POSITION TITLE
CHIEF PROGRAM OFFICER
PRIMARY LOCATION
CREATED FOR SOUTH LOS ANGELES
CRYSTAL STAIRS, INC.
about CRYSTAL STAIRS, INC.
Crystal Stairs, Inc. is the largest child development service provider and advocate for families and child care providers in South Los Angeles, dedicated to providing highquality, culturally centered early care and education programs. Founded in 1980 by Dr. Karen Hill-Scott and Dr. Alice Walker Duff to advance economic mobility, Crystal Stairs, Inc. promotes empowerment, self-sufficiency, and community support through child care assistance and referrals, 16 Head Start preschools, child care provider support and professional development, the African American Provider Network, and policy advocacy. With an operating budget of $400M and 600 staff members, Crystal Stairs, Inc. supports children and families on their journey to self-sufficiency.
TEAMWORK
The strong, vibrant community we are proud to be a part of includes the team at the office. As an employer of choice, we value a collaborative, collegial, and friendly work environment.
our mission
Crystal Stairs, Inc. mission is to improve the lives of families through child care services, research, and advocacy.
diversity & Inclusion passion service
We are committed to building and sustaining a diverse workforce and culture At Crystal Stairs, Inc , valuing differences means each staff member is appreciated for their own rich & unique background.
We believe passion for our community and for our work is the fuel that drives us. Join an organization with a longstanding mission and vision that can bring purpose, meaning, and fulfillment to your life.
Being of service to our community members is the cornerstone to great outcomes. We let respect, integrity, and collaboration lead us as we work with Providers, Families and our Partners.
what we do & WHO WE SERVE
Child Care Subsidy Programs
Assists low-income families in paying for child care services and managing career and family challenges as they transition from welfare to work. The Emergency Child Care Bridge Program helps foster families secure and pay for child care while transitioning to long-term child care funding.
Early Head Start and Head Start State Preschool
Using a holistic approach and emphasizing parental involvement, this school readiness program is for children up to age five. Curriculum includes physical, cognitive, social, and emotional development, enriching children’s social and cognitive growth.
Resource & Referral Program
Helps all families, regardless of income, locate child care and provides resources such as nutrition education, healthcare, and child development. For providers, R&R offers professional development training, career coaching, CPR training and more.
Photo: Synthia James
what we do & WHO WE SERVE
Parent Support Services Program (PSSP)
Promotes family wellness by supporting caregivers with parenting workshops, safe spaces to speak, education and advocacy resources, and enhanced services to help caregivers achieve their life goals.
Community Voices Develops parents, providers, and community members into advocates. Empowers advocates to use their voices to create systematic change in child care through civic engagement.
African American Provider Network (AAPN)
AAPN is a culturally-centered community of support for the advancement of Black ECE professionals, including an apprenticeship program, events, and peer-to-peer coaching.
Health Outreach Program
Helps families enroll or re-enroll in free or low-cost insurance plans such as Medi-Cal and Covered California.
Position Overview
Reporting to the CEO, the Chief Program Officer (CPO) is a seasoned and hands-on nonprofit leader, passionate about serving families and child care providers in Los Angeles. The CPO actively ensures the delivery of effective and impactful services, events, and activities while innovating and improving on program operations. They are adept at creating processes and tools to equip staff in carrying out a diversity of programs and are consistently looking to increase efficiency and mitigate risk. As a member of the Executive Management Team, the CPO participates in establishing organizational objectives and developing internal infrastructure. They assess and encourage performance and professionality in their team, developing their staff and fostering a healthy workplace. The CPO has overall responsibility for the execution, compliance and reporting for multiple contracts from local, state, and federal agencies, ensuring programs are provided within the mission and values of Crystal Stairs, Inc.
First Year GOALS & OBJECTIVES for the new hire
Goal
Workplace
Employee
Organizational
Community
Advocacy & Awareness
Deeply understand the programs, contracts, and systems, as well as the intersectionality of the clients with our organization
Foster cross-departmental relationships and identify opportunities to increase program impact
Establish a professional presence as an ambassador of Crystal Stairs, Inc. and build a network with stakeholders to advance our position of influence in the community
roles & responsibilities
Program Management
Provide strategic and participatory management for programs serving the community, ensuring that services are delivered on time, within budget, and meet success criteria.
Implement program plans, establish goals, allocate resources and responsibilities, and create accountability structures
Enhance organizational capacity through the improvement of strategies, processes, and tools, and identify new opportunities for growth.
Advise the Executive Management Team on the implications of short- and long-term decisions for the efficacy and sustainability of current and future programs.
External Engagement & Advocacy
Develop a clear understanding of agency needs, providing for excellence in customer service delivery within the organization.
Build relationships internally and externally by continuously identifying and acting on relevant factors that will create success for the agency, clients and the community
. Represent Crystal Stairs, Inc. to governmental agencies, business allies, and other stakeholders, maintaining positive relations and reputation with funders.
Review, interpret, and track state and federal policies, ensuring that programmatic contract requirements are met; participate in policy advocacy and communicate with governmental representatives to ensure that the realities and needs of the early care and education sector is represented.
Program Performance & Risk Management
Ensure programmatic consistency and compliance of regulations, terms, conditions, policies, procedures and standards to achieve contract and program deliverables.
