Senior VP, Special Projects

Description:

Community Health Action of Staten Island (CHASI) drives dramatic improvements in the health of New Yorkers by feeding people who are hungry, healing families broken apart by violence, and bridging the gaps between people and the compassionate health care they deserve. CHASI serves the most vulnerable individuals, families, and communities with critical services and programs. CHASI provides outreach, education, prevention, and direct support services for populations most affected by health disparities – the poor and working poor, low-income people with chronic illnesses, persons with criminal justice involvement, substance users, domestic violence survivors, people of color, and the LGBTQ community.

POSITION SUMMARY: The Senior Vice President of Special Projects is responsible for the planning, implementation, service provision, and initial development of new programs at Community Health Action of Staten Island (CHASI). This role provides strategic direction, promotes best practice integration, and ensures efficient and effective launch and operation of new programs in accordance with all applicable funder and regulatory mandates and CHASI policies, procedures, quality standards, and values. The Senior Vice President works closely with Division Vice Presidents to select program leadership and build high-performing teams, and provides guidance to agency consultants supporting policy/procedure development and workflow design.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

Strategic Program & Initiative Development

• Partner with executive leadership to identify organizational priorities suitable for special project development, new program incubation, and/or strategic expansion.
• Lead needs assessments, stakeholder engagement, and environmental scans to define program models that respond to emerging community needs and health equity priorities.
• Translate concepts into implementable program plans, including scope, goals, deliverables, timelines, staffing models, and start-up requirements.
• Identify and pursue funding opportunities to support new initiatives; support proposal development, budgeting inputs, and funder communications as requested.
• Promote best practices and evidence-informed approaches, including trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and harm reduction-aligned practices, as applicable to the program area.

Program Launch & Operational Readiness

• Direct end-to-end implementation of newly funded and/or strategic programs, from pre-launch planning through steady-state operations.
• Design and document program workflows, service pathways, roles/responsibilities, and internal coordination processes to ensure smooth start-up and integration with existing CHASI services.
• Ensure operational readiness across key domains (staffing, training, compliance, data, procurement, space/logistics, and partner coordination).
• Develop and track implementation plans, workplans, and milestones; proactively identify risks, remove barriers, and escalate issues appropriately.
• Coordinate cross-departmental contributions (Operations, Finance, HR, IT, Compliance, Data/Evaluation, and Communications) required for launch.

Leadership, Staffing & Change Management

• Work closely with Division Vice Presidents to select and onboard program leadership (e.g., Directors/Managers) and define supervisory structures for new programs.
• Provide direct or dotted-line oversight during start-up, ensuring clarity of roles, accountability for deliverables, and alignment with CHASI culture and values.
• Support managers in establishing performance expectations, training plans, and early-stage supervision rhythms (e.g., huddles, case review, metric review).
• Lead change management efforts associated with program launches, including staff communication, process adoption, and interdepartmental coordination.

Compliance, Policy/Procedure & Quality

• Ensure new programs are designed and operated in compliance with applicable contracts, funder requirements, and regulatory mandates.
• Provide guidance to the agency consultant supporting policy and procedure development and workflow design; review drafts for operational feasibility and compliance alignment.
• Partner with Quality/Compliance and program leadership to define performance and quality indicators, monitoring processes, and documentation standards.
• Establish systems for audit readiness, including staff training, recordkeeping expectations, and timely corrective action planning when gaps are identified.
• Promote continuous quality improvement (CQI) by using data and operational feedback to refine processes and improve client experience and outcomes.

Reporting, Communication & Stakeholder Management

• Provide routine progress updates to executive leadership on timelines, deliverables, risks, and resource needs for active special projects and new program launches.
• Develop launch-readiness and post-launch reports as needed for senior leadership and/or Board updates.
• Build and maintain collaborative relationships with internal departments and external partners to support program implementation and sustainability.
• Represent CHASI in meetings, coalitions, workgroups, and funder/partner discussions related to assigned special projects as requested.

The above is intended to describe the essential job functions, the general supplemental functions and the essential requirements for the performance of the job. It is not to be construed as an exhaustive statement of all the job functions.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Master’s degree in public health, social work, nonprofit management, business administration, or related field required; equivalent combination of education and senior-level experience may be considered.
• Minimum 8 years of progressively responsible program/operations leadership experience, including leading cross-functional initiatives and/or launching new programs.
• Minimum 5 years of supervisory experience with demonstrated ability to recruit, coach, and develop high-performing teams.
• Strong project and change management skills; ability to manage multiple complex initiatives simultaneously and deliver results on time.
• Demonstrated knowledge of compliance and contract management in a human services and/or healthcare setting; experience with funder reporting and audit readiness.
• Ability to read, analyze, and interpret contracts, regulations, financial reports, and service data; able to write reports, policies/procedures, and professional correspondence.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including ability to present to varied audiences (front-line staff, senior leadership, funders, and partners).
• Advanced computer skills, including Microsoft Office applications (Excel, Word, PowerPoint) and ability to learn new databases and reporting systems quickly.
• Exceptional attention to detail; strong judgment, discretion, and ability to handle sensitive information.
• Systems-oriented, collaborative, and mission-driven leadership style; commitment to health equity and service excellence.

Reports To: Chief Operating Officer

Location: 26 Bay Street, Staten Island, NY 10301

Position Status: Full Time

FLSA Status: Exempt

Pay Rate: $107,000 to $120,000; commensurate with qualifications; excellent benefits package

TO APPLY: E-mail your resume to [email protected]; include the job title in the subject line.

CHASI is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to hiring and supporting a diverse staff. People of color, LGBTQ, women, and people with disabilities strongly encouraged to apply. All qualified applicants will be afforded equal employment opportunities without discrimination because of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, genetic information, disability or marital status.