CHIEF PROGRAM OFFICER

Since its founding in 1877, The Fresh Air Fund, a not-for-profit youth development organization, has provided free life-changing summer experiences in the outdoors to more than 1.8 million children from New York City’s underserved communities. Young people also participate in year-round leadership, career exploration and educational programs. For more information, visit www.FreshAir.org.

POSITION SUMMARY

The Fresh Air Fund is a youth development organization providing transformative outdoor experiences, at no cost, for New York City children from underserved communities. At six sleepaway camps in New York’s Mid-Hudson Valley, children have new experiences, learn new skills and gain new perspectives. Participants also take part in year-round leadership, career exploration and educational programs. We believe that investing in a child’s journey through life provides an opportunity for young people to learn, grow and thrive in our city and beyond.
The Chief Program Officer (CPO) will provide visionary and strategic leadership for all of The Fresh Air Fund’s programs, including our residential summer camps, year-round youth development initiatives, community outreach, and support services. The CPO will be a key member of the executive leadership team, responsible for aligning all programmatic efforts with the organization’s strategic plan and ensuring the highest quality outcomes for participants. This role requires a forward-thinking, data-informed leader who brings deep knowledge of youth development, a strong commitment to equity and the ability to communicate The Fund’s work to Board, staff and funders.
The CPO must be on-call 24/7 during the summer. Experience with residential or overnight camping programs is strongly preferred.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Minimum 10+ years of progressive leadership experience in youth development, nonprofit management, or a related field.
• Significant experience managing residential/overnight or 24/7 programs strongly preferred.
• Proven track record in leading high-impact, equity-centered programs and multi-site teams.
• Expertise in strategic planning, staff development, program design, and evaluation.
• Demonstrated success in managing large budgets and aligning resources with outcomes.
• Exceptional communication, collaboration, and relationship-building skills.
• Experience navigating complex compliance and regulatory frameworks, especially related to youth and residential camp programming.
• Master’s degree or equivalent experience preferred.