J Street Hiring Midwest Deputy Regional Director (Chicago)

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Emily Koppel

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Apr 13, 2016, 12:13:29 AM4/13/16

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Position Title: Midwest Deputy Regional Director (DRD)

Reports to: Midwest Regional Director

Start Date: Immediately

Location: The office is based in Chicago, IL

Position

Do you want to work at the intersection of politics, Jewish communal advocacy, and fundraising? Does a rapidly expanding organization that is changing the way people think and talk about Israel and U.S. policy in the Middle East interest you?

J Street seeks an individual with a background in fundraising, politics and/or the organized Jewish community to serve as a Midwest Deputy Regional Director. S/He will be actively engaged in the organization’s work to shift the political and Jewish communal dynamics that surround Israel in the Midwest region with a focus on MN, IA, MO, WI, IL and IN.

Responsibilities

The Deputy Regional Director will be a key member of a four-person regional team working to change the way Members of Congress think about US policy in the Middle East and how the Jewish community relates to Israel. S/he will be part of a National Regional Team that is focused on cultivating local leadership and political strength.

The Deputy Regional Director will lead our advocacy and communal efforts and support our political and fundraising work. S/he will work with local leaders to advocate using grasstops and grassroots approaches. S/He will help with fundraising for J Street operations as well as for JStreetPAC candidates. S/He will also lead our communal outreach, including work with rabbis, synagogues and Jewish communal institutions.

This position will involve frequent travel across the Midwest region.

Specific responsibilities include:

Implementing the strategic plan for Minnesota and Wisconsin;
Cultivating new and engaging existing J Street leaders;
Developing relationships with members of Congress and their district staff;
Building and maintaining strong political advocacy structures;
Helping to create new and manage existing $1-5k donor relationships;
Helping build and maintain relationships with campaigns of endorsed candidates to coordinate political fundraising;
Planning and implementing events including, high impact donor and prospect, leadership engagement, and educational events;
Building and facilitating relationships between J Street and key Jewish communal contacts, including rabbis, synagogue and Jewish institutional leaders, and Jewish community;
Supporting the Regional Director on Chicago Jewish communal strategy.
Ensuring J Street is appropriately represented at relevant events and forums

Desired Skills and Characteristics

The ideal candidate will possess the following:

A strong commitment to J Street’s mission;
Personally engaging style: Positive and pro-active approach to working with leadership and other supporters, can-do attitude, grace under pressure and ability to troubleshoot/problem-solve;
Superb communications skills – verbal and written;
Familiarity and comfort with Jewish communal practices, values and institutions;
Experience managing fundraising, political and educational events;
A minimum of 3+ years experience in development, political advocacy, and/or Jewish communal work;
Strong administrative skills: Highly organized and able to prioritize multiple tasks as well as reconcile competing priorities, conscientious, intentional, trustworthy and dependable with an eye for details

Organization

J Street is the political home for pro-Israel, pro-peace Americans working for the future of Israel as the democratic homeland of the Jewish people. The organization believes that preserving Israel’s Jewish and democratic character depends on achieving a two-state solution, resulting in a Palestinian state living alongside Israel in peace and security.

Launched in 2008 with four staff members and a limited budget, J Street is now a $8 million organization with a national staff of 70. The organization is headquartered in Washington, DC, and employs staff in 10 cities including Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco Bay Area, and Tel Aviv.

J Street focuses its work in three main areas: (1) Advocating and demonstrating support for pro-Israel, pro-peace policies in Congress, the media and the Jewish community; (2) Endorsing and raising money for federal candidates who share J Street’s agenda; and (3) Educating the public and raising awareness of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the two-state solution.

The J Street family of organizations is comprised of:

J Street, a 501(c)(4) organization and registered lobby that seeks to complement the work of existing organizations and individuals that share J Street’s agenda through lobbying and advocacy efforts.

JStreetPAC, the largest pro-Israel political action committee in the U.S. and the first PAC formed to endorse and raise money for federal candidates who champion pro-Israel, pro-peace policies, including a two-state solution. In 2014, JStreetPAC distributed a record high of $2.4 million to 95 endorsed candidates, which led to 78 electoral victories.

The J Street Education Fund (JSEF), a legally independent 501(c)(3) organization that works to open up the conversation on Israel in the American Jewish community, educate Americans and elected officials about the urgent need for a two-state solution and organize Americans in support of active U.S. leadership to achieve this objective. JSEF’s operations include its national field, J Street U, rabbinic and educational programs.

Compensation and Hours

Salary for this position will be commensurate with skills and experience. Duties may fluctuate based on J Street event and staff travel schedules. Benefits include paid vacation and sick leave, paid time off on federal and Jewish holidays, health and dental insurance, company paid life insurance, 401k and flexible spending account.

To Apply for the Position

This position is available immediately. Interested candidates should submit by e-mail: 1) A cover letter that explains why you are interested and qualified; 2) A resume; and 3) A list of three references to res...@jstreet.org with “Midwest DRD” in the subject line.