Ready, Willing & Able - Executive Director

Philadelphia, PA

Full Time

Executive

Position Overview:

The Executive Director (ED) serves as the strategic and operational leader of Ready, Willing & Able Philadelphia (RWA), advancing the organization’s mission to support individuals on their path to recovery, employment, and long-term stability.

Reporting to the RWA Advisory Board, the ED oversees all aspects of organizational leadership, including operations, program performance, financial management, fundraising, and external partnerships. The ED will lead a high-performing team, strengthen community and government relationships, and ensure the organization’s long-term sustainability and impact.

This role requires a collaborative, mission-driven leader with deep nonprofit management experience, strong financial and fundraising acumen, and a demonstrated commitment to serving vulnerable populations.

Key Responsibilities

Leadership & Operations (35%)

Provide strategic leadership to advance RWA’s mission, impact, and long-term sustainability
Oversee day-to-day operations, including program delivery, administration, and staff management
Ensure program quality, performance measurement, and compliance with funder requirements and UAC policies
Lead, coach, and develop a high-performing team grounded in accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement
Partner with the Advisory Board to support strategic planning, governance, and organizational growth

Financial Management (25%)

Lead organizational budgeting, financial forecasting, and resource allocation
Monitor financial performance, including budget variance analysis and reporting
Ensure sound fiscal management and compliance with all financial and contractual requirements

Development & Fundraising (25%)

Develop and implement a multi-year fundraising strategy to support organizational sustainability and growth
Identify, secure, and steward diverse funding sources, including government contracts, grants, and philanthropic support
Increase organizational visibility and strengthen RWA’s community presence and reputation

External Relations & Partnerships (15%)

Serve as RWA’s primary spokesperson and external representative
Build and maintain strong relationships with the City of Philadelphia, Clean Communities clients, funders, community partners, and other stakeholders
Represent RWA in public forums, partnership meetings, and community engagement efforts

Qualifications

The ideal candidate is a mission-driven leader with a strong track record of organizational leadership, team management, fundraising, and operational oversight.

Required Experience & Skills:

Demonstrated commitment to RWA’s mission and program philosophy
At least seven years of senior leadership experience, preferably within nonprofit organizations
Proven track record of leading organizations or programs through growth and increased impact
Strong financial acumen, including budget development and management
Demonstrated success in fundraising and development, including securing and managing diverse revenue streams
Experience building, managing, and developing high-performing teams
Demonstrated ability to lead stakeholder engagement and public relations efforts, building and sustaining relationships across a broad and diverse range of stakeholders
Strong written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills
Experience working effectively with Boards of Directors or Advisory Boards

Preferred Qualifications:

Understanding of substance use disorder, recovery, and reentry populations
Experience in workforce development and/or criminal justice systems
Lived experience in recovery or a demonstrated commitment to supporting individuals in recovery

Compensation

The salary for this role is budgeted from $130,000-150,000, commensurate with experience, and includes a robust benefits package.

Please submit your application here. This search is being run by NRG Consulting Group. Please contact Naomi Roth-Gaudette with questions at [email protected]. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. The preferred application deadline is July 8, 2026.

Apply for this position

Required*

First Name*

Last Name*

Email Address*

Phone*

Resume*

We've received your resume. Click here to update it.

Attach resume or Paste resume

Attach resume as .pdf, .doc, .docx, .odt, .txt, or .rtf (limit 5MB) or Paste resume

Paste your resume here or Attach resume file

RWA addresses substance use disorder through providing transitional housing and other vital support services. What draws you to this work, and why are you interested in this role?*

Tell us about a fundraising strategy you’ve led or significantly shaped. What were your goals, and what results did you achieve?*

In this role, you’ll be managing a team of 24, most of whom are alumni of the program and have non-traditional backgrounds. Tell us about your experience leading, managing, mentoring, or developing individuals from non-traditional backgrounds.*

As ED, you will be responsible for developing and managing RWA’s budget. Describe your experience managing the financial health of an organization.*

What are your pronouns, and how do we phonetically pronounce your name? We want to make sure that we address you correctly throughout the process and ensure a respectful candidate experience.

Please confirm your understanding that this is an in-person role in Philadelphia.*

Human Check*

Submit Application

Over the past 5 years, I’ve developed a company and a nationwide progressive talent network to meet the dynamic hiring needs of our clients, all of whom I’m happy to report are repeat customers with whom we have long-standing relationships.

If you are a candidate with a question, feel free to contact [email protected] and we will get back to you ASAP. You should also check out the NRG careers page to see even more roles we are hustiling to fill.