Director of Support and Wellness

OPPORTUNITY SUMMARY: JQ International, a leading LGBTQ+ Jewish nonprofit, is seeking an innovative and experienced Director of Support and Wellness to nurture and improve queer Jewish mental health and wellness. This is a perfect role for a person who can hold both program vision and execution and who is fluent in the wellness challenges faced by queer Jews. JQ’s professional team embodies a roll-up-your-sleeves culture that invites creativity and is laser-focused on enriching the lives of queer Jews and uplifting queer Jewish joy. Mental health professionals, social workers, and educators who are ready to come change the world with us should apply for this role ASAP.

KEY DETAILS:

Location: Hybrid Work Environment–approx. 70% work from home, 30% in-person in Los Angeles

Salary: $75,000 - $85,000/year, commensurate with experience

Application Details: Frequently cited statistics show that women, transgender, and nonbinary people and other structurally marginalized groups apply to jobs only if they meet 100% of the qualifications. JQ encourages you to break that statistic and to apply. No one ever meets 100% of the qualifications. 

Applications will be accepted until Sunday October 1st, or until we find the right candidate for the position. We will consider applications on a rolling basis until that date, so we encourage you to apply as soon as you can.

Anticipated Start Date: November 2023 

TO APPLY: Please send your resume and cover letter, and writing sample to [email protected]. In your cover letter, please share with us how you are connected to the mission of JQ and your experience working with JQ’s target audiences.

WRITING SAMPLE TASK: We encourage you to spend no more than 30 minutes total on this assignment. However, we also recognize that these tasks may take individuals varying amounts of time and encourage you to utilize the amount of time that works best for you. 

1. You will be offering a virtual psychoeducation workshop for parents and caregivers of LGBTQ+ youth. Write a newsletter promoting this event. Please include the purpose of the workshop, how to register, and any other information you believe is important and relevant. 

ABOUT JQ

JQ International celebrates and strengthens queer Jewish joy. We are a Los Angeles-based 501(c)3 non-profit founded in 2004. JQ International (also known as JQ) provides programs and services to the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) Jewish community and their friends, families, and loved ones. JQ does this by creating quality social and educational programming, offering life-affirming and life-saving support services, and providing activism/leadership opportunities inspired by Jewish values. JQ works to educate and empower LGBTQ+ community members, allies, and the Jewish community as a whole to increase understanding, acceptance, and inclusion. Programming and service offerings create safe spaces and provide access points for increased involvement, leadership development, and the healthy fusion of LGBTQ+ and Jewish identities. For more information, visit www.JQInternational.org.

OPPORTUNITY FOR IMPACT
In this position, you will hold the vision and primary responsibility for executing JQ’s key programmatic efforts for queer Jewish wellness, including helping LGBTQ+ individuals and families navigate communal support services, conceiving and executing JQ’s wellness and psychoeducation programming, and compiling and disseminating community resources. This includes working with adult and youth community members on issues related to mental health, food and housing security, sexual orientation and gender identity, substance use, stress management, inclusion, identity, and more. In addition to managing the JQ Helpline, overseeing support groups, leading psychoeducational workshops and trainings, and offering wellness programs for adults and teens, there is a wealth of opportunities for creativity and agency to expand our current services and build new support networks and community-based resources. 

DIRECTOR OF SUPPORT & WELLNESS

The Director of Support & Wellness (DoSW) oversees three pillars of work: JQ Helpline, Support Groups, and Wellness & Inclusion Education for Teens and Adults. The DoSW reports to our CEO and works closely with the Director of Development, Director of Community Programs, Youth Programs Manager, and the rest of our professional team. Not only are you a visionary, but you are warm, approachable, and can demonstrate the importance of interpersonal relationships. Most importantly, you are excellent at following through and not letting things slip through the cracks. Excellent interpersonal, written, and oral communication, clinical/pastoral/experiential background, programmatic, presentation, and relationship-building skills, and experience managing both professionals and volunteers are critical to success in this role. Some travel may be required. This is a full-time position based in Los Angeles, CA, expecting you to work remotely (approximately 70% of the time) and be available to attend meetings in the field weekly in Los Angeles and the surrounding area (approximately 30% of the time).

JQ’s support services are grounded in the Jewish prophetic tradition of pikuach nefesh, preserving and caring for human life, and imagines a world where all LGBTQ+ Jews and their allies realize themselves as inherently holy and worthy of self-care. This position requires tact and integrity due to the frequency of high-level internal and external contacts and exposure to confidential, sensitive, and privileged information. The DoSW is a motivated individual who is detail-oriented, proactive, and organized and can support and manage many aspects of a growing portfolio of offerings for the organization. A successful DoSW will anticipate needs, problem solve, respond promptly to community members in need and the staff/volunteers who support them, and strategically design and execute service offerings in an ever-changing world.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Helpline Management

• Answer calls, texts, and emails from JQ Helpline inquiries providing support and culturally inclusive resources to LGBTQ+ Jews, their families, and allies;
• Follow-up with JQ Helpline contacts within 1-2 business days. Work with contacts to fill out and complete an intake form, and document the reason for the call in JQ’s Helpline database;
• Conduct outreach for resources (such as immigration and asylum resources, food insecurity, DV issues, housing and homelessness, Jewish spiritual resources, etc.) to Jewish organizations and institutions;
• Assist with the crafting of marketing content, such as digital assets, and assist with the marketing calendar as part of the JQ Helpline’s annual marketing campaign; 
• Update and maintain the resource database, including the identification and cultivation of new and current relationships with referral resources and partnerships;
• Update and maintain the database of JQ Helpline contacts, including the tracking and inputting of contacts by other JQ professionals and/or Helpline volunteers on a weekly basis; 
• Track Helpline demographic & testimonials to support grant writing and reporting;
• Edit and proofread grants and external communications as needed;
• Represent JQ at public events and conferences (online or in-person) to promote JQ's support & wellness services.

