Program Director

About 10,000 Friends of Pennsylvania:

10,000 Friends of Pennsylvania is the Commonwealth's leading bipartisan advocate for responsible land use policies that create vibrant, sustainable communities for all Pennsylvanians. We collaborate with citizens, organizations, and public officials to develop policies and projects that strengthen our economy while protecting natural resources and building resilient communities. Our core values—collaboration, transparency, bipartisanship, and a commitment to equity and inclusion—unite our team as we work toward our vision for land use, transportation, and housing policies that strengthen our economy, protect our resources, and build healthy and walkable communities for all across Pennsylvania.

About this role:

Turn innovative ideas into on-the-ground community impact across Pennsylvania.

As our Programs Director, you'll develop and implement transformative initiatives related to smart growth and resilient land use, housing, and transportation policy. You'll lead our Collaborative Community Development initiative and manage consulting, planning, and technical assistance services that directly shape communities across the Commonwealth. Working closely with staff, partners, and stakeholders, you'll advance program and policy objectives centered in housing abundance, sustainable community development, and resilient land use practices. Your work will include providing project management for 10,000 Friends' programs and dedicated service for partner 5th Square initially.

You’ll thrive here if you...

• Excel at turning complex ideas into actionable, impactful community programs
• Possess an entrepreneurial mindset and resolve to fix big issues in housing and transit
• Build and manage high-functioning teams to expand organizational capacity
• Relish finding creative solutions to make challenging projects happen
• Develop strong relationships that amplify your advocacy efforts
• Are passionate about creating more equitable and sustainable communities
• Understand the nuances between 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4) work and design programs accordingly

Key areas of expertise include...

• Program Development and Implementation: Oversee the design, planning, and execution of program activities, including workshops, conferences, and educational campaigns.
• Equity and Inclusion: Apply equitable frameworks to ensure policies include historically and currently disparately-impacted perspectives in housing.
• Performance measurement & Impact assessment: Measure success and report the impact of this work to various stakeholders, including funders and partners.
• Capacity Building: Facilitating and supporting growth of organizations and community partners through training, technical assistance, and resource sharing to expand capacity
• Policy and Advocacy: Advocate for policies and regulations that support smart growth principles, housing abundance, and resiliency in transportation and public transit.
• Partnership Building: Cultivate strong partnerships with local governments, community organizations, businesses, and other relevant stakeholders.
• Research and Team Management: Recruit, manage and mentor a small team of interns, grad students, and other long-term volunteers and collaborators to assist on research and planning projects.
• Fundraising and Grant Management: Identify and help secure grant funding opportunities that align with program activities and initiatives.

Your Impact and Growth

To help you understand the expectations of this role (and prepare for the interview process), we’ve outlined what you can expect to accomplish in your first year as the Program Director.

Within 3 months, you will...

• Learn the history of 10,000 Friends' advocacy programs and best practices for communicating about them to

relevant bipartisan stakeholders

• Build deep familiarity with existing program structures and implementation approaches
• Establish key relationships with team members, volunteers, and organizational partners
• Begin actively participating in coalition meetings and stakeholder conversations
• Analyze current funding sources and reporting requirements
• Represent our organization at legislative hearings, public meetings, and forums across Pennsylvania
• Engage directly with policymakers, government agencies, and stakeholders to advance affordable housing and active transportation initiatives

Within 6 months, you will...

• Demonstrate excellence in supervising small teams virtually with confidence and effectiveness
• Develop expertise in recruiting and managing volunteers and interns to expand organizational capacity
• Form collaborative partnerships with aligned organizations to identify shared goals and develop joint initiatives
• Facilitate knowledge sharing and capacity building among partners
• Implement systems to monitor program progress and outcomes, making data-driven adjustments
• Provide guidance, support, and development opportunities to interns while delegating effectively
• Advance the goals of the PA Housing Choices Coalition in collaboration with staff and partners
• Manage grant budgets and ensure compliance with reporting requirements
• Expand your professional network to include local, state, and federal organizations and legislators collaborating to achieve policy objectives
• Participate in multiple state and national conferences and professional development opportunities

Within 12 months, you will...

• Design and launch comprehensive programs and initiatives fully aligned with our mission and strategic goals
• Identify, explore and develop new fee for service and technical assistance opportunities
• Secure new funding opportunities, working with the CEO and Fundraising Manager to prepare compelling grant proposals for collaborative projects and programs
• Lead policy research and oversee publication of influential reports, white papers, and communications materials
• Establish collaborations with national partners on research development and information distribution
• Create evaluation processes and implement program refinements based on measured outcomes and community feedback

You’ll bring to this role...

• Bachelor's degree in urban planning, public policy, government, or a related field (or equivalent experience)
• 4+ years of experience in housing, transportation, land use planning, or a related field (with at least 1 year of recent Pennsylvania experience)
• Demonstrated knowledge of housing and community development challenges, smart growth land use principles, and sustainable development practices
• Proven track record developing and implementing successful programs at scale
• Strong leadership experience managing teams and projects in both 501c3 and 501c4 contexts
• Confident public speaking abilities and ability to communicate effectively to diverse audiences
• Strong interpersonal skills for effective community engagement and authentic relationship building
• Demonstrated commitment to anti-racism, equity, and inclusion in program delivery

More details about this position

• Travel: This position can be based in Harrisburg or remote/hybrid in Pennsylvania, with regular travel to Harrisburg, Philadelphia, and other regions of the state for legislative meetings, hearings, and events. Occasional travel throughout Pennsylvania and beyond for conferences and Hill days.