Director of Jewish Community Impact

Description

 Jewish Family Services Position Description

Position: Director of Jewish Community Impact

Reports to: Chief Program Officer

Status: Full-time (40 hours/week), occasional evening and weekend events

Classification: Exempt (no overtime)

Salary Range: 70-80K

The Organization: Since 1901, Jewish Family Services (JFS) www.jfskc.org has supported and strengthened lives throughout Greater Kansas City. We provide essential human services for people of all faiths, ages, cultures, and identities who are facing challenges in everyday life or times of crisis. Our highly skilled and compassionate staff are dedicated to furthering the well-being, stability, and dignity of the community members we serve. As a 501(c)(3) public charity, JFS offers a breadth of connected services including social work, older adult services, food pantry, mental health, and Jewish life. JFS was founded on the Jewish value of tikkun olam, repairing the world, one person, one family at a time.

Position Overview:

The Director of Jewish Community Impact is a key leader within JFS, responsible for ensuring Jewish individuals and families have seamless access to compassionate, culturally competent services. This role strengthens collaboration among Jewish communal agencies and oversees JFS programs or initiatives specifically dedicated to enhancing Jewish life. By removing barriers, connecting resources, and fostering a unified approach to care, the Director ensures that the collective efforts of our community translate into meaningful impact for those who need support.

Requirements

  Essential Duties:

Jewish Community Partnership & Engagement

· Develop and implement a communication strategy that keeps Jewish communal agencies informed and connected to JFS.

· Build and maintain strong relationships with Rabbis, synagogues, and Jewish organizations, serving as the primary JFS point of contact for these relationships.

· Maintain comprehensive knowledge of JFS and other community programs specifically serving Jewish clients, including eligibility criteria and referral processes.

· Convene quarterly meetings with Jewish agency representatives to share information, strengthen referral pathways, and foster collaboration.

· Create and maintain a “community brain trust” of key Jewish agency contacts to facilitate problem-solving and coordinated responses.

· Welcome and orient new Jewish community professionals, ensuring they understand JFS resources and referral processes.

· Support volunteer recruitment efforts by leveraging connections within the Jewish community.

· Collaborate with JFS development and communications teams to optimize Jewish community outreach and information sharing strategies.

· Ensure JFS events and meetings are reflected on the Jewish community calendar and encourage utilization of existing resources within the Jewish community.

· Continuously align engagement and communication efforts with the initiatives of other Jewish communal agencies.

Jewish Program and Initiative Leadership

· Provide overall management for JFS programs and initiatives specifically dedicated to enhancing Jewish life; may include programs and initiatives such as Chaplaincy, Priya, Jewish loan program, burial assistance, etc.

· May supervise staff, contractors, and/or volunteers for the JFS Jewish programs and initiatives.

· Serve as the primary contact for inquiries from Jewish individuals, rabbis, and organizations seeking support or referrals.

· Act as a navigator for Jewish clients, ensuring priority access to JFS programs open to all (e.g., Pantry, Social Work, Mental Health, Older Adult Services).

· Partner with the Chief Program Officer to assess community needs and enhance JFS programs and initiatives accordingly.

Organizational Leadership & Representation

· Offer strategic insight to JFS leadership on Jewish identity and cultural competency, supporting the continued alignment of the JFS mission and values with foundational Jewish values. 

· Represent JFS in Jewish communal spaces, serving as an ambassador and educator about JFS services and mission.

· Deeply understand and communicate JFS’s mission, values, and reputation to strengthen community trust and engagement.

Key Competencies:

· Strong relationship-building skills with a warm, culturally sensitive approach.

· Effective leadership and supervisory abilities.

· Ability to navigate diverse Jewish communal dynamics with tact and diplomacy.

· Strategic thinker with strong judgment and problem-solving skills.

· Clear, compassionate communicator able to engage varied audiences.

· Highly collaborative, able to work across teams and organizations.

· Solid understanding of Jewish culture, values, and community structures.

· Adaptable, responsive, and solutions-oriented in a fast-paced environment.

Essential Education, Knowledge, and Experience:

· Bachelor’s degree preferred; relevant Jewish communal or nonprofit training a plus.

· 5+ years’ experience in a Jewish communal or related agency strongly preferred.

· Prior supervisory experience with staff, contractors, and/or volunteers.

· Knowledge of Jewish community structures, practices, and values.

· Experience with social-service programs or client-facing environments preferred.

· Strong written and verbal communication skills.

· Proven ability to build partnerships and represent an organization in community settings.

· Comfortable using technology and information systems for communication and program support.

· High integrity, confidentiality, and ethical leadership.

· Commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging.

Environmental/Physical Requirements:

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:

· Frequently required to sit, stand, talk, and hear.

· Able to work in a communal work environment.

· Able to effectively use office equipment such as video conferencing, digital phone system, Windows/Office, printer, copier, and fax machine.

Guiding Principles: 

JFS is guided by five principles informing how we engage with each other and the community we serve. The right candidate will be in alignment with these values:

· B’Yachad - Stronger Together: We are better as an agency and a community when we think, work, and serve together.

· Being Human-Centered: We put human experience and perspective at the center of our thinking, programming, services, and interactions.

· Collaboration: We actively seek partnering opportunities within JFS and throughout our community.

· Innovation & Entrepreneurship: We respond and continually adapt to ongoing needs and changes in Kansas City.

· Open Communication: We communicate openly, honestly, and in a solution-oriented manner.

Equal Employment Statement:
Jewish Family Services is an equal opportunity employer, committed to diversity and inclusion. Employment decisions are based on qualifications, merit, and organizational needs. All applicants will be considered for employment with dignity and respect, free of all discrimination, including that which is based on race, color, religion, gender, language, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, and gender identity or expression.