How to hire a chief program officer

How to hire a chief program officer, step by step

Here's a step-by-step chief program officer hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a chief program officer job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new chief program officer
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a chief program officer do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the chief program officer you need to hire. Certain chief program officer roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a chief program officer to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire a chief program officer that fits the bill.

   The following list breaks down different types of chief program officers and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Chief Program Officer	Description	Hourly rate
   Chief Program Officer	Medical and health services managers, also called healthcare executives or healthcare administrators, plan, direct, and coordinate medical and health services. They might manage an entire facility, a specific clinical area or department, or a medical practice for a group of physicians... Show more	$32-82
   Division Director	A division director is a professional who is responsible for managing team members and business operations that are assigned in his/her or her division to achieve the goals of a company. Division directors are required to evaluate division performance and ensure that the team's work complies with the company policies and procedures... Show more	$32-102
   Managing Director	A Managing Director oversees workflow and progress, making sure that all operations align within the company or organization's mission or set of goals. They are responsible for crafting strategies, devising effective business plans, and executing guidelines that would nurture a company's growth, and as well as to be the driving force that would direct employees to the company's objectives... Show more	$34-112

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Human Resources
   • Oversight
   • Project Management
   • Risk Management
   • Strategic Plan
   • Professional Development
   • Employee Engagement
   • Program Management
   • Strategic Direction
   • Management System
   • Organizational Development
   • Program Development
   • Regulatory Compliance
   • Social Work

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage implementation of referrals, coordinate assignment of new physicians and create support network for transitioning patients during clinic closure.
   • Facilitate PMO strategy sessions and encourage PMO support.
   • Conduct fee analyses relate to Medicaid, Medicare and third party revenue sources.
   • Maintain federal and state medical regulations including Medicare and Medicaid.
   • Prepare program and budget estimates for reports for senior managers responsible for executive oversight of strategic war planning system.
   • Provide oversight to the integration of other U.S. governmental agencies into the USEUCOM exercise program including representatives serving in non-governmental organizations.

   More chief program officer duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in the chief program officer job description is a good way to get more applicants. A chief program officer salary can be affected by several factors, such as the location of the job, the level of experience, education, certifications, and the employer's prestige.

   For example, the average salary for a chief program officer in Arkansas may be lower than in New Hampshire, and an entry-level engineer typically earns less than a senior-level chief program officer. Additionally, a chief program officer with lots of experience in the field may command a higher salary as a result.

   Average chief program officer salary

   $108,110yearly

   $51.98 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level chief program officer salary

   $68,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 21, 2026

   Average chief program officer salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	New York	$127,062	$61
   2	Minnesota	$120,764	$58
   3	Rhode Island	$120,482	$58
   4	California	$120,457	$58
   5	Arizona	$117,665	$57
   6	Virginia	$116,976	$56
   7	Massachusetts	$116,405	$56
   8	District of Columbia	$114,215	$55
   9	Georgia	$114,198	$55
   10	Oregon	$109,476	$53
   11	Connecticut	$109,369	$53
   12	Nevada	$108,436	$52
   13	Ohio	$106,743	$51
   14	Pennsylvania	$105,840	$51
   15	Missouri	$103,437	$50
   16	Illinois	$101,048	$49
   17	Washington	$98,619	$47
   18	Maryland	$98,252	$47
   19	Kentucky	$98,165	$47
   20	Utah	$94,286	$45

   Average chief program officer salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	McKinsey & Company Inc	$166,605	$80.10
   2	Dignity Health	$160,870	$77.34	64
   3	NRDC	$133,501	$64.18
   4	North Metro Medical Center	$129,203	$62.12
   5	Children's National Medical Center	$127,329	$61.22	6
   6	Unit 7	$124,723	$59.96
   7	MetroPlus	$122,142	$58.72	3
   8	Hireology	$121,047	$58.20
   9	Go	$109,422	$52.61
   10	World Health Partners	$106,502	$51.20
   11	Peek	$105,795	$50.86
   12	Texas Ezpawn Management, Inc.	$105,216	$50.58
   13	HODINKEE	$105,216	$50.58
   14	The Independent Traveler	$105,187	$50.57	19
   15	Wine Access	$105,125	$50.54
   16	P3 HealthCare Solutions	$104,858	$50.41
   17	Koya Partners	$104,091	$50.04
   18	National Center for Victims of Crime	$103,192	$49.61
   19	Food Research & Action Center	$102,650	$49.35
   20	Lockheed Martin	$102,306	$49.19	271

4. Writing a chief program officer job description

   A chief program officer job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. To help get you started, here's an example of a chief program officer job description:

   Chief program officer job description example

   The Arc of the Quad Cities Area is currently seeking out a Division Director of Community Programs and Work Services. The position will be a member of the Senior Leadership team and will work in partnership with the Executive Director in developing and implementing a strategic plan that supports the agencies guiding principles and will foster the long term health of The Arc. This best person for this position will be forward thinking in their development of programs and of program staff.
   
   The person in this position must have a BA or BS in human services field however, MA/MS is Preferred, as well as a minimum of 5 years supervisory experience. This person will need to have a valid driver's license in good standing along with appropriate auto insurance and the ability to demonstrate effective writing and accounting skills, as well as demonstrate effective communication skills and the ability to work collaboratively as part of Senior Leadership.
   
   Some responsibilities include but are not limited to, Providing effective and inspiring leadership, as well as stewardship for all programs assigned, Direct, manage, evaluate and ensure division businesses and service programs are effective and in compliance with all appropriate regulatory standards and that reports, data and other information required by funding and/or regulatory agencies are prepared accurately and submitted timely, Actively design, implement, support and evaluate service programs and business opportunities, as well as lead a high performing team of program directors and managers by further developing and implementing recruitment, training and retention strategies.
   
   A Person in this position would be responsible for using independent judgment to make employment decisions, including but not limited to hiring, training, scheduling of work hours, monitoring job performance, evaluating and disciplining assigned staff as well as Ensuring timely processing, and submission of all individual attendance and billing records per agency's procedure and more.
   
   Most importantly, the best person for this position would actively support and further the mission of The Arc of the Quad Cities Area: "To empower people with disabilities to believe in their own unique abilities and achieve their full potential by providing quality, innovative services that focus on advocacy, independence, employment, meaningful community life and personal happiness."
   APPLY TODAY! www.arcqca.org
   
   "We are an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or veteran status."

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find the right chief program officer for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with chief program officers they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit chief program officers who meet your education requirements.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your chief program officer job on Zippia to find and recruit chief program officer candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit chief program officers, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up interviews.

   Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new chief program officer

   Once you've decided on a perfect chief program officer candidate, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, it should include benefits and perks available to the employee. Qualified candidates may be considered for other positions, so make sure your offer is competitive. Candidates may wish to negotiate. Once you've settled on the details, formalize your agreement with a contract.

   It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

   To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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How much does it cost to hire a chief program officer?