Grounded in the knowledge that the legal right to land is a foundation for prosperity and opportunity, Landesa partners with governments, local organizations, and donors to ensure that the world’s poorest families have secure rights over the land they till. At Landesa, we foster an environment that values impact, collaboration, respect, dedication, and learning. These traits are the driving force of our success and are inherent in our organizational culture.

The Chief Program Officer (CPO) is responsible for the development, expansion, integration and implementation of Landesa’s program strategy. The ultimate goal of this strategy is to work with governments to help secure land rights for the world’s rural poor. The CPO serves as a key leadership team member, actively participating in the development of Landesa’s overall strategy. The CPO manages the Program Department and sets goals, monitors work, and evaluates results to ensure that department and organization objectives and operating requirements are met in line with Landesa's needs and mission. Reporting to the CEO, the CPO supervises 10+ direct reports and oversees 75+ Program Staff globally, and travels globally up to 80 days/year.

Essential Job Functions

Program Leadership

  • Support the CEO in developing and implementing Landesa’s overall Program strategy. Partner with the Country/Program Directors and other Program Staff to develop and implement country and program strategies and work plans.
  • Develop, ensure implementation, and enforce the use of systems to facilitate smooth workflow, equitable and efficient work allocation, quality control, monitoring and evaluation, and communication within and among programs as well as between Programs and other departments.
  • Together with CEO and Country/Program Directors, establish and monitor progress against Program and organizational metrics and milestones.
  • Support development and integration of regional and cross-cutting Program strategies, including country/regional programs, Women & Land, and Global Advocacy.
  • Understand technical aspects of Program Department work.
  • Ensure work quality and integration of learning and best practices. At Program Department level, assist Program Directors with measuring project and individual performance through regular communication with Program Staff, monitoring progress, tracking outcomes, referrals and services. Conduct site visits to measure program performance, ensure quality, and track outcomes. Work with Program Directors to provide high-level oversight, approving project scope and deliverables within regions and programs.
  • Ensure resources are available to support programs.
  • Identify new business development opportunities.

Operational Innovation

  • Guide and integrate the Country/Program directors’ efforts to align business processes and reinforce organizational structure to ensure the effectiveness of major programs and initiatives by focusing energies and operations to achieve objectives.
  • Assist in the development, implementation, enforcement, and monitoring of program policies and procedures for effective service delivery.
  • Develop innovative initiatives to enhance internal communication, education, efficiency, and effectiveness.
  • Encourage and facilitate technology use to enable the reengineering of programs and processes to make optimal use of resources.
  • Coordinate and oversee financial management, including budget development; authorizing and monitoring use of contract funds; and identifying savings opportunities.
  • Lead efforts to identify and assess how emerging trends and issues may impact Landesa’s work.

Management and Organizational Leadership

  • Manage Program Directors and Supervisors including work performance, evaluation, and professional development.
  • Manage, train and mentor Program Directors in program strategy management and development, and project-level Program Staff management; ensure resources are available and utilized to develop strong technical leadership for each program area.
  • Contribute to organizational strategy as a leadership member, including the development of organization and department annual goals, strategies, and desired outcomes, along with the development of corresponding budgets. Support CEO in building relationships with international stakeholders, including government officials, fellow NGOs, and donors.
  • Present Program Management Reports to the Board of Directors and/or Board committees; prepare and present other reports to the Board or CEO.
  • Represent Landesa within the nonprofit and philanthropic community, at conferences and other relevant meetings and events.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

  • A deep commitment to the mission of a better, safer future for the world’s poorest people through land ownership and secure land rights. Demonstrated commitment to Landesa’s values.
  • Energetic with an ability to work independently and maintain a strong commitment to teamwork.
  • Creative, independent thinker with a track record of success in achieving organizational objectives, including conception through implementation of new ideas.
  • Superior people management and communication skills. Proactive style with a track record of success in actively managing professionals and international development programs. Ability to lead and motivate groups and individuals. Ability to collaborate effectively with people at all levels, including management, program and support staff, board members, donors, contractors and vendors.
  • Ability to think creatively and strategically to mediate and negotiate successfully with internal and external individuals and groups. Ability to overcome obstacles and to foster harmonious relations.
  • Ability to define objectives, develop and manage budgets, appropriately allocate resources and evaluate outcomes.
  • Strong program and project management skills. Ability to balance competing priorities and work effectively in complex situations with tight deadlines. Capacity to oversee programs and professional program staff in remote geographies.
  • Excellent written, verbal and non-verbal communication skills. Superior public speaking skills with an ability to make and use distinctions as to types, frequency, tenor and levels of communication, depending upon circumstance, audience and content.
  • Excellent organizational and time management skills.
  • Ability to work effectively and constructively with a range of internal and external partners; work effectively as a collaborative team leader and member within administration, development, communications, operations and other program teams.
  • Expertise in one or more of the following areas strongly desired: nonprofit performance measurement; ethics and accountability; and/or leadership development.
  • Ability to proficiently use the Microsoft Suite and the Internet. Ability to quickly learn new technologies relevant to Landesa’s work environment.

Education and Experience

  • Relevant graduate or professional degree (law, international studies, economics, social science, business, etc.) strongly desired.
  • 15+ years' experience working in a leadership position in the international development arena, including deep knowledge of land tenure/rural development issues with experience working in multiple geographies and significant international/cross-cultural work experience.

The above description is not intended as, nor should it be construed as, exhaustive of all job responsibilities, skills, efforts, or working conditions. Reasonable accommodations may be made in appropriate circumstances to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this job.

Qualified candidates may apply by submitting a resume and cover letter to jobs@landesa.org, with the title “CPO” in the subject line. EOE.