Location and Job Title:

Jewish Community Relations Council Director
Jewish Community Alliance of Southern Maine
1342 Congress St
Portland, ME 04102

Principal Responsibilities:

The Jewish Community Alliance (JCA) of Southern Maine seeks a passionate advocate and dedicated consensus builder as Director of Community Relations.

What You'll Be Doing

The JCA's Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) serves as the community's central body to address and prevent antisemitism. The JCRC protects and defends the Jewish community through relationship-building, coalition work, education, government affairs and advocacy, with a recognition that the security of the Jewish community ultimately depends on creating a just society for all people.

The JCRC Director is responsible for leading the JCRC in implementing its mission and programmatic direction, under the direction of the JCA's CEO, the JCRC Chair, and other lay leadership and in partnership with the rest of the JCA team. Specific responsibilities include:

Combatting Antisemitism

• partner in strategic thinking for the JCA to implement and scale a broad state-wide antisemitism plan
  • assist in the execution of strategy, tactics, and partnerships to move forward these efforts
• assess the current climate and develop a roadmap to proactively combat antisemitism locally in K-12 schools
• support the work of local Hillels in countering the movement to delegitimize Israel on college campuses
• monitor and respond to antisemitic incidents in the community as well as to local anti-Israel initiatives
• develop programs and relationships to proactively counter growing antisemitism across the political spectrum
• build out a strategy to influence Portland's largest employers on preventing and responding to antisemitism within the workplace
  • conduct corporate trainings to educate community members about the rise in antisemitism and the need to call it out
  • lead portfolios for local and regional partners supporting workplace and business strategies
• collaborate with statewide Jewish communal agencies on antisemitism and Israel programming as appropriate
• leading statewide efforts to combat antisemitism and all forms of hate, bigotry and discrimination

Community Relations

• spearhead the JCA's efforts to cultivate, develop and nurture relationships with and represent the interests of the Jewish community in diverse groups of individuals and organizations across racial, ethnic and religious communities
• identify and coordinate collaboration across religious, non-profit, civic, corporate, political, ethnic, and academic arenas
• work with and monitor media outlets to ensure that the Jewish public agenda is appropriately and accurately covered
• design and implement innovative programs and initiatives in support of the foregoing, including collaborations that advance social justice, intergroup understanding, and mutual respect and that strengthen the JCA's ties to diverse segments of the Greater Portland community
• maintain knowledge and professional expertise on relevant issues that impact the community relations space
• seek, write and facilitate grant opportunities, with a focus on bridgebuilding work
• ensure that JCA leadership and donors, and the broader Jewish and general communities, understand JCRC's activities and impact

Government Relations & Advocacy

• establish and maintain strong ties with elected and appointed government officials at the local, state, and federal level
• liaise with regional, national and international organizations, including the Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA), the Jewish Council for Public Affairs (JCPA), the Antidefamation League (ADL), etc. and undertake advocacy and public policy work in conjunction where aligned
  • ensure an effective voice for our community within these organizations
• monitor local, national, and international events through the prism of Jewish communal priorities and work with leadership and community members to set policy, promote education, and galvanize community action
• organize education and advocacy opportunities for community members
• submit written testimony and/or testify on legislation where appropriate
• educating about and advocating for consensus causes and issues that impact the Jewish community and others, including drafting issue briefings and action alerts

Security & Crisis Management

• create and implement a community crisis management plan
• convene law enforcement officials to share concerns and intelligence
• work with local Jewish agencies on their grant processes related to security and other types of funding available at the federal, state, and local level

Team Roles

• actively participate in the JCA management team
• collaborate with the CEO and marketing on community communications
• give input into donor relations portfolios where relevant
• staff the JCRC meetings and sets agenda items in collaboration with leadership
• nurture JCRC members' leadership skills and cultivate a strong pipeline of future volunteer leaders
• prepare and oversee annual JCRC budget
• other duties as assigned

