Director, Strategic Initiatives

Jewish Community Federation; Cleveland (OH); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Jewish Federation of Cleveland is seeking a Director, Strategic Initiatives to advance external affairs priorities by building relationships beyond the Jewish community. The role partners with senior leadership to map stakeholders, craft outreach programs, and support advocacy and rapid response efforts.

The position focuses on engaging corporate environments, unions, and professional associations; driving community mapping, training, and coalition-building while coordinating with volunteers to

Qualifications

• Demonstrated ability to build relationships with diverse audiences.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Experience in project management, strategic thinking, multitasking, and problem solving.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a team.
• Knowledge of Israel, antisemitism, and Jewish community issues.
• Experience engaging across sectors including workplaces, media, government, and nonprofits.
• Familiarity with Cleveland community organizations.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement strategies to advance external affairs priorities within corporate environments and professional associations.
• Support relationships with civic, business, faith, nonprofit, and government leaders.
• Lead stakeholder mapping to identify influential institutions and engagement gaps.
• Design programs and outreach to educate audiences about Judaism and related concerns.
• Provide leadership to CRC and subcommittees; plan events with volunteers.
• Support advocacy and rapid response with materials and talking points.
• Represent the Federation in meetings, coalitions, and events.

Skills

Relationship building

Strategic thinking

Project management

Communication (verbal/written)

Intergroup collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Advanced degree preferred

Job description

About the Director, Strategic Initiatives position:

The Director, Strategic Initiatives partners with the Managing Director, Community Relations and External Affairs to advance the Federation’s strategic external affairs priorities. This role focuses on building and strengthening relationships with stakeholders beyond the Jewish community; developing strategies to combat antisemitism and advance Jewish communal interests; implementing community mapping and outreach efforts; supporting advocacy, coalition-building, and public engagement; and helping activate the broader Jewish community and allies.

This position is full-time and reports to the Managing Director, Community Relations and External Affairs.

Essential Job Functions:

• Develop and implement strategies that advance the Federation’s external affairs priorities, with a specific focus on building and strengthening relationships and engagement efforts within corporate environments, unions, and professional associations, and informing community members about these engagement efforts.
• Support existing efforts to build and maintain collaborative relationships with civic, business, faith, nonprofit, and government leaders, as well as other stakeholders beyond the Jewish community.
• Lead community mapping efforts to identify important stakeholders, institutions of influence, existing relationships, gaps in engagement, and opportunities for strategic outreach across priority sectors.
• Design and support programs, trainings, convenings, and outreach efforts that educate diverse audiences about Judaism, antisemitism, Israel, and related community concerns.
• Provide professional leadership and subject matter expertise to the Community Relations Committee (CRC) and its subcommittees.
• Plan and execute programs and events, working collaboratively with volunteer leadership.
• Support advocacy and rapid response efforts by preparing background materials, talking points, correspondence, and presentations, and by helping activate community members and allies when appropriate.
• Represent the Federation in meetings, public forums, coalitions, and community events, and staff relevant committees or task forces.
• Track activity and outcomes, maintain records, and perform other duties as assigned in support of the Federation’s mission and evolving external affairs priorities.

Additional Duties/Responsibilities

• 10% of the position is allocated to an annual Campaign assignment; this may include, but is not limited to, working with Campaign volunteers, planning and executing a specific Campaign strategy, and participating in regular Campaign meetings and events, as determined by the Campaign Director.

Qualifications:

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Demonstrated ability to build relationships and work effectively with diverse viewpoints and audiences within and outside of the Jewish community.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills required.
• Demonstrated skills in project management, strategic thinking, multitasking, relationship building, and problem solving.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a team-based, mission-driven environment.
• Strong knowledge, understanding, and experience with Israel, antisemitism, and the Jewish community, culture, and traditions is required.
• Demonstrated ability to engage and collaborate across multiple sectors, including workplaces and professional associations, media, government, interfaith and intergroup spaces, and community-based organizations.
• Knowledge of Cleveland community organizations and non-profit, community based and faith-based organizations is helpful.
• Possess a passionate commitment to the Jewish community and understanding of relevant.

Education, Training, and/or Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field required; advanced degree preferred.
• 5+ years of experience in community relations, public affairs, government relations, advocacy, nonprofit leadership, communications, or a related field preferred.
• Experience with stakeholder mapping, community landscape analysis, or strategic outreach planning is highly desirable.
• Familiarity with issues affecting Jewish employees, media narratives, public policy, intergroup relations, and community security is strongly preferred.
• Experience working with volunteer leadership, coalitions, or community-based organizations is highly desirable.

About the Federation:

The Jewish Federation of Cleveland is the only organization in Cleveland that focuses on the health and vitality of the entire Jewish community. For more than 120 years, the Federation has created the critical scale necessary to drive meaningful social change and provide relief in times of crisis in ways no one person or organization could do alone. As Jewish Cleveland’s hub for innovative solutions and collaborative services, the Federation is able to change and improve lives in Cleveland, Israel, and around the world.

Jewish Federation of Cleveland
Jack, Joseph and
Morton Mandel Building
25701 Science Park Drive
Cleveland, OH 44122