Director, Center for Jewish Peoplehood

Description

Lead a bold new vision for Jewish life. As founding Director of the Center for Jewish Peoplehood, you’ll shape exhibitions, education, and partnerships that strengthen Jewish pride and belonging.

AGENCY OVERVIEW:

Jewish Family and Children's Services (JFCS) has served the San Francisco Bay Area for 175 years. We offer world-class services to support individuals and families across all stages of life, including adoption, mental health, senior care, disability services, financial assistance, Holocaust education, and youth development. Our mission and work are rooted in Jewish values, and we serve people of all faiths and backgrounds.

POSITION SUMMARY:

Under the supervision of the Executive Director, the Director of the Center for Jewish Peoplehood will provide visionary leadership, advancing Jewish Peoplehood as a foundational pillar of JFCS. The Director will serve as the institution’s principal ambassador for Jewish Peoplehood while helping shape the Center for Jewish Peoplehood 's strategic, educational, operational, and fundraising priorities.

Through its educational programs, exhibitions, curriculum, and community and institutional partnerships, the Director will strengthen Jewish pride and deepen understanding of Jewish life, history, identity, culture, the enduring connection between the Jewish people and Israel, and the diversity of Jewish communities around the world. The Director will also play a leadership role in cultivating philanthropic support and strategic partnerships that advance the Center’s long-term growth, visibility, and sustainability.

Working collaboratively across the organization, the Director will carry forward an integrated educational vision that illuminates the history, continuity, diversity, resilience, creativity, and enduring contributions of the Jewish people. This vision will include the Holocaust as an essential—but not defining—chapter within the much broader story of Jewish civilization, demonstrating how Jewish memory, identity, tradition, and shared responsibility continue to shape contemporary Jewish life.

Through this work, the Center will strengthen Jewish pride, promote meaningful allyship, inspire civic responsibility, and deepen understanding among Jewish and non-Jewish audiences alike.

Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States without current or future employer sponsorship. The company does not provide visa sponsorship for this position.  

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:

• Salary Range: $140,000-155,000 (depending on experience)
• Employment Type: Full-time, exempt with benefits
• Hybrid work schedule with occasional evening and weekend responsibilities
• Employer 403(b) retirement match plus additional employer contribution (subject to eligibility)
• Cafeteria benefits plan that lets you customize coverage to fit your needs, with options like health insurance, FSAs, retirement plans, and wellness programs
• 16 holidays (10 federal and up to 6 Jewish holidays), annually
• 3 weeks of vacation and 2 weeks of sick leave, annually

ESSENTIAL JOB DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Lead the strategic vision, growth, and long-term development of JFCS’ Center for Jewish Peoplehood, collaborating closely with Executive Leadership and the Director of the Holocaust Center to guide integrated exhibitions, educational programming, curriculum, public engagement, and institutional initiatives
• Provide intellectual and strategic leadership to promote the principles of Jewish Peoplehood, including mutual responsibility, belonging, diversity within unity, memory, and identity, across the Center’s educational programs, exhibitions, and all channels of community engagement
• Collaborate closely with the Director of the Holocaust Center to deepen the integration of Jewish Peoplehood throughout curriculum, professional learning, exhibitions, school and community programs, publications, and educational content exploring Jewish identity, history, continuity, resilience, the enduring connection between the Jewish people and Israel, and the contributions of Jewish communities worldwide
• Partner with the Chief Curator and exhibition design team to integrate Jewish Peoplehood throughout the Center’s exhibitions, archival collections, and convening spaces, presenting the Holocaust as one essential chapter within the broader continuum of Jewish history and civilization
• Work collaboratively with leaders across JFCS to strengthen and connect existing Jewish learning and Jewish Peoplehood initiatives, ensuring the Center serves as a shared resource that brings greater cohesion, visibility, and impact to this work
• Strengthen JFCS’ leadership in Jewish scholarship and education by cultivating strategic partnerships with universities, museums, Israeli educational and cultural institutions, Jewish organizations, policymakers, community leaders, and civic partners, while expanding educational opportunities and engagement with diverse audiences
• Partner with Executive Leadership and the JFCS Development team to develop and implement a comprehensive fundraising strategy, cultivating major gifts, foundation support, corporate partnerships, planned giving opportunities, and other philanthropic resources that support the Center’s long-term vision, growth, and sustainability
• Represent the Center for Jewish Peoplehood and JFCS locally, nationally, and internationally through public programs, lectures, conferences, publications, media engagements, strategic partnerships, and professional convenings; supervise assigned staff, fellows, consultants, interns, and volunteers; and ensure compliance with JFCS policies, procedures, and financial management protocols

JOB QUALIFICATIONS:

• Graduate degree in Jewish Studies, History, Education, Museum Studies, Religious Studies, Public History, or a related field is preferred; an equivalent combination of education and progressively responsible professional experience, including recognized expertise in one or more of these areas, will be considered
• Minimum 8–10 years of progressively responsible leadership experience
• Experience leading educational or cultural initiatives within nonprofit organizations, museums, universities, and Jewish cultural and communal institutions
• Demonstrated experience supervising staff and managing complex interdisciplinary projects
• Demonstrated depth of scholarship in Jewish Peoplehood, Jewish history, Jewish identity, Israel, antisemitism, Jewish philosophy, and contemporary political, and social issues
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, digital learning and content platforms, virtual presentation tools, AI-enabled productivity, research, and content development tools, and other technologies supporting educational programming, communications, research, and collaboration
• Ability to travel periodically and work occasional evenings and weekends

**In order to be considered for the role, please attach a separate cover letter addressed to the Director of the Holocaust Center when submitting your application. Your cover letter should explain your interest in the position and describe why your background, skills, and experience make you a strong candidate for the role. Please be specific and detailed in your response.

All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply, including minorities, women, veterans, and disabled individuals. Qualified applicants with arrest and/or conviction records will be considered for employment in a manner consistent with Federal, state and local laws, including but not limited to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, protected veteran, or disability status. JFCS is an Equal Opportunity Employer.