Skills You Need

• you bring creativity, vision and resilience to your work
• you're a host and a connector, capable of building rapport and developing meaningful relationships with a wide variety of people
• you thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic team environment
• you have an entrepreneurial spirit, asking questions, trying new approaches to community relations and demonstrating an appetite for innovation
• you're a strategic community organizer, determining how best to reach and impact the community, including those not currently involved in traditional networks
• you're a self-starter, highly motivated and organized, driven to succeed, reflective and open; you know how to set appropriate boundaries and ask for help when needed

Specific Knowledge, Skills, Abilities & Characteristics

• Excellent interpersonal, analytical, and problem-solving skills

• Deep, up-to-date understanding of contemporary antisemitism

• Exceptional oral and written communication skills, including public speaking

• Strong passion for and understanding of Jewish practices, customs, history, and community infrastructure

• In-depth knowledge of government affairs, legislative processes, and advocacy

• Experience working with:
  • Volunteer leaders
  • At-risk and/or vulnerable populations
  • Diverse constituencies and stakeholders with varied opinions
  • Coalitions

• Ability to:
  • Set priorities and handle multiple tasks
  • Communicate with sophistication and nuance on Israel-related issues
  • Navigate complicated or stressful situations with diplomacy, tact, and equanimity
  • Work irregular hours, including periodic evenings and weekends as necessary to attend relevant events and programs and occasional travel to conferences, etc.

What We Provide

• Work with highly qualified, creative, collaborative, and go-getter teammates and a dedicated supervisor
• Competitive salary (range: $65,000-$75,000, depending on experience) and benefits including health, vision, dental, and matched retirement plan
• Flexible hybrid work schedule with generous time off
• Positive work environment
• Significant support and professional development for employees, including ongoing coaching and mentorship, trainings, research, and best practices on relational-based engagement, and access to a vast network of Jewish educators and professionalsAbout the JCA and Portland

To Apply

Please submit your cover letter and resume to: Leslie Kirby, CEO, Jewish Community Alliance of Southern Maine (lkirby@mainejewish.org)

The JCA is a dynamic organization that recognizes and supports individuals from a broad range of experiences and backgrounds. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religious creed, sex, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, pregnancy, childbirth, physical disability, mental and/or intellectual disability, age, military status or status as a Vietnam-era or special disabled veteran, marital status, registered domestic partner or civil union status, familial status, gender (including sex stereotyping and gender identity or expression), medical condition (including, but not limited to, cancer related or HIV/AIDS related), genetic information, or sexual orientation. Upon request, reasonable accommodations in the application process will be provided to individuals with disabilities.

The JCA conducts background checks as part of the hiring process.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree preferred, with coursework in social sciences, Jewish communal work, public affairs, or related field
• 3-5 years of relevant experience in Jewish communal, nonprofit, public sector, or related field

Salary:

$65,000 - $75,000

Agency Information:

About the JCA and Portland

The Jewish Community Alliance of Southern Maine (JCA), a combined agency of Jewish Federation, Jewish Community Center, and Jewish Family Services, is the vibrant hub of Jewish programming in Portland and Southern Maine. The JCA offers a rare opportunity to tap your skills, talents, and experience to benefit a greater good while you grow professionally. You will work in a dynamic environment with a diverse group of individuals who share your commitment and enthusiasm. Together, you will make a difference for Jews and non-Jews in Maine and worldwide. We offer competitive salaries, comprehensive benefits, and a collegial, family-friendly work and team environment.

Portland has been nationally recognized as one of the best places to live by U.S. News and World Report. Beautifully situated on a peninsula in Casco Bay on the Gulf of Maine, Portland is a progressive community rich in diversity. It's Maine's economic capital with the state's largest port, major banking centers, and state-of-the-art healthcare facilities. While the largest city in Maine with a metropolitan population of 570,000, Portland retains its small-town feel. Just a two-hour drive from Boston's Logan Airport, Portland readily connects to the rest of the world.