Barrier Free Living Family of Companies
Helping people with disabilities help themselves
Freedom House for People with Disabilities
Secret Garden
BFL Apartment
Job Description
Name: ___________________ Position Title: Chief Program Officer
Signature: _________________________ Date: ______________________
Exempt
Full Time Hours Per Week: 35
Agency/Program: All Programs
Supervisor: Chief Executive Officer/ President
About Barrier Free Living (BFL): BFL is dedicated to helping New Yorkers with disabilities live
independently in the community. Through its various programs, BFL provides a broad range of
residential and non-residential services to disabled survivors of domestic violence. Services
include case management; housing placements; independent living skills training; occupational
therapy; short- and long-term individual counseling; advocacy within the medical, mental health,
child welfare, law enforcement, and criminal justice systems; and referrals to outside services.
Role Summary: The Chief Program Officer (CPO) is part of the Executive Team
comprised of the Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, and the Executive
Assistant. The Chief Program Officer provides leadership, supervision, oversight, and
management of the agency’s programs and services directly or through a program
director. This role is equal parts strategy, innovation, evaluation, and thought leadership.
Responsibilities:
Program Development
 Provide mentoring, guidance, supervision, and professional development to three
program directors. Work closely with agency consultants including Information
Technology (IT), Occupational Therapy (OT) and clinical consultants.
 Manage program compliance for all program contracts including public and
private funders and regulatory bodies
 Integrate and include the voice and activism of participants in BFL’s programs
and the development of BFL’s programming
 Foster and ensure “Best Practices” are consistently used across each program.
 Responsible for monitoring, creating and implementing out-come based
services
 Evaluate and strengthen existing programs and help in developing new programs
that further and expand the agency’s primary mission
Leadership and Management
 Provides leadership and guidance to the Leadership Team to foster initiative and
growth
 Maintain a team-based environment to motivate and inspire programs to work
collaboratively and to incorporate BFL’s Mission/Vision and commitment to
undoing the effects of racism
 Demonstrate a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion through continuous
development, modeling inclusive behaviors, and proactively managing bias
 Leverage BFL’s expanding data-driven capacity and culture to evaluate, market
and improve program effectiveness
 Monitor emerging needs among key stakeholders such as people served,
government, philanthropic and other peer-related employers
 Position BFL as a national leader in domestic violence by taking on
opportunities to be an external, outward-facing presence to ensure continuing
visibility and support
 Represent the agency on relevant committees and task forces, as well as at
speaking engagements, conferences, panels, trainings and media events to raise
the agencies profile
 Provide support to President/CEO in generating reports and materials to board of
directors and board committees
 Attendance and participation in board meetings
Strategic Planning
 Assist President/CEO with developing and implementing agency-wide strategic
planning initiatives.
Fundraising and Development
 Develop and maintain relationships with funders, contract managers and other
stakeholders as needed
 Oversee the fulfillment of program contract requirements and contract reporting
 Act as BFL’s grant funding coordinator by identifying grant opportunities, applying
for various grants that meet the organization’s needs, and overseeing the grant
application, monitoring, and evaluation.
Financial Management
 In partnership with the CEO and CFO, ensure that financial systems,
budgets, and planning strategies accurately reflect the financial realities of
the organization; achieve realistic and attainable financial projections and
ensure fiscal stability.
 Act as the Secretary for all BFL banking including check signing, approving
payments, and granting/removing banking privileges
Human Resources
 In partnership with Human Resources, ensure that program staff on all levels
reflects the diversity of the populations served at BFL. Drive an open culture of
collaboration, integration, quality, innovation, data-driven decision-making, and
intelligent use of resources.
Required Skills/Qualifications
 Unwavering commitment to BFL’s mission, vision, and values
 Demonstrated ability to balance long-term strategic vision with daily
operational issues.
 A collaborative leader with the ability to promote and sustain a positive work
culture among a diverse staff and to encourage teamwork and collaboration.
 Experience developing, operating, and evaluating programs.
 Ability to navigate various internal, city, state, and federal cloud based
systems including, but not limited to, as Grants Gateway, CAPS, JustGrants,
FamCare, and NetSuite
 Commitment to using best practices and data feedback to shape innovative
program models.
 A highly effective and skilled communicator; a good listener; actively seeks
opinions of others in decision-making; consultative; able to inspire confidence
and trust, and comfort with public speaking and presentation
 Master’s Degree in Social Work, Public Health, Business Administration, Public
Health or equivalent degree
 Minimum of five years’ operations management experience, preferably in non-
profit sector
 Budgeting and financial management experience
 Demonstrated administrative and supervisory experience
 Demonstrated grant writing skills
 Excellent oral and written communication skills
 Bilingual (Spanish/English) and ASL skills a plus
Start Date: November, 2022
Benefits Package: 100% Employer paid Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance,
Matched Retirement Plan, Paid vacation, Sick days, Personal days, Paid National
Holidays, and more.
Hourly Rate: Commensurate with experience
Status: Full Time/Exempt
Hours per week: 35
Schedule: Monday through Friday, 9AM to 5PM. In the office approximately 1-2x’s
month and as needed per agency requirements.
Equipment Operated: Computer/Laptop, Printer, Scanner, Phone
Work Environment: Hybrid work environment
Travel: Ability to travel between program sites, when needed.
BFL provides equal employment opportunity to all applicants, with employment based upon personal capabilities and
qualifications without discrimination because of race, color, national origin, religion, age, disability, pregnancy, alienage or
citizenship status, marital status, creed, genetic disposition or carrier status, sexual orientation or any other protected