Executive Director (Part-Time), 5th Square Advocacy

Job Type: Part-time Executive Director
Term: July 1, 2026 – July 1, 2027 (flexible), with the possibility of extension to a permanent, full-time role based on performance and funding availability
Hours: Approximately 24 hours per week, with some flexibility and occasional evening or weekend commitments
Compensation & Benefits:  The role is budgeted at $54,000 annual salary. This part-time role does not automatically include benefits. However, the organization is open to structuring total compensation to include health coverage and other benefits in lieu of a portion of salary.

Summary of Role

The Executive Director (ED) serves as the chief executive and strategic leader of 5th Square Advocacy. Reporting to the Board of Directors, the ED is responsible for advancing the organization’s mission through strong leadership, financial stewardship, partnership development, and operational excellence.

This is a hands-on, high-impact position in a lean, traditionally all-volunteer, organization. The ED will focus on fundraising, public communications, and operational management, while working closely with the Board to share responsibility for strategy, policy, and advocacy, volunteer engagement, and outreach.

This role is located in Philadelphia, PA, and involves a combination of work from home, and in-person meetings approximately one to two times per week. These meetings require travel around Philadelphia and Harrisburg to attend various community and legislative events, which often occur on nights and weekends. Volunteer and organizer meetings are often at a coworking space in Northern Liberties.

About the Organization

5th Square Advocacy is a 501(c)4 nonprofit organization working towards a more accessible, sustainable, and equitable Philadelphia and Pennsylvania. Through grassroots organizing, we mobilize neighbors to advocate for people-centered communities. At all levels of government, we fight for policies that promote abundant housing, safe roadways, and accessible transit.

Primary Responsibilities:

In accordance with 5th Square Advocacy’s short-term strategic plan, the Executive Director will lead in these areas:

Fundraising

• Collaborate with the Board to develop and implement a comprehensive fundraising strategy to diversify and grow revenue streams.
• Secure and manage grant funding by preparing applications, overseeing required reporting, and ensuring regulatory compliance.

Public Communication

• Serve as the organization’s primary spokesperson with policymakers, subscribers, volunteers, funders, and the media.

Operational Management

• Supervise and support any staff, contractors, and volunteers.
• Manage the organization’s budget, finances, and operations to ensure fiscal responsibility and sustainability.
• Report regularly to the Board on organizational performance and strategic progress.
  
  

Secondary Responsibilities:

The Executive Director will collaborate with the Board and volunteers in executing these duties.

Strategy, Policy, and Advocacy

• Develop and execute 5th Square Advocacy’s long-term strategic plan.
• Guide 5th Square Advocacy’s policy agenda on housing and land use, transit, and roadway safety.
• Work with legislators, municipal officials, and advocacy partners to advance pro-homes, pro-transit, and pro-roadway safety legislation and local action.
• Foster a strong, inclusive organizational culture grounded in transparency, collaboration, and equity.

Volunteer Organizing

• Plan and host meetups attended by subscribers, volunteers, donors, elected officials, guest speakers, and others.
• Mobilize, foster, and grow a team of volunteer organizers advocating for mission-aligned policies and campaigns. 
• Foster the communications, traditional and social media engagement, and public speaking of volunteers.

Outreach

• Build and maintain relationships with foundations, major donors, and institutional funders.
• Build partnerships with advocacy groups, urban planning professionals, and community leaders advocating for mission-aligned reforms across the state.
  
  

Qualifications

Required:

• Demonstrated success in nonprofit management, fundraising, public policy advocacy, coalition-building, and/or related fields
• Strong understanding of housing and land use, public transit, and roadway safety issues.
• Excellent communication and public speaking skills, with the ability to inspire diverse stakeholders.
• Experience managing budgets, teams, strategic initiatives, or programs.
• Commitment to the organization’s mission of a more accessible, sustainable, and equitable Philadelphia and Pennsylvania.

Preferred:

• Knowledge of Pennsylvania and Philadelphia’s political landscape.
• Experience with operational software:
• Slack, or other chat platforms
• QuickBooks Online, or other accounting software
• Neon Websites and Neon One, or other web hosting platforms and CRMs for web admin, member and donor tracking, event planning, petitions, and email campaigns, etc.

How to apply

All interested candidates should complete the application here by including:

• An up-to-date resume (no longer than 2 pages).
• A 1-page cover letter explaining:
• 1. Why you are interested in working at 5th Square Advocacy
• 2. What makes you a good fit for the Executive Director role, including any previous success in organizational leadership, fundraising, policy advocacy, and/or coalition-building. 
• Be sure to relay your story in addition to your professional attributes.
• What do you like about Philadelphia, and what would you like to see changed? (2000 characters max; approx. 300 words)

References and clearances will be requested as the hiring process proceeds. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis and the position will be considered open until filled. Priority will be given to applications received by April 1st.

We thank all applicants; we will contact only those selected for an interview. 

5th Square Advocacy understands that qualified candidates may not possess all of the experiences and skills listed above. If a candidate has some but not all of the ideal experiences and skills, we still encourage the candidate to apply. We value unique perspectives gained from different backgrounds and experiences and are dedicated to supporting professional growth of all 5th Square Advocacy staff members.

5th Square Advocacy believes that in order to make a more accessible, sustainable, and equitable Philadelphia and Pennsylvania, we need people from all backgrounds in the fight. Because of this, we'd like to encourage applications from people that represent the diverse communities of Philadelphia, especially people who come from communities that are often unacknowledged in the housing, transit and roadway safety movement, including, communities of color, women, people with disabilities, and individuals who identify as Black, Indigenous, multiracial, and/or multicultural, to bring your experience to this role.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.