Deputy Director, Network Department

UJA-Federation of New York; New York (NY); Hybrid; USD 130,000 - 135,000; Full time

Job summary

UJA-Federation of New York seeks a Deputy Director to lead the Network Department, overseeing strategic and operational management in close partnership with the Managing Director. The role includes coordinating planning across content areas, guiding governance, and aligning cross-department initiatives to advance the organization’s mission.

The Deputy Director will supervise 2–3 professionals, represent the department in internal and external meetings, and collaborate on government relations,

Qualifications

• Advanced degree preferred, with a minimum of 10 years of related professional experience in a federation or similar organization.

Responsibilities

• Oversee strategic and operational management of the Network Department in partnership with the MD.
• Coordinate departmental planning across content areas and ensure alignment of strategies.
• Lead in setting Network planning priorities, annual goal setting, and monitoring timelines across content areas.
• Supervise 2-3 departmental professionals and guide staff across content areas.
• Represent the department at internal and external meetings and conferences.
• Collaborate with other departments on broad organizational planning and research initiatives.
• Drive initiatives with government relations to advance legislative and budgetary agendas.

Skills

Leadership

Supervision

Research and evaluation

Planning and budgeting

Communication

Relationship building

Technology systems

Multitasking

Collaborative work

Education

Advanced degree preferred

Job description

Position Summary

UJA-Federation supports hundreds of nonprofits, large and small, to meet the needs of Jewish communities in New York, Israel, and around the world. At the center of this ecosystem are UJA’s 63 core partner agencies serving communities and individuals across the five boroughs, Westchester, and Long Island. The Network Department’s mandate is to foster thriving institutions positioned to serve today’s populations and tomorrow’s emerging needs. Network provides approximately $40 million annually in grants and non‑financial resources such as expert consultants, supportive professional networks, and cohort learning to ensure the organizational health and efficacy of our closest partners.

Deputy Director Responsibilities

The Deputy Director oversees the strategic and operational management of the Network Department in close partnership with the Managing Director (MD). This includes oversight of departmental planning across content areas, committees and work groups; coordination of work among related content areas to assure alignment across strategies; and participation in cross-departmental initiatives connected to the work of the department.

Key responsibilities:

• Generate new priorities, strategic directions and areas for investment.
• Maintain general and ongoing familiarity with all department work.
• Consult with planning professionals and operational consultants.
• Consult on appropriation materials, budget design, dashboard preparation and planning reflection and assessment documents.
• Actively involve in setting Network planning priorities, annual goal setting, and monitoring implementation timelines across content areas.

Deputy Director Will

• Play a lead role in managing research and evaluation projects, in partnership with Network team, Data and Insights team, and others in CPER.
• Design and lead a process to ensure appropriate and ongoing documentation of Network Department overall portfolio of work, accomplishments and decision-making processes.
• Represent the department, its priorities and strategic directions, at internal and external meetings and conferences.
• Support individual and staff development for the department, including developing systems in conjunction with other departmental managers for the most efficient management of the Department.
• Coordinate, lead and staff inter-department work groups and other organizational planning and research groups.

Management Responsibilities Include

• Direct supervision of 2-3 departmental professionals.
• Work as an active member of the Network Department manager team.
• Provide assistance, consultation, coordination and oversight to staff responsible for varied content areas.
• Convene and lead ad hoc lay groups, as needed.
• Facilitate ongoing skill building for Network team and individual professionals.

The Deputy Director will also be responsible for leading or participating in content projects that may include:

• Working in collaboration with the Government Relations Department to advance UJA’s legislative and budgetary agenda to benefit our core partner agencies. The position provides tactical and thought partnership in support of a variety of government‑related efforts, and may include:
  • Active engagement with core partner leaders to understand critical needs and develop strategic responses.
  • Participation in issue‑oriented coalitions.
  • Supporting efforts to secure government dollars for critical infrastructure projects within the network.
  • Developing responses to government actions.
• Working in collaboration with facilities’ experts and an internal UJA team, play a lead role in addressing the needs of aging Jewish buildings in UJA’s network and ensuring they are accessible, structurally sound, modernized and able to meet the needs of future generations. Work may include:
  • Participating in team site visits.
  • Project management for one or more building projects.
  • Proposal development.
  • Collaboration with fundraising colleagues.

Qualifications And Competencies

• Advanced degree preferred, with a minimum of 10 years of related professional experience in a federation or similar organization.
• Experience in supervision and management.
• Highly developed research, planning, and communication skills.
• Strong relationship building with lay leaders, agency executives, and other constituents.
• Strong interpersonal and listening skills.
• Ability to learn new technology systems.
• Ability to juggle many projects in a fast‑paced and highly collaborative environment.
• Flexibility, curiosity, and a creative and proactive thinker.
• Experience working in or connected to city or state government, a plus.

Salary Information

The salary range for this role is $130,000-$135,000, commensurate with experience and qualifications listed above.

Reporting Line

This role reports to the Managing Director, Network Department and is a hybrid position, with a set three days/week in office.