American Jewish World Service (AJWS) is the leading Jewish organization working to fight poverty and pursue justice in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Caribbean. By supporting hundreds of social change organizations in 17 countries, we respond to the most pressing issues of our time—from disasters, genocide and hunger, to the persecution of women and minorities worldwide. With Jewish values and a global reach, AJWS is making a difference in millions of lives and bringing a more just and equitable world closer for all.

Overview of Team

The AJWS Advocacy and Jewish Engagement department envisions and executes all strategy toward a progressive foreign policy agenda that affirms and promotes human rights with U.S government stakeholders and institutions on behalf of our partners around the world. The work leans heavily on a national network of rabbis, cantors, and Jewish communal institutions who coalesce to play an essential role in advocating for justice and human rights in U.S. foreign policy.

Position Summary

The Senior Program Officer (SPO) is an integral member of the Jewish Engagement program, serving as thought partner to the Associate Director and implementer of the program’s strategic direction. The SPO will translate AJWS’s U.S. advocacy agenda into action, designing advocacy campaigns, lobbying efforts, digital actions, and other opportunities for AJWS clergy, high-level donors, and other grasstops leaders to speak out for change on global human rights issues.

 The SPO will create opportunities to leverage the power and moral authority of these leaders to advocate to Congress, Executive branch offices, and Jewish communal institutions in support of policies that promote and empower the work of AJWS grantees. They will provide a broad range of support for AJWS’s signature Global Justice Fellowship clergy program (the GJF) and will also lead the Jewish Rohingya Justice Network (the JRJN), a prominent AJWS-led coalition of 35 organizations and all major branches of American Judaism that stand together against genocide. The SPO will also represent AJWS in other coalition spaces as needed. More generally, the SPO will mobilize targeted constituencies in the Jewish community around human rights issues in AJWS focus countries and U.S. policy related to these issues.

The SPO collaborates closely with team members across AJWS. They will support the Associate Director of Jewish Engagement and the Program Associate in implementing a comprehensive engagement strategy, and work with Advocacy colleagues to create opportunities for action, develop policy positions, and implement government affairs strategies. The SPO also participates in frequent formal and informal cross-organizational collaboration with other Programs Division staff and colleagues in the Communications and Development divisions.

 This position reports to the Associate Director of Jewish Engagement.

Job Description

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

·       Partner with the Associate Director and the Director of U.S. Advocacy to design a grasstops engagement strategy for AJWS clergy, top-level donors, and board members, and then hold responsibility for executing that strategy

·       Manage the Jewish Rohingya Justice Network. Guide its strategic vision and direction, maintain and strengthen relationships with coalition partners, build toward shared leadership of the coalition, educate coalition members on the issues, and activate the group as needed for advocacy work as determined in partnership with grant-making and Advocacy staff

·       Plan and lead lobbying and other advocacy opportunities in DC for grasstops leaders, including GJF participants, clergy partners, and the JRJN

·       Design and support the execution of action alerts and other digital advocacy in collaboration with Communications and Marketing staff

·       Draft advocacy-related content for a variety of communications, development, and campaign support materials (for example: issue one-pagers, direct mail, high-stakes written responses to key stakeholders, AJWS publications, and funding proposals)

·       Cultivate relationships with key partner NGOs, both secular and interfaith, who work to advance shared goals through the legislative process. Also cultivate relationships with top-tier clergy leaders with proven capacity for political advocacy. Represent AJWS in various coalitions as needed

·       Write factsheets, talking points, and other materials targeted to Jewish communal leaders and organizations, primarily on foreign policy issues that impact AJWS grantees

·       Monitor and disseminate state-of-play information and analysis relating to the intersection of human rights, Jewish public opinion, nonprofit leadership, and political action, particularly in Congress and the Executive branch

·       Support yearly departmental planning, budget and strategy development, and ongoing tracking in the AJWS database

Required qualifications:

·       At least 7 years relevant professional experience in Jewish community or clergy organizing, human rights advocacy, and/or lobbying at the federal level. Experience designing and implementing effective community organizing or advocacy campaigns

·       Experience with successfully managing or supporting a coalition

·       Track record of effective relationship-building in the Jewish community, especially with high-level thought leaders, donors, or clergy, and/or with government officials

·       General knowledge of international issues and a background in one or more of AJWS’s issue areas

·       Familiarity with the Jewish communal landscape, interfaith organizations, and advocacy groups. Comfort engaging in conversations about Jewish values, social justice, and/or human rights, particularly with communal leaders

·       Familiarity with U.S. government structures and law-making processes, Congressional action, and the role of the American Jewish community as a political constituency

·       Experience designing digital advocacy campaigns or materials and standard knowledge of basic office computer programs (Microsoft Office, etc.)

·       Demonstrated ability to work in a fast-paced environment while maintaining a high level of organization, attention to detail, flexibility, and good humor

·       Strong interpersonal and coalition building skills; excellent written and verbal skills

·       Demonstrated success working effectively both as part of a team and independently, with a track record of fostering a collaborative, collegial environment and viewing your own work as supporting the whole

·       Passion for and commitment to AJWS’s mission and values

·       Willingness to travel occasionally, both domestically and internationally (contingent on travel being permitted)

Preferred Qualifications:

·       Experience using Salesforce or another CRM

·       Experience living or working in the Global South

·       Fluency in Spanish, both speaking and writing

Compensation and Benefits Information

·       AJWS is committed to a salary framework that aligns with our culture and values. The compensation range reflected is in alignment with our framework and individual pay decisions will vary based on skills and experience while still allowing for growth.

·       Paid Time Off: 15-22 Federal and religious holidays off each year in addition to generous vacation and sick days;

·       Full health benefits coverage with minimal contribution by employees;

·       403(b): 4.25% company match (safe harbor);

·       Flexible Spending Account and Commuter Benefits;

·       Workplace flexibility and generous leave policy.

Additional Considerations

Black, Indigenous and People of Color; Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Intersex, Trans and Gender non-conforming people; women; and differently abled people are encouraged to apply. We also encourage applications from people of diverse religious, spiritual, and cultural backgrounds.

As an organization committed to promoting social justice around the world, it is essential that we incorporate a diverse, equitable and inclusive lens into all aspects of our work at AJWS. We encourage applicants with a global perspective and a commitment to values around diversity, equity, and inclusion to apply.

Authorization to work in the US is required.