Director, Young Adult Engagement

ORGANIZATIONAL OVERVIEW

At the Jewish Community Federation and Endowment Fund (the Federation), we envision diverse, dynamic Bay Area Jewish communities, deeply engaged in Jewish life and doing good locally, in Israel, and around the world. We create opportunities for people in the Bay Area to connect with and contribute to their communities. Our work is guided by the timeless Jewish values of kehilla (community), tzedakah (giving with just intention), tzedek (pursuing justice), and tikkun olam (repairing the world).

Like the diverse and multicultural community that we are, and in the long history of Jewish peoplehood, we are ever-changing and adapting. We celebrate and embrace all individuals who make up the fabric of our community, representing all races, ethnicities, religions, denominations, gender identities, gender expressions, sexual orientations, ages, socioeconomic backgrounds, abilities, and national origins, among other identities. Our many identities are an asset as we build stronger, vibrant, and joyful communal belonging and a resilient ecosystem in which we all thrive, together.

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

The Community Impact Department is responsible for developing and implementing a range of impact initiatives and overseeing grantmaking from multiple funding sources to further the Federation’s vision of diverse and dynamic Bay Area Jewish communities, deeply engaged in Jewish life and doing good locally, in Israel and around the world. Impact initiatives and grants drive towards achievement of the Federation’s strategic goals to foster resilient and engaged Jewish communities, and align with approaches to building relationships, building networks, and building knowledge.

The Federation’s Young Adult Engagement program aims to increase, deepen and diversify Jewish young adult engagement in the Bay Area. Engagement looks like Jewish young adults (ages 18-40 or so) finding meaning, connection, and belonging in Jewish life and experiences, creating community on their own terms, living their values guided by Jewish tradition and teachings, feeling inspired to build and lead a better world, and so much more.

In order to build this level of engagement, we believe in two primary approaches: relationship-based engagement, which prioritizes meeting people where they are and connecting them to Jewish life in ways that are relevant and meaningful to them, and creating cultures of belonging where Jewish young adults feel that they are truly a part of a Jewish community. Key strategies include young adult peer connectors, grant cohorts, professional networks, Birthright Israel and other initiatives.

POSITION SUMMARY

The Director, Young Adult Engagement plays a key leadership role on the Community Impact team driving strategy and leading networks to advance one of Federation’s top priorities – engaging young adults in Jewish
life. The Director maintains a pulse on the Bay Area Jewish landscape through communal relationships and partnerships. Via learnings from the field and research, the Director designs and implements impact initiatives for Jewish young adults. The Director collaborates with networks of organizational partners to build the effectiveness and interconnectedness of our community’s young adult ecosystem.

MANAGERIAL RESPONSIBILITIES

• This role has managerial responsibilities for one direct report (Young Adult Manager).

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Develop and implement Federation’s young adult engagement impact strategies, leading interdepartmental collaboration, creating impact frameworks, evaluation and measurement.
• Build and foster collaborative relationships with organizations in the Bay Area that actively work to engage Jewish college students and young adults in Jewish life.
• Design and implement networked grant rounds based on research from the field in partnership with Federation lay leaders; then manage the convening, training and impact measurement of the grant cohorts.
• Design young adult components of the multi-year Mental Health Initiative in consultation and partnership with organizations, including planning, overseeing contractors, measuring impact, and programming.
• Communicate the impact and success of the work with key stakeholders in the Bay Area and within the greater American Jewish community.
• Lead the Young Adult Peer Connector Network, a cohort of five peer connectors and five supervisors at organizations in the community, to employ relational engagement approaches in their young adult engagement work.
• Facilitate a collaborative of 8 local Hillel executive directors and leaders, assessing need and opportunity and developing strategic responses.
• Oversee the NextGen Professionals Network (NPN), a cohort of communal professionals who work directly with young adults, in order to build the field, increase the skills and success of members, grow a collaborative “ecosystem” and advance shared outcomes for young adult engagement.
• Oversee the Federation’s Birthright Israel program including a leading shift to integrate Birthright more deeply with local young adult engagement opportunities.
• Partner with the Israel & Global team to build initiatives that engage young adults with Israel in meaningful ways.
• Play leadership role on Community Impact Team and Committee (as well as lay task forces) to facilitate planning and goal-setting, assess communal needs and implement strategies.
• Provide leadership, design and training in Culture of Belonging and relational engagement practices for internal and external partners.
• Work with Development and Leadership teams on strategies for cultivating young leaders and engaging young adult donors with the Federation.
• Build and manage programmatic partnerships that advance the Federation’s goal to increase and deepen Jewish young adult engagement.
• Oversee young adult marketing strategies in collaboration with Marketing Department.

QUALIFICATIONS & REQUIREMENTS

• Expert knowledge of young adult population, best practices in engagement and Bay Area programs and networks.
• Experience working closely with donors and volunteers and leading lay committees.
• Experience facilitating groups and strategic discussions; educator background a plus.
• In-depth knowledge of and experience with Israel; Birthright experience a plus.
• Strong relationship management skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively across departments and disciplines.
• Demonstrates financial, analytical and research skills.
• Flexibility to adapt to changing circumstances and needs, ability to prioritize and juggle multiple demands.
• Growth and learning mindset.
• Outstanding verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Strong team player.

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCES

• Master’s degree in social work, social policy, Jewish communal service, public administration or related field preferred.
• Knowledge of and experience in Director level work (2 years minimum).
• 8-10 years’ work in philanthropic, public, or non-profit sector with successive leadership advancement.
• Significant experience in developing and managing grant processes and cohorts, especially for new initiatives.
• Experience in Jewish communal services and programming.

Compensation range: $110,000-$117,000

TO APPLY

Please send a copy of your resume with a cover letter to hr@sfjcf.org. All applications and inquiries will receive a response and will be kept strictly confidential.

WHAT WE OFFER

Excellent benefits — including medical, dental, vision, vacation, sick pay, holidays (including Jewish), and retirement plan.

*The Federation requires COVID-19 vaccination for new hires.