Support Group Management

• Ensure high quality implementation of JQ’s eight current support groups and create additional support groups based on community needs (potentially queer Jews of color, LGBTQ+ Jewish seniors, Orthodox/observant Jews etc.);
• Oversee the hiring, management, and supervision of the support group facilitators and potentially facilitate JQ support groups yourself as well;
• Review support group notes and document, track, and measure the impact of support groups; 
• Provide resources, speakers, and referrals to group participants, while building rapport and addressing issues such as perceived identity and coming out to family and friends. 
• Maintain a culture of learning among support group facilitators; 
• Help to publicize and market JQ’s support groups within the community while also networking to increase awareness of and participation in the support groups;
• Refer people to the JQ Helpline and outside services, as appropriate;

Wellness & Inclusion Education for Teens and Adults

• Develop and conduct trainings on LGBTQ+ identity and inclusion workshops through a psychoeducational lens;
• This includes communications, facilitation, administrative tasks, and more. 
• Trainings and wellness programs may be provided to identity-specific populations, including but not limited to:
• Queer Jews of Color
• Transgender and Nonbinary Jews
• Queer Jewish Women
• Clergy and institutional professionals
• Clinical staff and mental health professionals
• Parents & Caregivers
• Persian LGBTQ+ Community
• Content of programming may include, for example:
• LGBTQ+ 101 and inclusion best practices
• Mental health and suicide prevention subjects
• Rituals, Judaism, and spirituality
• Gender-affirming care 
• Clinical practice with the LGBTQ+ community and caregivers
• Self-care and wellness techniques
• Queer and Jewish intersectional identities and experiences
• Manage the Queer Teen Wellness Initiative
• Support the development and execution of strategies to recruit for the queer teen wellness initiative in partnership with the Youth Program Manager. 
• Be a strategic thought partner with the JQ Staff in designing the arc of support and wellness experiences for teens and adults throughout organizational programming. 
• Supervise the strategy and crafting of communications and curriculum for psychoeducation & wellness initiatives in the teen space.

QUALIFICATIONS

Mission Alignment & Culture Fit

• You are personally passionate and committed to celebrating and strengthening queer Jewish joy. 
• You have a sophisticated, nuanced understanding of LGBTQ+ and Jewish identities, experiences, and perspectives, as well as how they intersect. You possess a high level of fluency in the languages of these communities and inclusion work more broadly.
• You have previous experience bringing a racial justice and gender equity lens to work products and staff culture.
• You have high EQ and hear what is said and unsaid. You build trust through relationships and personal stories. You are not afraid to advocate for organizational culture and values.
• You set high expectations for yourself and those around you.
• You can celebrate victories in the work, big and small while working for the long-term vision.
• You exude calm and warmth.
• You find joy in creating healthy and equitable communities.
• You feel comfortable working independently and managing your own schedule and outputs, but are also comfortable working in a collaborative team.
• You take initiative to create work-life harmony, including a focus on managing capacity and flow

Mental Health Knowledge and Wellness Expertise 

• LCSW or LMFT preferred. We will consider applicants with doctoral, pastoral, rabbinical, MSW, or MFT with a track record of experience facilitating support groups (in-person and online);
• Should have a working knowledge of counseling and advocacy techniques for the LGBTQ+ community and their families;
• Knowledge of the national Jewish community and social service landscape;
• Access to the internet and able to attend weekly field meetings in and around Los Angeles, California;
• Demonstrates an ability to work well with persons of varied backgrounds, including sexual preference, racial, ethnic, cultural, socioeconomic status, religion, and differently-abled individuals;
• A commitment to nonviolent communication as exhibited through previous volunteer work or employment;
• Impeccable community reputation and ethical behavior;
• Willingness to work within guidelines, policies, standards, and mission statement of JQ International;
• Ability to work in a team and accept collaboration and feedback from staff members;
• Must maintain clients’ confidentiality and adhere to JQ's code of conduct when working with minors.

Leadership & Management

• When executing your vision, you are a collaborative leader and gain input and buy-in from various stakeholders.
• Others perceive you as having presence, maturity, and expertise. You are decisive and can make hard decisions.
• You have excellent oral and written communication skills. 
• You plan the big stuff and sweat the small stuff.
• You can translate strategy into plans and manage a team towards results.
• You can coach team members and contractors with an open, inclusive leadership style that encourages cohesion, accountability, and high performance.
• You are adept at using technology and working remotely with colleagues to facilitate daily work.
• You hold joy and resilience as a critical foundation for a healthy and happy team.
• You can distinguish between the genuinely time-sensitive and urgent and vital but not requiring immediate action. 
• You can prioritize tasks and delegate responsibilities as needed. 

COMPENSATION:

The salary range is $75,000 -$85,000/year, commensurate with experience. JQ offers a competitive benefits package, including healthcare and a discretionary time off policy, and a fast-paced, queer normative, and dog-friendly work environment! 

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY:

JQ is dedicated to building a culturally diverse and pluralistic staff. JQ provides equal opportunity to all people regardless of race, color, national or ethnic origin, religion, age, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, marital status, veteran status, disability, or any other proscribed category outlined in federal or state regulations. This policy applies to all employees and candidates for employment.