Chief Program Officer

World Savvy is reimaging a different reality for the future of K12 education. A reality where students know more, care more, and do more to contribute to a more peaceful, sustainable, and just world. We can only rise to meet our biggest challenges if our students learn to think through complex problems and design solutions from a global perspective. Problem-solving, comfort with ambiguity, collaboration, empathy, and critical thinking — are all essential tools in today's global knowledge economy. And a big part of educational equity is ensuring all students have access to those tools.

Founded in 2002, World Savvy is a leading national education nonprofit that partners holistically with schools to transform learning environments into inclusive, adaptive, and future-ready schools. Our multi-year Comprehensive School Partnerships are designed collaboratively with school leaders to align with each building’s strategic vision and goals. Our headquarters is located in St. Paul, Minnesota. Learn more at www.worldsavvy.org.

Mission: World Savvy educates and engages youth to learn, work, and thrive as responsible global citizens.

Vision: As the leading provider of global competence education, World Savvy envisions a K-12 education system that prepares all students with the knowledge, skills, and dispositions for success and active engagement in the global community.

World Savvy is an ambitious organization with big ideas and tenacious growth goals. Our culture is one of optimism, authenticity, levity, and learning. World Savvy is deeply committed to anti-racism, inclusion, and equity in our programming and workplace. As we grow, we will intentionally build a team that reflects the ethnic, racial, and cultural diversity of the students, educators, and communities we serve. World Savvy seeks individuals who are black, indigenous, and people of color to apply.

OUR VALUES:

We do the best work possible in service of our mission.

We believe collaboration is essential.

We see people as whole human beings.

We intentionally grow and change.

We lean into complexity when it’s called for.

We believe big things are possible, whether that’s our mission or the project on the table.

We notice and disrupt exclusionary patterns.

We bring hope, joy, and a sense of aspiration into all that we do.

POSITION SUMMARY:

World Savvy is seeking a dynamic, innovative leader with deep experience in education to spearhead programmatic implementation, innovation, and strategy. Reporting to the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Program Officer (CPO) will drive the evolution of World Savvy’s program offerings, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and forward-thinking solutions. The CPO will empower the program team to execute with excellence, evaluate impact, and explore new opportunities to scale World Savvy’s mission.

As a key member of the Executive and Leadership Teams, the CPO will align cross-functional priorities, establish strategic partnerships, and act as a catalyst for growth, innovation, and thought leadership in the field of K-12 education. The role requires agility, entrepreneurial vision, and an ability to lead in a fast-paced, growth-oriented environment.
The CPO will collaborate closely with regional Executive Directors to ensure responsive, scalable programming and represent World Savvy nationally as a thought leader and innovator. This position reports directly to the CEO and supports strategic initiatives aligned with World Savvy’s Vision 2035 plan.

Schedule: Full time

Salary range: $145,000 - $165,000 if located near the World Savvy Headquarters in St. Paul, MN. If a candidate is located where the average pay is 5% higher or 5% lower than the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area as a percentage of national average, appropriate salary adjustments may be made.

FSLA Status: This position is classified as exempt. It is not eligible for overtime pay according to applicable federal and state wage laws.

Work Authorization: Applicants for this position must be legally authorized to work in the United States and must disclose if they require sponsorship for a visa at the time of application or in the future.

Projected Start Date: March 3, 2025

Location: We are considering remote applicants for this role in any the following U.S. states: Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Wisconsin, and the District of Columbia.

Travel Requirements: National travel, regional, and local of up to 50% or more required, including nights and weekends.

Work Environment: World Savvy has one office in St. Paul, MN which is a hybrid work environment. This is a typical co-working office space which can be noisy at times. Noise canceling headphones, privacy booths and conference rooms available for use when quiet or privacy is needed. Work frequently requires a high level of mental effort, with significant interruptions and >50% of work time paying close attention to detail.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these essential functions.

Program Design, Innovation, and Implementation

• Lead the ideation, design, and launch of new, transformative programs aligned with World Savvy’s strategic vision.
• Cultivate a culture of innovation by encouraging the team to explore creative solutions and adopt industry best practices.
• Identify opportunities to streamline and enhance program delivery for maximum impact.
• Develop scalable models for program growth, ensuring adaptability to diverse educational contexts.
• Leverage industry trends and emerging technologies to keep programs cutting-edge and relevant.

Leadership and Team Development

• Build a high-performing, innovative program team through mentorship, collaboration, and a focus on professional growth.
• Foster a culture of ownership and entrepreneurial thinking within the program team.
• Drive strategic alignment across departments, regions, and stakeholders.
• Implement systems and processes that enable team efficiency and scalability in a hybrid work environment.

