Director, Jewish Teen Education and Engagement Initiative

ORGANIZATIONAL OVERVIEW

The Jewish Community Federation and Endowment Fund (the Federation) supports a vision of diverse and dynamic Bay Area Jewish communities, deeply engaged in Jewish life and doing good locally, in Israel and around the world. A newly defined strategic direction positions the Federation to achieve this vision by mobilizing innovation, collaboration, and community investment with a focus on three intersecting areas:

• Recruiting and stewarding the next generation of Jewish philanthropists to generate more and better philanthropy, driven by Jewish values;
• Collaborating with partners to build connection and belonging in order to dramatically increase the number of young people engaged in Jewish life; and
• Leading or funding core components that foster the resilience and security of Jewish communities, both locally and globally.

The Federation seeks highly motivated individuals with a variety of skill sets who wants to join a team working to build a new model of 21st century and next-generation Federation engagement.

PROGRAM OVERVIEW: JEWISH TEEN EDUCATION AND ENGAGEMENT (TEEN INITIATIVE)

The Teen Initiative builds the capacity of our community to expand the breadth, depth, and reach of innovative and high-quality Jewish teen programs so that more Jewish teens benefit from these experiences. The Federation recognizes the teen years as a critical time of identity formation. Meaningful Jewish experiences serve as gateways to lifelong Jewish involvement and supporting positive outcomes in teens including nurturing strong friendships, developing a sense of self, creating connections and belonging, and fostering pride in being Jewish. 

The Teen Initiative includes five multi-faceted, synergistic components:

1. Innovation Accelerator - networked grantmaking and training to a cohort of organizations working towards shared measures of success in scaling, expanding, and diversifying their reach;
2. Experimentation Micro-Grants – grant funding to pilot and test new program ideas;
3. Incentive Scholarships – to encourage participation in domestic immersive experiences and Israel travel;
4. JBridge – a centralized digital resource for teens, parents, and community professionals with multiple components for digital and direct engagement;
5. Professional Development – high-quality learning and skill development for youth professionals and educators, widely recognized as the key to successfully engaging teens.

Launched in 2017 with major grant funding by the Jim Joseph Foundation, the Teen Initiative was designed within the context of the Jewish Teen Education and Engagement Funder Collaborative, a network of 10 communities working to enhance Jewish teen engagement across the country. The Federation has recently defined a major Engagement Initiative as part of its new Strategic Direction, based on strategies that build connection and belonging. Alignment of the Teen Initiative with these approaches and other Federation-supported platforms for Jewish engagement is a critical next step in its evolution.  

POSITION SUMMARY 

The Teen Initiative Director will drive the vision, strategy, and implementation of the Teen Initiative (core components described above), assessing and refining approaches over the course of its implementation. This will include sparking innovation and new practices in the field of Jewish teen engagement, developing and implementing grants processes, building strong relationships with stakeholders (grantees, funders, Jewish professionals, community leaders), and serving as a champion to elevate visibility for and focus on engagement at this important life stage. The Director is key member of the Community Impact Team and will work to align Teen Initiative approaches with the Federation’s emerging Engagement Initiative and new strategic direction. Additionally, the Director will work to create synergies with Federation’s Teen Foundation and Diller Teen Programs, for the mutual benefit of all teen-related efforts.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS OF THE POSITION

INITIATIVE IMPLEMENTATION

• Oversee successful implementation of the five Teen Initiative components, working collaboratively across Federation departments and with partners in the field. 
• Supervise Teen Initiative Program Manager, the second professional responsible for Initiative implementation and driver of JBridge development.
• Serve as lead professional for the Teen Initiative Advisory Committee, which provides thought partnership on strategy and lay oversight for the Initiative.
• Measure and articulate Teen Initiative impact, working with professional evaluators locally and as part of the national/Cross-Community Evaluation efforts.
• Develop grants processes and serve as a program officer, coach, and mentor for grantee organizations.
• Manage a multi-year budget, including tracking and reporting.

PARTNERSHIPS & COMMUNITY

• Demonstrate expertise as a leader in the field by establishing partnerships with stakeholders in the local community, including CEOs/executive directors, program directors, youth educators, and clergy; representing the Federation at programs related to teen engagement, and participating actively in the national Funder Collaborative.
• Partner on fundraising efforts and stewardship of funders, including donor cultivation, production of written reports, and championing teen engagement in the community.
• Engage as a dynamic member of the Community Impact Team and as a key partner to build linkages towards an integrated approach to Federation teen efforts with the Teen Foundation and Diller Teen Programs.

EDUCATION OR TRAINING EQUIVALENT 

• Master’s degree in nonprofit management, Jewish education, Jewish studies or a related field.
• Eight to ten years of progressive leadership in Jewish education, teen engagement or program management, with supervision experience and evidence of successful collaboration

QUALIFICATIONS (SKILLS, ABILITIES, LICENSES)

• Proactive self-starter with demonstrated organizational skills, and proven ability to work on multiple high priority tasks.
• Capacity to build strong and trusting relationships with a diverse array of stakeholders.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Positive attitude that inspires confidence and action.
• Willingness to travel throughout the Bay Area and nationally, and work a flexible schedule, which may include evenings or weekends.
• Knowledge of the Jewish community, customs, and practices is strongly preferred.

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.

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