EMPLOYMENT

Reports to: Vice President of Impact & Strategy

Full Time, Exempt
The Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Hartford (JCRC) serves as the public affairs voice of the Jewish Federation of Greater Hartford. JCRC builds alliances within and outside the Jewish community, educating and galvanizing the community on issues of social justice, enhancing the community’s understanding of Israel, combating antisemitism and hate, and advocating for public policy consistent with Jewish values.

Specifically, the JCRC:

• Spearheads the development of the Federation’s public policy agenda and educates on issues and current events to foster understanding and cooperation within the Jewish and broader community.
• Advocates at all levels of government for public resources to support the activities of the Federation and partnership agencies.
• Builds relationships and mutual understanding with diverse ethnic, racial, faith-based and civic groups.
• Promotes support for Israel and the Jewish people at home and throughout the world via education and advocacy.

Primary Responsibilities
The JCRC Director is responsible for leading the JCRC in implementing its mission and programmatic direction, under the direction of the Federation President & CEO, VP of Impact & Strategy, JCRC Chair, and other lay leadership. Specific responsibilities include:

Community Relations

• Working with JCRC’s volunteer leaders to cultivate relationships and represent the interests of the Jewish community in religious, non-profit, civic, corporate, political, ethnic, and academic arenas, as well as with the media.
• Engaging and working with local Jewish communal organizations, agencies, and community members to advance the objectives of the organized Jewish community
• Educating about and advocating for consensus causes and issues that impact the Jewish community and others
• Working with volunteer leadership to set policy
• Staffs the JCRC Board meetings and sets agenda items in collaboration with leadership
• Monitoring local, national, and international events; formulating and articulating responsive positions; and mobilizing leadership and volunteers for effective action
• Leading regional efforts to combat antisemitism and all forms of bigotry
• Developing programs and initiatives in support of the foregoing, including collaborations that advance social justice, intergroup understanding, and mutual respect

Legislative Affairs

• Establishing and maintaining strong ties with elected and appointed government officials at the local, state, and federal level
• Liaising and undertaking advocacy and public policy work with the Jewish Federation of North America’s (JFNA) Washington, D.C., office; the Jewish Council for Public Affairs (JCPA); and the Jewish Federation Association of Connecticut (JFACT), where aligned
• Monitoring local, national, and international events through the prism of Jewish communal priorities and working with leadership and community members to set policy, promote education, and galvanize community action
• Organizing education and advocacy opportunities for community members
• Submitting written testimony and/or testifying on legislation

Miscellaneous

• Working closely with Federation colleagues to ensure that Federation leadership and donors, and the broader Jewish and general communities, understand JCRC’s activities and impact
• Planning and executing community events
• Supporting new and existing grants in collaboration with Federation’s Vice President of Development, and participating in donor cultivation and fundraising activities
• Leading the day-to-day operations of the JCRC including administrative duties of management, budget planning and adherence, communications, committee work, and staff supervision
• Other duties as assigned

Qualifications

• Demonstrated leadership experience in promoting mission-critical programs and initiatives
• Knowledge of and commitment to consensus issues within the Jewish community, including protection of rights and liberties, combating antisemitism, advocacy for Israel, and supporting social justice
• Knowledge and understanding of government affairs, legislative processes, and advocacy
• Experience working with diverse constituencies to develop consensus
• Experience working with professionals, lay people and lay committees.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, including public speaking and writing letters, op-eds, and public statements on community issues
• Strong knowledge and understanding of Jewish practices, customs, history, and community infrastructure
• Ability to set priorities and handle multiple tasks, strong organizational skills
• Personable, enthusiastic, self-motivated professional; comfortable in a fast-paced working environment, including nights and weekends
• Ability to work closely with others in a team environment, and effectively interact with all
• Ability to create and manage project/program budgets and timelines

To Apply for This Position
Please submit your cover letter and resume to: Heather Rubin Fiedler, Jewish Federation of Greater Hartford, hfiedler@jewishhartford.org

POSITION TITLE: Community Security Grant Writer
REPORTS TO: Chief of Staff/Community Security Director/Chief Impact & Strategy Officer
SUPERVISION EXERCISED: None
LOCATION: Various
Part Time/Contract (1099/I-9)

ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION:
The Jewish Federation of Greater Hartford shares the Jewish values of repairing the world (tikkun olam), helping those less fortunate (tzedakah) and learning from the wisdom of our tradition (Torah). At the Jewish Federation of Greater Hartford, we work together to create a better life for Jews and their neighbors in need – in 30+ towns across Connecticut, in Israel, and around the world. We do this through our Annual Campaign, volunteer projects, educational programs, social justice advocacy and much more.

PRIMARY FUNCTION:
The Jewish Federation of Greater Hartford seeks a capable, effective Grant Writer with sophisticated communication and research skills to serve as a key capacity builder on Jewish Federation of Greater Hartford’s Community Security team. The successful candidate will thrive in a dynamic, fast-paced department that is experiencing growth, and will skillfully handle a range of responsibilities, including proposal writing and reporting, specifically, but not limited to, the Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NGSP)’s Federal, State, Municipal and private opportunities benefitting both the Jewish Federation and Greater Hartford’s Jewish institutions. The person in this position will report to the Chief of Staff and will work closely with the Community Security Director and agency/synagogue staff.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
Primary:

• Draft and coordinate NGSP proposals and reports for Jewish Federation and partnering institutions to gain annual and multi-year funding. Modify templates based on requirements and agency needs.
• Draft proposals, letters of inquiry, reports and other communication material for institutional and individual donors (private). Modify templates based on donors’ interests.
• Work closely with Chief of Staff and Community Security Initiative program staff to develop and deliver customized proposals and reports for unrestricted and program-specific grants.
• Maintain an expectation of excellence in both written and verbal communications, as well as a dedication to superior customer service with an emphasis on relationship building.
• Stay abreast of security needs, trends and issues
• Maintain research records in electronic and paper form, as necessary.
• Play a key role as data strategist in the development of qualification, cultivation, solicitation and stewardship strategies.
• Uphold Jewish Federation of Greater Hartford’s commitment to shared values, policies and procedures.

QUALIFICATIONS:
Skills:

• Excellent interpersonal and written presentation skills.
• Ability to think strategically, analytically, and creatively.
• Strong organizational and administrative skills, with a demonstrated track record of establishing effective systems that foster collaboration and improve efficiency.
• Demonstrated analytical skills related to complex grant, foundation, and donor research.
• Proficiency in use of online research tools such as Lexis Nexis for Development Professionals, Wealth Engine, Morningstar Document Research, Foundation Directory Online along with numerous other tools and publications.
• Proficiency with Word, Excel, Outlook and database management software.
• Ability to work with highly sensitive, confidential information using excellent judgment at all times.

Work Experience:

• A minimum of 3 – 5 years’ experience in grant writing and donor and prospect research in a not-for-profit fundraising environment.
• Preferred: experience writing and reporting Federal, State and Municipal grants

Education:

• Bachelor’s Degree.

The information in this job description indicates the general nature and level of work expected of employees in this classification. It is not designed to contain, or be interpreted as, a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, qualifications and objectives required of employees assigned to this job, nor is it to be interpreted as a contract for employment.

Compensation is competitive and commensurate with experience.