Identify potential risks, issues, or challenges within the organization’s programs and develop mitigation measures and contingency plans.
Track, monitor and report on key results and overall performance.
Actively participate in the budget development process, projecting future service, revenue and budget needs, ensuring that fiscal reporting and audit requirements are met
Staff Development & Management
Communicate and educate employees on agency culture and lead by example, demonstrating a commitment to integrity, honesty, and adherence to the highest standards of ethical behavior.
Implement• Demonstrate and implement the values of diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging (DEIB) in all aspects of management, hiring, and workplace culture.
Provide direction, leadership and coaching to staff members by conducting regular staff meetings and check-ins and ensure work attendance and timekeeping
Provide feedback on performance, take prompt corrective action when necessary and conduct Performance Evaluation Process in a timely manner.
Request and allocate resources that match program needs and adjust as necessary to support unit’s budget and organizational goals/mission.
qualifications
Minimum of ten (10) years in management and/or leadership roles, including at least five (5) years in a strategic leadership position overseeing multiple programs with government contracts in a nonprofit organization (or public agency, within organizations, agencies, or companies) with a budget of at least $10 million.
A track record of success with managing high-performing, seasoned professionals as well as training and coaching mid-level staff
A demonstrated, lived commitment to DEIB in management practices, professional development, and workplace culture
A working knowledge of the early care and education (ECE) sector required; professional experience and leadership in those sectors is preferred.
Expertise in budgeting, assessing, and reporting on program performance.
State and/or federal contract experience is highly preferred, especially with Department of Education, Office of Head Start, and/or LA County.
Desire to join on a collaborative, hands-on executive team and make a significant impact for families in South Los Angeles.
compensation & benefits
The salary range is $200,000 - $225,000 depending on experience. Crystal Stairs, Inc. offers a competitive benefits package that includes paid holiday, sick time, vacation, and a paid winter break between Christmas and New Years. Crystal Stairs, Inc. also provides medical, dental, vision, and life insurance, EAP, a flexible spending account (FSA), employee discounts, and retirement with an employer match including a 401k and a 457b plan.
Crystal Stairs, Inc. is committed to building and sustaining a fully vaccinated, diverse workforce and culture. As part of this commitment, Crystal Stairs, Inc. provides equal opportunity in all of our employment practices, including selection, hiring, promotion, transfer, and compensation, to all qualified applicants and employees without regard to race, color, medical condition as defined by state law, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender, ethnic group identification, mental or physical disability, pregnancy, childbirth and related medical conditions, or any other legally protected status.
the ideal candidate
The ideal candidate for the Chief Program Officer (CPO) role at Crystal Stairs, Inc. is someone who combines strong leadership abilities with a passion for and track record of service in the social services sector. They are seasoned and mature, ready to find their place in a high-performing Csuite of professionals. They have a deep commitment to supporting their staff and developing their professional skills and career.
The CPO should have a keen understanding of the early care and education field and see the future of where the sector is heading. They have a natural sense of problem-solving and using systems and internal tools to create efficiency and support for their team. They lead by building trust and cultivating relationships across all levels of the organization, fostering a collaborative and supportive work environment.
A successful CPO also understand the importance of external communications on program success and has an instinct for relationship-building and advocacy with stakeholders and policymakers. They should have a strategic mindset, capable of assessing opportunities, addressing challenges, and clearly communicating those to the organizational leadership team.
The likely career track for the Chief Program Officer of Crystal Stairs, Inc involves a strong background in leadership and program delivery with large nonprofit organizations involving government contracts Past roles should have significant responsibilities in people management, contract management, and budgeting.
Professionals we may look for:
Chief Program Officer
VP/Director of Programs
Executive Director
Chief Operations Officer
Head Start Executive Director
Sr. Director of Family and
Community Services
Envision Consulting has been retained by Crystal Stairs, Inc. to conduct the search for their incoming CPO. We follow a comprehensive and structured approach that begins with a needs assessment to understand the organization's position and culture. We source candidates using various strategies, such as leveraging networks, industry-specific databases, and targeted research. Our evaluations are designed to assess qualifications, experience, cultural fit, and leadership potential.
After two stages of interviews with Envision, we work with the organization's search committee to select the individuals they wish to meet and then curate that interview experience We support the final selection process, including negotiation and offer formulation and offer onboarding support to ensure a smooth leadership transition To ensure candidate success, we offer clients a one-year guarantee and 10 hours of executive coaching in the first year of employment.
Crystal Stairs, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion or creed, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital status, age, veteran status, disability, or any other legally protected status recognized by federal, state or local law with respect to employment opportunities.
search team for CrystaL sTAIRS
MATT KAMIN MANAGING PARTNER
MELISSA MONTOYA DIRECTOR OF SEARCH SERVICES
Envision Consulting is a minority-owned firm specializing in executive search, organizational strategy, merger exploration, and executive leadership transitions With offices in Denver, Lexington, New York, and Los Angeles, our partners and consultants are former executive leaders within nonprofit organizations who are truly inspired by our collective power to lift up the communities we serve Our broad spectrum of services helps increase revenues, expand awareness and strengthen service delivery to the clients who need us the most. Learn more at www.envisionnonprofit.com.
JES MCBRIDE SENIOR SEARCH CONSULTANT
CAROL NGUYEN SEARCH & STRATEGY ASSOCIATE
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