The Position

JCRC-NY’s Center for a Shared Society is the organization’s intergroup relations and community building division, which has long been on the cutting edge of meeting the challenges and opportunities of building a shared society in the most diverse city in the world. The Center and its initiatives are an integral part of the organization’s approach to confronting hate and antisemitism in New York City. The Center is likewise deeply engaged in the worlds of social justice and connecting the city’s diverse Jewish communities to the issues and communal challenges that are central to our community and to those with whom we share our neighborhoods.

JCRC-NY is seeking a creative, inspiring, and passionate leader to serve as Director of Shared Society Initiatives for its Center for a Shared Society. The Director serves as JCRC-NY’s primary connection to the complex map of New York City’s diverse communities, its leadership, and organizations. The Director is responsible for managing and evolving the organization’s multiple bridge building initiatives in New York City that serve to foster an atmosphere of cooperation, understanding, partnership, and collaboration and for deepening relationships with the diverse emerging and current community leaders with which we share our City. The Director has oversight of all Shared Society staff, activities, and initiatives, and maintains a dedicated committee of lay leadership, which advises on the division’s planning and activities.

The Director is part of the JCRC-NY Leadership Team and is responsible for collaborating with all other JCRC-NY division heads to ensure seamless integration of Shared Society initiatives within the organization’s activities. This is a full-time position and being available for representing the agency, participating in community events, and responding to community emergencies during evenings and weekends is expected. The Director reports to the Chief Operating Officer/Chief Community Relations Officer and works in close cooperation with the Chief Executive Officer.

The Director will bring a strong ability to:

• Oversee all staff, program, and activities within JCRC-NY’s Shared Society division, including, but not limited to, YouthBridge NY, Bridges NY, We Are All Brooklyn, and various coalitions
• Conduct comprehensive mapping of the diverse communities across New York City the five boroughs, and various neighborhoods for the purposes of strategic planning and determining the deployment of programing and staff
• Identify trends/issues of concern on both citywide and hyperlocal levels that could affect cooperative initiatives or cause conflict. With JCRC-NY leadership and diverse partners, develop strategic interventions/responses that could include action plans, new initiatives or partnerships
• Interface, build, and manage relationships with the full breadth of current and emerging leadership within the diverse communities of New York and the local nonprofit sector
• Participate in, incubate and facilitate citywide and borough-based coalitions to ensure ongoing relationships and maintain connectivity with identified and evolving leadership prioritizing agencies and leaders who are essential to the mission of JCRC-NY
• Intervene in communal crisis’ and develop and implement responses and where possible solutions. Mediate and guide communities in conflict
• Maintain and regularly update and consult with the Shared Society committee as well as relationships with committee co-chairs and key lay JCRC-NY leadership
• Convene and connect with the breadth of New York City’s faith community leaders and organizations in order to deepen relationships and engage in ongoing and new initiatives central to these communities and the Jewish communities that share neighborhoods.
• Attend, represent JCRC-NY, and speak publicly when requested at various community-based and citywide events either cultural, faith or issue related
• Along with JCRC-NY Director of Government Affairs, interface and consult with various government agencies at the local, state and federal levels on issues pertaining to the interests and initiatives of JCRC-NY and the New York Jewish community
• Along with the Development Team, identify opportunities and develop proposals and budgets to create and launch new initiatives. Work with funders, stakeholders, partners, and staff to incubate and execute them
All of the above activities and responsibilities occur on an ongoing basis and are not seasonal or periodic. A busy schedule and a need for nimbleness and flexibility is necessary from time to time to attend last minute important community gatherings to represent JCRC-NY and show support for other groups.

Requirements

• 10-15 years of senior management experience in community relations, interfaith programing, coalition building, conflict resolution, diversity and inclusion, or a similar field
• Comprehension of and ability to speak about the different policy areas that affect the lives of all New Yorkers, including demography, poverty, gun violence, immigration, criminal justice, healthcare, hate, and others
• Proven coalition builder who can create inroads with emerging leaders and their communities and maintain trusting relationships with diverse non-Jewish community leaders
• Strong understanding and appreciation of the diversity of backgrounds and viewpoints within the Jewish communities of New York
• Deep commitment to and knowledge of the Jewish religious and historical experience. Rabbinic ordination a plus
• Experience managing teams, executing programs, and communicating achievements to stakeholders
• Familiarity with the various government agencies that affect the work of JCRC-NY
• Other assignments as tasked
Compensation and Benefits
• Salary range: $140,000-$180,000
• Benefits package, healthcare, paid vacation, personal/sick days, UJA Federation pension plan, 403B plan available

Transition

The responsibilities regarding staff reporting to the Director will be phased in over a transition period through June 30, 2024.

About JCRC-NY

The Jewish Community Relations Council of New York (JCRC-NY), a proud UJA-Federation of NY agency, serves as the primary community relations agency for the Jewish community in the metropolitan New York area. As an active force in New York civic and communal life, JCRC-NY operates as a central coordinating and resource body to: (1) Be a common table to cultivate understanding and joint action amongst diverse groups within the Jewish community; (2) Cultivate deeper relationships with the broader New York community to address critical issues and engender a shared society; (3) Ensure the security of the Jewish community in the face of rising antisemitism; and (4) Foster increased understanding and appreciation for the Jewish community’s relationship with Israel among diverse groups of New Yorkers. JCRC-NY seeks to intensify its community relations efforts, strengthen existing partnerships and build new relationships with diverse leaders in our city to advance the values, interests and security of the New York Jewish community and build a more interconnected New York for all.

To apply, please send a cover letter and resume to careers@jcrcny.org.