Director, Jewish Community Relations Council
at Milwaukee Jewish Federation

Milwaukee, Wisconsin is a bustling city with a vibrant political scene. The city has been the center for major decisions in Wisconsin state policy. The JCRC works with community organizations and leaders on local issues while also providing input on regional and state-wide policies that affect the Jewish community. Overall, Milwaukee’s politics are lively and complex, involving both local and national politicians who all work together to ensure Milwaukee is a safe place for its citizens.

Founded in 1938, the Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) advocates for the rights and values of Jews individually and collectively, here and abroad. The Council implements a coordinated program of education, action, and advocacy for the Jewish community. A department of the MJF, the Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) protects and defends the Jewish community through relationship building, coalition work, government affairs, public affairs, and advocacy. The local Jewish community’s central body to address and prevent antisemitism, the JCRC is engaged in alliances and coalitions and represents the Jewish community in the community-at-large across the state of Wisconsin.

The mission of the Milwaukee Jewish Federation (MJF) is to ensure the continuity of the Jewish people, to enhance the quality of Jewish life and to build a strong unified Jewish community in Milwaukee, in Israel and throughout the world. Learn more about the Milwaukee Jewish Federation.

Summary/Objective

The Director of the Jewish Community Relations Council leads MJF’s community relations and public affairs activities, focusing on issues related to antisemitism, government relations, domestic policy issues, social and economic justice, interfaith/intergroup relations, and Israel advocacy and education. The Director works closely with the JCRC Board Chair and volunteer leaders to set priorities, build consensus, and represent the community in a variety of settings. The JCRC Director serves as a resource to media, elected officials, and leaders throughout the community.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities

Public Affairs

  • Speak on behalf of the Jewish community in public spheres related to antisemitism, Israel, and other areas of Jewish community
  • In close collaboration with MJF’s Chief Impact Officer, communicate with the media and the community-at-large on issues of Jewish communal

Legislative Affairs

  • Develop relationships with elected officials at the local, state, and federal
  • With the Wisconsin Jewish Conference, work with elected officials and other government officials on legislative issues to protect and secure the Jewish
  • Collaborate with faith and ethnic communities on legislative

Community Relations

  • Represent the interest of the Jewish community within the community-at-large, through coalition building, cooperative efforts with religious, civil, academic and political
  • Create and maintain robust alliances with faith, ethnicity, and other
  • Serve as resource, contact, and source with local
  • Engage Jewish organizations and community members through educational programming, civic advocacy, and social justice

Antisemitism

  • Respond to antisemitic incidents by developing a and implementing a crisis response and intervention plan; reaching out, as appropriate, to community leaders, affected communities, and
  • Coordinate with MJF security staff on issues of antisemitism and
  • Collaborate with ADL
  • Oversee JCRC’s anti-hate work, Hours Against Hate.

Volunteer Leadership

  • Work with the JCRC Board and Community Council to develop and implement a Jewish community relations and public affairs
  • Build and reflect community consensus through the work of the JCRC Community
  • Nurture current JCRC volunteer leadership skills and cultivate a strong pipeline of future leaders.

Administrative Responsibilities

  • Prepare and oversee the annual JCRC department
  • Manage and supervise JCRC
  • Serve as an advisor to MJF’s senior leadership
  • Collaborate with MJF departments, including Marketing, Israel Center, Jewish Museum Milwaukee, and Holocaust Education and Resource Center on education and outreach programming.
  • Oversee the work of the Wisconsin Jewish
  • Work with national and international bodies (Jewish Council for Public Affairs, Jewish Federations of North America) on issues of relevance to Jewish

Qualifications

The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Required Skills/Characteristics

  • Knowledge of and passion for Judaism, Jewish community and related issues
  • Commitment to representing the needs of a broad, diverse Jewish community
  • Ability to navigate complicated or stressful situations with diplomacy, tact, and equanimity
  • Ability to thrive in an environment with tight deadlines, changing priorities, high-pressure, and irregular hours
  • Exceptional skills in public relations, public affairs and communication
  • Commitment to Israel and ability to communicate with sophistication and nuance on related issues
  • Knowledge and understanding of government affairs, legislative processes and advocacy
  • Excellent interpersonal, analytical, and problem-solving skills
  • Willingness to advocate for the JCRC within the organization, in the Jewish community, and the community-at-large

Required Experience

  • Senior leadership experience in community relations/public affairs
  • In-depth knowledge of Jewish values, history, heritage, culture and ideals
  • Experience working with volunteer leaders and diverse constituencies to develop consensus
  • Management and supervisory experience
  • Experience working with coalitions of organizations
  • Advanced degree preferred in fields such as Jewish communal studies, social sciences, law or public administration

Supervisory Responsibility

  • JCRC Associate Director, JCRC Project Manager
  • Serve as main contact to government affairs contractor

Compensation Range: $110K – $130K commensurate with experience. Milwaukee Jewish Federation has a hybrid work environment: we are in the office on Tuesdays, Wednesday, and Thursdays, and work remotely on Mondays and Fridays. Typical office hours are Monday-Thursday, 8 am-5 pm, and Friday, 8 am-3 pm. This role will require frequent local travel and occasional evening and weekend hours.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY: Milwaukee Jewish Federation is an equal opportunity employer, committed to diversity and inclusion.  Employment decisions are based on qualifications, merit, and organizational need.   All applicants 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.

For more information or to apply, contact Carin@sageviewconsulting.com