Evaluation, Research, and Field Building

• Champion a data-driven approach to evaluate program efficacy and identify areas for growth.
• Partner with external researchers to assess and document the impact of World Savvy’s programs.
• Use insights from evaluation and research to shape programs, inform stakeholders, and drive thought leadership.
• Lead efforts to codify and share World Savvy’s methodologies and best practices with the broader field.

Stakeholder Engagement, Networking, and Advocacy

• Act as a visionary program leader and external advocate for World Savvy’s mission and impact.
• Build and nurture strategic partnerships with funders, community leaders, and other organizations to advance World Savvy’s work.
• Represent World Savvy at conferences, panels, and in publications to position the organization as an innovator in education.
• Engage the Educator Advisory Council to co-design and refine program offerings.

Growth, Marketing, and Development

• Align program growth strategies with organizational priorities and revenue goals.
• Collaborate with the Leadership Team to craft compelling narratives for funders, partners, and stakeholders.
• Partner with Development and Marketing teams to share impactful program stories and outcomes.
• Identify opportunities for revenue generation through program expansion and partnerships.

Supervisory Responsibilities

This individual currently supervises 3 staff directly (Director of School Partnerships, Director of District & Strategic Initiatives, and Director of Evaluation) and 10 staff indirectly. Supervisory responsibilities include:

• Recruit, interview, hire, and train new staff.
• Oversee the daily workflow of the department.
• Provide constructive and timely performance feedback, including annual performance evaluations for direct reports.
• Actively seek professional development and growth opportunities for staff.
• Handle discipline and termination of employees in accordance with company policy.
• Other duties as assigned.

KEY REQUIREMENTS:

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience required; advanced degree preferred.
• Minimum 15 years of professional experience in education, leadership, and innovation.
• Proven track record of driving programmatic growth, innovation, and impact at scale.
• Demonstrated entrepreneurial mindset: proactive problem-solving, adaptability, and a growth orientation.
• Expertise in project management, including digital tools like Slack, Asana, and Salesforce.
• Strong communication skills, with experience presenting to diverse audiences and stakeholders.
• Demonstrated ability to lead in a remote/hybrid environment while maintaining a cohesive and innovative team culture.
• Passion for World Savvy’s mission to reimagine education for an ever-changing and interconnected world.
  
• Must have valid driver's license and access to reliable transportation.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

This position requires the ability to:

• Constantly remain in a stationary position, often sitting for prolonged periods.
  
• Occasionally move about to accomplish tasks or move from one worksite to another.
• Constantly communicate with others to exchange accurate information.
• Constant use of a computer keyboard and mouse, repeating motions that may include the wrists, hands and/or fingers
• Occasional operation of office equipment, such as printers, copiers, and scanners.
• Constant assessment of the accuracy, neatness, and thoroughness of the work assigned.
  
• Frequent walking, standing, and sitting for extended periods on planes, trains, or in airports.
• Ability to lift and carry luggage, potentially heavy depending on the travel needs.
  
• Withstand long travel days with minimal breaks, including time zone changes.

APPLYING FOR THE POSITION:

Please apply online at https://worldsavvy.bamboohr.com/careers/73 . Please include a resume and a cover letter that addresses your qualifications for the role. If you have questions that would affect your interest in applying, please e-mail jobs@ worldsavvy.org.

AFFIRMATIVE ACTION/EEO STATEMENT:
World Savvy is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. Equal Employment Opportunity has been, and will continue to be, a fundamental principle at World Savvy, where employment is based upon personal capabilities and qualifications without regard to: age; ancestry; color; creed; domestic violence victim status; gender, gender identity or expression (including transgender status); genetic information; marital status; medical condition; military and veteran status; national origin; physical or mental disability; political affiliation; protected medical leaves (requesting or approved for leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act or the California Family Rights Act); race (including traits that are historically associated with race, such as hair texture and protective hairstyles, including braids, locks, and twists); religion; sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or related medical conditions); sexual orientation; status with regard to public assistance; or any other protected categories under applicable federal, state and local law in which World Savvy operates.

A note about World Savvy’s commitment to anti-racism and recruiting:

In the past, we’ve used equity and inclusion language to express our social justice values. Like many organizations, we’ve recognized how passive and ineffective this has been at overcoming the effects of systemic racism that have impacted the workforce for generations. Many things need to change, including the dialogue we have with job seekers. To that end, we share the following:

As we grow, our commitment is to intentionally build a team that reflects the ethnic, racial, and cultural diversity of the students, educators, and communities we serve. We’re seeking individuals who identify as a part of BIPOC communities to apply. We believe these life experiences and perspectives are critical, in particular, to advance our global competence work. At its core, this work is about teaching students to practice empathy, value cultural differences, consider multiple perspectives, and collaboratively problem-solve. In an increasingly divided world, this work is more important than ever, and its continued success hinges on modeling this ourselves by continuously learning and growing.