Jewish Commnity Relations Counselor

Jewish Community of Louisville; Louisville (KY); On-site; USD 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Inclusive workplace culture

Job summary

The Jewish Community of Louisville is seeking a professional to spearhead the development of their public policy agenda and to foster understanding and cooperation within the Jewish and broader communities. This role involves building relationships with various groups and advocating for Jewish causes.

The ideal candidate will have advanced knowledge of Jewish values, history, and effective strategies to combat antisemitism. An advanced degree in a relevant field is preferred. This position will offer a fast-paced and collaborative working environment.

Qualifications

• Ability to represent a Jewish voice in coalitions and public forums.
• Knowledge of U.S.-Israel relations and Israeli current events.
• Strong knowledge of social justice and racial equity.

Responsibilities

• Develops public policy agenda related to Jewish community issues.
• Builds relationships with various community groups.
• Monitors events for Jewish priorities and advocates as needed.

Skills

Public speaking

Written communication

Relationship building

Knowledge of Jewish values

Understanding of antisemitism

Education

Advanced degree in Jewish communal studies, social sciences, or public administration

Job description

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Spearheads the development of the public policy agenda, vets and educates on issues and current events to foster understanding and cooperation within the Jewish and broader community as part of an overall strategy to achieve the mission and vision of the JCRC;
• Builds relationships and mutual understanding with ethnic, racial, faith-based and civic groups;
• Harnesses the power and resources of the Jewish community in supporting its social justice agenda including establishing and maintaining strong ties with government officials, elected and appointed, at the local, state and federal level and monitoring local, national, and international events for Jewish priorities and Israel advocacy, and working with leadership and community members to set policy, provide education, and mobilize community actions
• Promotes through education and action, strong protection and support for the people of Israel and the Jewish people at home and throughout the world;
• Works with JCRC leadership to cultivate relationships and represent the interests of the Jewish community with religious, non-profit, civic, corporate, political, ethnic, and academic arenas, as well as the media;
• Educates and advocates for Jewish causes and issues including Israel, antisemitism, and the Holocaust including developing annual community-wide programming on Holocaust Commemoration, maintaining and enhancing relationships with local schools to ensure the Holocaust is taught appropriately and responding to antisemitic incidents; Monitoring local, national, and international events, working with volunteer leadership to set policy and mobilizing leadership and volunteers for action as needed;
• Serves as a resource to Jewish and general communities; and
• Positions the Federation's JCRC as the central address for the Louisville Jewish community's community relations agenda.

Who you are

• Ability to represent a Jewish voice in coalitions and public forums through a working knowledge of Jewish values, history, heritage, culture, and ideals.
• Knowledge of the history of antisemitism and effective strategies to combat modern forms of antisemitism.
• Knowledge of Israel - U.S. relations as well as Israeli history and current events.
• Knowledge of the foundations of social justice and racial equity.
• Ability to form durable and productive relationships with the breadth of voices in the Jewish community.
• Ability to collaborate and work across different points of view.
• Skills in constructing compelling written communication in a variety of formats.
• Skills in engaging and persuasive public speaking that are equally effective one-on-one with community leaders, with larger groups of stakeholders, and with the public.

What we are looking for

• Advanced degree preferred in fields such as Jewish communal studies, social sciences and/or public administration;
• Knowledge and understanding of government affairs, legislative processes, and advocacy;
• Demonstrated leadership experience in promoting mission critical programs and initiatives;
• Commitment to Israel and background on Israel-related issues, politics, people, and history
• Excellent oral and written communications skills, including public speaking, writing of letters, op-ed pieces, and responses to community issues;
• Experience with social media and other forms of digital communication;
• Strong knowledge and understanding of Jewish practices, customs, history, and community infrastructure;
• Ability to set priorities and handle multiple tasks, strong organizational skills
• Personable, enthusiastic, self-motivated professional; comfortable in a fast-paced working environment, including occasional nights and weekends;
• Ability to work closely with others in a team environment, and effectively interact with all
• Ability to create and manage project/program budgets and timelines; and
• Ability to work well under pressure and manage sensitive or controversial subjects with tact, kindness, and professionalism.

Physical Requirements and Equipment

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit at a desk and work on a computer for prolonged periods, stand, walk, sit, use hands for simple grasping and fine manipulations, talk or hear; occasionally employees must lift, carry, push, or pull light weights, crouch, stoop, or reach. The employee must have the ability to maintain physical ability and stamina to meet position tasks and responsibilities, travel and work weekends and evenings when needed.

What we care about

Jewish Federation (JCL) is a community-minded, inclusive organization. We are committed to creating and supporting a safe, welcoming, and diverse workplace for all people regardless of race, religion, disability, gender or sexual orientation.