Chief Program Officer

Title : Chief Program Officer

Reports to : Executive Director

Status : Full-time, Exempt (salaried)

Location : Remote within the United States (option to work from our office in Berkeley, CA)

Our Organization

The Center for Good Food Purchasing uses the power of procurement and partnerships to create a transparent and equitable food system for people, animals, and the environment. We do this by helping major institutions nationwide adopt and implement the Good Food Purchasing Program.

Over 70 institutions in 40 major US cities have enrolled in the Program. With a collective annual food spend surpassing $1.2 billion, these institutions and cities are committed to directing their purchasing power toward the five Program values : local and community-based economies, environmental sustainability, valued workforce, animal welfare, and community health and nutrition centered around the principles of equity, transparency, and accountability. Using the Program’s metric- and data-driven framework, they measure and improve food purchasing practices over time.

We also work with national partners, local grassroots coalitions, and institutions to shift toward values-based purchasing from farm to fork and build a cohesive network movement to support more resilient and equitable food systems.

The Center for Good Food Purchasing is a fiscally-sponsored project of Community Partners.

Chief Program Officer Summary

The Chief Program Officer (CPO) is a member of the senior leadership team and has a seat at the table to shape the strategic direction, priorities, and growth of the Center. The CPO leads programmatic vision, oversees the development and execution of our core work (i.e., supporting institutional adoption and implementation of the Good Food Purchasing Program), and ensures that the Center’s programs remain high-impact, responsive to partners, and aligned with our organizational values and equity commitments.

The CPO oversees the Program Team, which serves as the primary liaison with institutional participants (e.g., municipal agencies, school districts, hospitals), co-developing short- and long-term implementation strategies informed by data to improve their Program performance, and identifying opportunities for collective action regionally and nationally. The Program team works in close coordination with our Ecosystem Engagement, Policy, Communications, Development, and Core Mission Support teams to empower institutional leaders and community partners to build just, sustainable food systems, using procurement as a lever for change.

This is a remote role that requires occasional domestic travel. The Center for Good Food Purchasing is based in the Bay Area of California.

Success in This Role Looks Like (within the first 12-18 months) :

• Core program strategies (institutional support, verification, data analytics, technical assistance, partnerships) are integrated under a unified operating model that is innovative and responsive to evolving food system challenges and opportunities.
• Participating institutions show measurable improvement in their alignment with the Good Food Purchasing values (e.g., increasing purchases in local economies, environmental sustainability, valued workforce, animal welfare, nutrition) and consistently meet or exceed their performance targets.
• Develop and launch a learning agenda and dashboard that turns data into decisions and concrete program changes. The Program Team will publish at least two external pieces (e.g., briefs, webinars, or conference sessions) to share learnings with the field.
• Program team members are supported in their day-to‑day work and professional growth, receive regular coaching and professional development, understand how their individual roles and team contribute to our organizational goals and mission, and have the conditions they need to thrive in their roles.
• The Center expands its reach and influence—engaging with more cities / institutions, deepening our network of partners, and elevating the Center’s visibility and thought leadership in values‑based procurement and equitable food systems.

Essential Functions

Program Strategy and Portfolio Management

Performance, Assessment, and Learning (Data / Evaluation)

Program Delivery, Partnerships, & Field Leadership

Internal Leadership and Cross‑Functional Collaboration

People Leadership and Change Management

Technology and Data Strategy

Budget, Grants, and Revenue

Required Qualifications

Preferred Qualifications

Compensation & Benefits

The Chief Program Officer is a regular full‑time, exempt position with an annual salary of $138,500. Our salaries are competitive; reflect our size, geographic location, and field; and are commensurate with experience. We conduct an annual review of market‑based salary trends to promote equitable and competitive compensation practices.

The Center for Good Food Purchasing, a fiscally‑sponsored project of Community Partners, is a people‑first workplace that values flexibility, work‑life balance, and restoration. In addition to offering competitive benefits (i.e. medical / dental / vision, disability / life insurance, vacation, and a 403(b) plan with employer match after two years), we also offer generous paid holidays in addition to vacation time (27 holiday days in 2025, which include annual summer and winter breaks), two flexible working Fridays monthly, remote work stipends, an annual professional development budget, travel opportunities, and paid sabbaticals.

Community Partners® is an equal opportunity employer committed to a diverse and inclusive workforce. We strongly encourage and seek applications from people of color, including bilingual and bicultural individuals, as well as women, and members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender communities. In addition, the organization will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of the Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring.

How to Apply

Applicants applying by Wednesday, November 19 will be given priority consideration, with the position open until filled. Submit your application via this form. The form will ask for your contact information, a brief original cover letter written by you in PDF format that describes relevant experience, your resume in PDF format, and two to three professional references.

We invite applicants to highlight their unique skills, experiences, and passion in their applications using their own words. While AI can help you prepare your materials, please make sure to review and personalize them to accurately represent your qualifications and enthusiasm for our organization and mission.

If selected, the interview process will consist of one initial video interview (30 minutes), with the potential for a second video interview (45‑60 minutes).

You will receive a response within 2-3 weeks of application close. We respectfully request no calls or emails. Please note that due to the high number of anticipated applicants, we are not able to provide personalized feedback on application materials.

Goodfoodpurchasing.org

Application form URL : https : / / forms.gle / JJn62QKiwgTaYfvv8

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