Executive Director, Reclaim Philadelphia

Full Time Permanent

We’re nearing the end of our first round interviews for this position. Before applying, please email board@reclaimphiladelphia.org to check in.

Reclaim Philadelphia is a member-led organization that builds community power to win change, reclaim government for the people, and advance economic, racial, and gender justice. Since our founding in 2016, we have significantly changed the political landscape in Philadelphia with a series of previously unimaginable electoral victories. Recently independent after years of fiscal sponsorship, we seek our first Executive Director. The most important thing you need to know before applying is that we are a membership organization and do not want to be a typical nonprofit. Our Board is committed to being member-led, making our organization more democratic, increasing member participation, encouraging member initiative and leadership development, and moving away from Covid-era electronic-only organizing practices. Externally we want to focus on collaborative work and strengthening relationships with partners old and new.

Good candidates must support our values and our theory of change. They will be creative, kind, respectful, positive, and organized. Further, they will align with the vision of greater democracy and collaboration laid out by the Board. They will be anchored by a deep commitment to membership and sense of accountability to members and, more broadly, to serving the multiracial working class. They will agree that staff time should be used not to do all the work, but to build the infrastructure to empower and facilitate members and leaders to organize neighbor-to-neighbor, like a membership-led organization should. They will be eager to think outside the boxes and traps of the nonprofit world and work as a partner with the Board and member-leaders to experiment to create powerful new models of success that combine the reliability of paid staff with the scalability and true power of member-led organizing.

The Executive Director will work with the Board and member leaders to achieve Reclaim’s mission, conducting day-to-day operations efficiently, developing and evaluating programs, overseeing campaigns, managing personnel, and leading fundraising efforts. More specifically, the Executive Director will:

Program and Operations:

Work with the Board and members to build the infrastructure of the organization, ensuring systems, processes, and work plans across the organization are aligned with Reclaim’s vision and current priorities and that day-to-day operations are set up for maximum impact.
Ensure strategic priorities are reflected in an actionable plan with measurable milestones and outcomes.
Perform day-to-day operational and programmatic duties and tasks related to the continued functioning and success of Reclaim, including but not limited to meeting with member leaders, planning trainings, developing field plans, etc.
Serve as a lead external ambassador and spokesperson for Reclaim with the media, donors, coalition partners, elected officials, and other external stakeholders.

Supervision and Management:

Supervise and mentor Reclaim’s staff.
Advance Reclaim’s commitment to racial equity internally and externally; provide compassionate leadership and maintain a participatory, inclusive, collaborative culture that ensures that Reclaim is a place where talented, mission-aligned people can come, stay, and do their best work.
Provide strong partnership, collaboration, and leadership to Reclaim’s Board of Directors, ensuring open lines of communication and high levels of engagement.

Fundraising, Development, and Financial Management:

Lead fundraising strategy to grow the organization and its impact, ensuring a network of committed, engaged supporters.
Manage an average operating budget of $300-500K, develop and build consensus around fundraising and spending plans, and manage finances and accounting.

We are seeking candidates who:

Strong knowledge and experience developing and implementing community, issue, or electoral organizing strategies within grassroots/movement building and electoral organizing contexts (typically developed after 4+ years of relevant experience, etc.).
2 years of people management experience
Experience communicating and presenting a cohesive narrative and vision with outside stakeholders, coalition members, and funders
Experience drafting and executing a fundraising plan
Lived experience that promotes knowledge of and sensitivity to the challenges vulnerable communities face including an appreciation for historical context, discernment of relationship nuances, power dynamics, and understanding of social, racial, and ethnic realities.
Are power hungry and ambitious.
Support our values and our theory of change and are committed to working class power and solidarity.
Are creative, kind, respectful, positive, and organized.
Believe in the power of membership-based neighbor-to-neighbor organizing and empowering staff to facilitate.
Experienced with member-based organizations, working as a partner with the Board and member-leaders and experimenting to create powerful new models of success that combine the reliability of paid staff with the scalability and true power of member-led organizing.
Approach leadership with a mindset of “power with” rather than “power over” and regularly includes others in planning and decision-making.
Communicate well and take pride in providing clear, helpful information. Able to make and communicate difficult decisions in the best interest of the organization. Get back to people in a timely manner.
Work well with people, with an enthusiasm for meeting and engaging with people. Listen closely to understand needs or concerns and take steps based on that input. Able to put people at ease, especially when there are lines of difference. Able to use conflict resolution techniques to reach agreeable solutions with stakeholders.
Proactively develop solutions to challenges, including by constantly looking at big-picture progress and identifying potential upcoming challenges in the organization overall.

Compensation and Benefits:

Salary of $75,000, open to negotiation.
Health care, competitive benefits, and paid sick leave.
Generous vacation time including organizational breaks in the winter and summer.
Technology stipends for phone and computer.

People of color, immigrants, women, bilingual speakers, LGBTQ+ and gender expansive people, formerly incarcerated people, and people with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply.

To apply for the position, please go here and submit your resume, a writing sample, three reference contacts, and a cover letter expressing your interest and qualifications by the end of April 2024. If you have questions, please email board@reclaimphiladelphia.org.