Director, Campus Affairs

Director, Campus Affairs

About JCRC-NY:

The Jewish Community Relations Council of New York (JCRC-NY), a proud UJA-Federation of NY agency, serves as the primary community relations agency for the Jewish community in the metropolitan New York area.  As an active force in New York civic and communal life, JCRC-NY operates as a central coordinating and resource body to: (1) Be a common table to cultivate understanding and joint action amongst diverse groups within the Jewish community; (2) Cultivate deeper relationships with the broader New York community to address critical issues and engender a shared society; (3) Ensure the security of the Jewish community in the face of rising antisemitism; and (4) Foster increased understanding and appreciation for the Jewish community’s relationship with Israel among diverse groups of New Yorkers.  JCRC-NY seeks to intensify its community relations efforts, strengthen existing partnerships and build new relationships with diverse leaders in our city to advance the values, interests and security of the New York Jewish community and build a more interconnected New York for all.

The Position:

Reporting to the Vice President of Israel and Jewish Affairs, the Director of Campus Affairs at JCRC-NY is a critical leadership role responsible for developing and implementing comprehensive strategies to address issues concerning Israel and Jewish identity on college campuses in New York City, Westchester, and Long Island, and in particular on CUNY and SUNY campuses. The Vice President plays a crucial role in this work, holding key relationships, leading on overall strategy, and ensuring the success of the Director's role. The Director of Campus Affairs and Vice President of Israel and Jewish Affairs will work closely together to engage senior university leadership, with the Vice President spearheading high-level initiatives and providing strategic guidance.

The Director of Campus Affairs will be JCRC-NY's chief relationship builder for engagements with local college presidents, administrators, and diverse faculty, as well as local Hillel directors, and Jewish faculty and administrators. This role requires a professional who can navigate complex institutional dynamics, build coalitions, and serve as a trusted advisor to campus leadership and Jewish organizations. The Vice President will provide ongoing support, leverage their extensive network, and collaborate closely with the Director to ensure the success of these critical initiatives.

This is a full-time position, which is currently subject to a hybrid working model, with a minimum of 3 days in-person work at our midtown offices required, one of those days being Thursday. Some international travel may periodically be required for visits to Israel and conferences.

Responsibilities:

• Strategic Leadership: Develop and implement comprehensive strategies to address Israel and Jewish affairs on college campuses, working closely with the Israel and Jewish Affairs team and other JCRC-NY departments.
• Campus Relationship Management: Serve as the primary point of contact and relationship manager for college presidents, administrators, and key faculty members across the New York metropolitan area.
• Hillel Support and Coordination: Act as the primary resource for CUNY and SUNY Hillel directors, providing strategic guidance, facilitating high-level meetings with senior administrators, and helping prioritize engagements. Serve as a "traffic cop" to protect Hillel Directors from overextension and ensure efficient use of their time and resources.
• Coalition Building: Foster strategic partnerships with other Israel and Jewish organizations to create a robust local collaborative network for coordinated responses to incidents of bias and hate towards Jews and Israel on campuses.
• “Scholars as Bridge Builders" Program: Oversee and enhance JCRC-NY's flagship campus program, including managing academic study tours to Israel, developing follow-up programming, and cultivating a network of engaged scholars and administrators.
• Crisis Management and Rapid Response: Lead the development and implementation of campus-based responses to ongoing developments in the Middle East and local crises affecting the Jewish community. Mobilize campus stakeholders and partners in support of the Jewish community and Israel.
• Policy Development: Work with campus leadership and other stakeholders to develop, implement, and ensure accountability for strategies to address campus-based antisemitism and efforts to delegitimize Israel.
• Campus Advocacy: With UJA-Federation and other key partners, build and convene a network of advocacy professionals and academic leaders for mobilization and coordination.  Jointly create a strategic plan to address Israel and Jewish affairs on college campuses.

 Qualifications:

• 8+ years of experience working in Israel/Jewish education, advocacy, higher education, campus administration, Jewish communal service, or International Affairs developing relevant practical materials and programs.
• Deep familiarity with the New York college campus systems (CUNY, SUNY, and private colleges) and the various diverse Jewish communities of New York City, their leadership structures, and the challenges they face.
• Deep passion for the advocacy for Jewish people and Israel, and a complete and nuanced understanding of Israel, the greater Middle East, and Israel-Diaspora relations.
• Familiarity with the diversity of thought over Israel within the NY Jewish community and trends affecting the relationships between Israel and NY’s diverse communities.
• Excellent facilitation skills, experience building networks, and a respectful approach to divergent religious and political perspectives. Ability to navigate intellectual diversity while adhering to the values of JCRC-NY.
• Proven outreach and organizing capabilities and ability to work with diverse audiences.
• Demonstrated experience with organizing both small private and large-scale public events, college-based experience a plus.
• High level of communication skills including written and public speaking. Experience reporting to lay leaders and donors a plus.
• Self-starter with creativity and a knack for problem solving. Ability to supervise staff, participate in a team, work on multiple tasks, and function independently.
• Ability to participate in a team, work on multiple tasks, and function independently.
• Knowledge of Hebrew a plus.
• Excellent skills with MS Office programs, social media platform use, and web-based academic research.
• Master’s degree or higher in a relevant field preferred

 Compensation and Benefits:

• Salary range: $120,000-$140,000
• Benefits package, healthcare, paid vacation, personal/sick days, UJA-Federation pension plan, 403B plan available

 To apply, please send a cover letter and resume to [email protected].