Careers

Executive Director

Reports to: Board President
Job Type: Full-time

Position Overview:

Hourglass seeks a dynamic community leader to serve as its Executive Director. This individual will be a key player in shaping conversations about Lancaster County’s future and advocating for our community’s enviable quality of life. The ideal candidate is a self-starter with strong communication skills, deep connections within the community, and the ability to wear multiple hats in both strategic and administrative capacities.

Key Responsibilities:

Leadership and Strategic Vision:

  • Provide leadership that aligns with Hourglass’s mission and values, ensuring the organization remains a central voice in community discussions around growth, education, city vitality, health, and environmental sustainability.
  • Engage with community leaders, elected officials, nonprofit organizations, and local businesses to further Hourglass’s initiatives.

Board of Directors Support:

  • Collaborate with the Board President to set meeting agendas, schedule guests, and ensure the board remains informed on key organizational activities and community developments.
  • Attend board meetings, take minutes, and foster active engagement between board members and the community.

Events & Forums:

  • Develop and host monthly First Friday Forums and annual Community Forums on relevant issues impacting Lancaster County.
  • Coordinate logistics for events, including speaker scheduling, invitations and registration, venue setup, catering, and livestreaming/video recording, ensuring high-quality execution.
  • Manage post-event follow-up through digital platforms, such as YouTube, social media, and email marketing, to share recordings and insights.

Communications & Publications:

  • Produce the biweekly Keeping Lancaster Current email newsletter, the monthly Listening to Lancaster podcast, and the Hourglass Quarterly print publication.
  • Manage and update Hourglass’s website, social media accounts, and key publications, including the Annual Report.
  • Serve as the primary spokesperson for the organization, delivering clear and consistent messaging across platforms.

Fundraising and Financial Oversight:

  • Lead annual membership appeals, solicit major donor gifts, and secure sponsorships and grants from businesses and foundations to support organizational sustainability.
  • Maintain a robust stakeholder database for targeted communication and outreach.
  • Collaborate with an administrator to oversee financial reporting, budgeting, and day-to-day accounting, ensuring fiscal responsibility.

Community Engagement and Research:

  • Stay well-informed on local, state, and national issues impacting Lancaster County by reading high-quality news sources daily.
  • Represent Hourglass at community meetings and collaborate regularly with nonprofit leaders, government officials, and other stakeholders.
  • Conduct research on key topics related to Hourglass’s focus areas to inform board members and drive strategic initiatives.

Qualifications:

  • Education: Bachelor’s degree required.
  • Experience: Minimum of 3-5 years in a leadership role within a nonprofit, government, or community organization.
  • Focus Areas: Passion for and experience in issues related to smart growth/land use, city vitality, public education, community health, and environmental sustainability.

Skills:

  • Technology: Proficiency in WordPress, social media platforms (YouTube, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter), and basic video editing. Familiarity with digital tools like QuickBooks, Eventbrite, Zoom, and Mailchimp is required.
  • Communications: Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to engage effectively with diverse stakeholders and act as a spokesperson for the organization.
  • Relationship Building: Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to build and sustain relationships with key community leaders, elected officials, and donors.

To Apply:

Interested candidates should send a cover letter and resume to Career@HourglassLancaster.org by October 18, 2024.

Hourglass Internship

Description: Are you passionate about issues impacting Lancaster County? Are you looking to gain experience in communications and marketing, event planning, research, writing, photography, video or graphic design? Consider an internship at Hourglass!

About Hourglass: Hourglass is a nonprofit organization that was founded in 1997 to inform, enlighten, and encourage decision-makers so that Lancaster County can have growth and economic prosperity without losing its unique character and enviable quality of life. We’re a small team that works to provide information on long-term issues impacting Lancaster County such as Lancaster City vitality, education, the environment, and growth and land use. Our goal is to encourage collaboration locally and inspire innovative ways of thinking. We host informative events such as our First Friday Forums and Community Forums, have publications like Keeping Lancaster Current and the Hourglass Quarterly, host interviews through Listening to Lancaster, and share information via social media, our website, and email marketing.

Internship Responsibilities May Include:

  • Video editing or creating video content
  • Developing content for social media, website and publications
  • Helping with event planning
  • Capturing photography
  • Graphic design
  • Researching community issues and initiatives
  • Writing articles or blog posts
  • Working with Mailchimp, WordPress, Youtube, and other programs

Candidate Qualifications:

  • Previous experience and coursework in communications, journalism, graphic design, photography, video, or other related field
  • Interest community issues impacting Lancaster County
  • Professional demeanor

Additional Information:

  • Location: Hourglass Office, 922 N. Queen Street, Lancaster, PA 17602. Remote options available.
  • Compensation: An ideal candidate will complete this internship for college credit.
  • Schedule: An ideal candidate for a summer internship could commit to at least 15 hours/week for a minimum of 12 weeks. An ideal candidate for a spring or fall internship could commit to at least 5 hours/week for at least 12 weeks.
  • To Apply: Please send a resume, portfolio and/or two writing samples (as well as any links to a blog or social media sites you would like to share) to Hourglass@HourglassLancaster.org.
  • Deadlines: Suggested application deadlines are listed below. If you miss a deadline, or you are interested in an internship that does not meet the minimum duration, please contact Hourglass@HourglassLancaster.org, as exceptions can sometimes be made based on the needs of the organization.
    • Spring Internship: December 15
    • Summer Internship: February 1
    • Fall Internship: September 1