Idara Nickelson serves as the Chief of Program Operations for the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS). In this role, Idara provides overall organizational management for all CNCS programs and oversees the agency’s field structure. She also serves as a principal advisor to the CEO and Board of Directors, helping to improve performance and shape and execute the long-term strategy and vision for the agency.

Idara has more than a decade of experience in financial, grants, and performance management. Prior to this position, she served as the Director of Budget Formulation and Performance for CNCS, where she was responsible for the development of CNCS’ annual funding request and ensuring its alignment with Administration priorities.

Before she joined CNCS, Idara served as the Director of the District of Columbia’s Temporary Aid to Needy Families Employment Program, where she was responsible for managing, monitoring, and evaluating the city’s nonprofit, faith-based, and for-profit employment vendors. She also served for five years with the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, where her work focused on tax policy, employment, and human services. Prior to this, Idara was a senior budget analyst at the U.S. Department of Labor, where she oversaw the financial and grants management of the Department’s largest unemployment statistics program.