Community Engagement Manager

The Community Engagement Manager is a highly relational, strategic community-building professional responsible for leading and growing PJ Library Houston while advancing broader engagement efforts across Jewish Houston. Reporting to the Vice President of Engagement & Leadership, this position will provide strategic leadership for PJ Library Houston, family engagement, the Community Connector initiative, community partnerships, and related outreach and recruitment efforts. The Community Engagement Manager will use relationships, data, and creativity to expand the Federation’s reach, strengthen Jewish identity and belonging, identify emerging leaders, and help individuals and families find meaningful places within Jewish communal life.

THE PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES FOR THIS ROLE WILL INCLUDE:

• Provide strategic leadership for PJ Library Houston and PJ Our Way, expanding their reach, increasing subscriptions, and deepening family engagement.
• Provide responsible oversight of the PJ Library Houston budget and related program resources.
• Develop pathways that help families move from receiving books to building relationships, participating in Jewish experiences, volunteering, and assuming leadership roles.
• Steward the relationship among PJ Library Houston, the national PJ Library organization, and the Harold Grinspoon Foundation, ensuring that national resources and best practices are effectively leveraged locally.
• Lead the Community Connector initiative as a relationship-based strategy for welcoming families, expanding community reach, and strengthening connections to Jewish life.
• Provide supervision, coaching, direction, and accountability for the Community Connector team, with a consistent approach to outreach, relationship-building, referrals, and follow-up.
• Ensure the Community Connector initiative produces measurable engagement outcomes and meaningful insights about the interests and needs of families throughout Jewish Houston.
• Build and sustain relationships with synagogues, schools, early childhood programs, Jewish agencies, clergy, educators, lay leaders, and other community partners.
• Position PJ Library and the Federation as valuable partners and trusted resources for family engagement, Jewish connection, and community participation.
• Advance collaborations that leverage the PJ Library brand, resources, and audience while expanding the reach and collective impact of Jewish engagement efforts.
• Represent the Federation and PJ Library Houston in relevant community coalitions, professional networks, and collaborative initiatives.
• Contribute to the Federation’s broader engagement strategy by connecting individuals and families with programs, leadership opportunities, missions, immersive experiences, and other meaningful points of involvement.
• Partner across Federation departments to strengthen participant recruitment, relationship development, and ongoing engagement.
• Create intentional pathways that help people move from initial participation toward deeper involvement, volunteer service, philanthropy, and communal leadership.
• Maintain accountability for grant compliance, reporting, funding opportunities, and stewardship of investments in partnership with the philanthropy team.
• Establish and evaluate measures of success related to subscription growth, family engagement, relationship development, recruitment, leadership pathways, and community impact.
• Use data, community feedback, and relationship-based insights to assess effectiveness, identify emerging needs, and guide future strategy.

REQUIRED SKILLS

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• Three to five years of experience in community engagement, relationship management, nonprofit leadership, Jewish education, constituent services, recruitment, program development, or a related field.
• Demonstrated ability to build and sustain meaningful relationships with a wide range of stakeholders.
• Strong leadership, organizational, and project-management skills.
• Experience developing and implementing engagement strategies, programs, or community initiatives.
• Excellent interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities, budgets, timelines, and organizational responsibilities.
• Proficiency with Microsoft 365 applications and Canva.
• Knowledge of Jewish traditions, culture, and community life.
• Ability to work occasional evenings and weekends as needed.

PREFERRED SKILLS

• Supervisory or team-leadership experience.
• Experience with family engagement or relationship-based community programming.
• Familiarity with the Greater Houston Jewish community.
• Experience using data, outcomes, and community feedback to inform strategy and demonstrate impact.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

This job requires prolonged periods sitting at a desk and working on a computer, frequent hearing and talking. Must be able to lift up to 15 pounds at times.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

The Jewish Federation of Greater Houston provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.

BENEFITS

• 401K Matching
• Health Benefits
• HSA or HRA contribution
• Group Term Life Insurance
• Paid time off
• Usual National plus​ Jewish holidays off
• Other optional benefits available include Dental, Vision, etc.

Interested candidates must apply through the Federation’s career portal at https://houstonjewish.zohorecruit.com/jobs/Careers