and connected.
• Prepare PowerPoint presentations, training materials, project updates, reports, meeting materials, and other communications for Executive, Leadership, staff, and consultant audiences.
• Build positive working relationships with stakeholders and collaborate with OPM staff to support organization-wide initiatives and departmental priorities.
• Communicate progress, challenges, emerging issues, and relevant project information to OPM staff and appropriate organizational stakeholders.
• Support meetings and forums involving organizational leadership by coordinating materials, documenting decisions, and tracking follow-up activities.
• Maintain appropriate discretion when handling organizational, project, client, and other sensitive information.

• Perform other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required in social work, psychology, education, public administration, business, or another field related to the work of the organization; Master's degree preferred.
• Minimum three (3) years of experience managing projects, coordinating activities with varied stakeholders, analyzing and summarizing data or other complex information, and preparing written reports and presentations.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, and Excel.
• Proficiency with Asana or Monday required.
• Experience with Microsoft Teams, OneDrive, SharePoint, and Microsoft Forms preferred.

It is the policy of Children's Aid to provide equal employment opportunity to all employees and applicants for employment and is dedicated to maintaining a work environment that is free from harassment and discrimination. Children's Aid will not tolerate discrimination, harassment, or retaliation on any basis, including race, creed, color, national origin, ethnicity, alienage or citizenship status, gender/sex (including pregnancy), disability, religion, source of income, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, familial status, caregiver status, military status, marital or partnership status, status as a victim of domestic violence, sexual violence or stalking, predisposing genetic characteristics, arrest or conviction record, credit history, unemployment status or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law. Children's Aid is committed to complying with applicable state and local laws governing non-discrimination in employment. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including, but not limited to, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

Children's Aid will conduct a prompt and thorough investigation of all allegations of discrimination, harassment, retaliation, or any violation of the Equal Employment Opportunity Policy in a confidential manner and will take appropriate corrective action, if and where warranted. Children's Aid prohibits retaliation against employees who provide information about, complain about, or assist in the investigation of any complaint of discrimination or violation of the Equal Employment Opportunity Policy.

The incumbent is expected to work a schedule, whether in-person or hybrid, as determined by the department's needs to facilitate effective collaboration with the team. This flexibility is essential for maintaining seamless communication, fostering teamwork, and ensuring the smooth operation of the department's processes. The position's requirements are subject to periodic review and adjustment based on organizational needs and changes in work dynamics.

Qualifications

Behaviors

Dedicated - Devoted to a task or purpose with loyalty or integrity

Motivations

Ability to Make an Impact - Inspired to perform well by the ability to contribute to the success of a project or the organization

Education

Bachelors (required)

Experience

3 - 4 years: Experience managing projects, coordinating activities with varied stakeholders, analyzing and summarizing data or other complex information, and preparing written reports and presentations (required)

Skills

• Adaptability / Flexibility (preferred)

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.