Planning Director, Network

About the Organization:

UJA-Federation of New York’s work is to care for Jews everywhere and New Yorkers of all backgrounds, to respond to crises close to home and far away, and to shape our Jewish future. To accomplish these goals, UJA relies upon a diverse network of nonprofits across New York that delivers an incredibly broad range of services to meet pressing needs. UJA’s Network department supports our closest nonprofit partners to achieve and sustain organizational excellence, deliver big impact, and to remain relevant in a rapidly changing world. 

Position Summary

The role of planning director is ideal for someone who is passionate about ensuring that New York nonprofits can meet the challenges of the moment. Only forward-thinking and efficient organizational partners can maximize their impact on reducing poverty, decreasing food insecurity, mitigating the mental health crisis, reducing carbon emissions, and keeping Jews connected to the community and to Jewish life.

The planning director works collaboratively with professionals and lay committees to research, design, and implement grant opportunities in priority areas including energy efficiency and sustainability and advancing equitable workplaces. UJA-Federation’s strength is in its collaborative spirit and all-hands-on-deck approach. This is how we ultimately reach hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers and why we are part of the critical infrastructure of the whole metro area.

 Major Responsibilities

1. Work in partnership with senior team to lead the work and manage the activities of the Network Department.
2. Lead the work of the Network Planning Committee in partnership with lay chair to advance critical work in current priority areas: environmental sustainability, community relations and bridgebuilding.
3. Play leading role in managing relationships with core partner executive directors and convening them.
4. Supervise and mentor the Network Department’s junior staff and ensure projects are effectively prioritized.
5. Cultivate and maintain relationships with departmental leadership. Work alongside managing director to develop agenda for Network Cabinet.
6. Convene and lead ad hoc lay groups, as needed.
7. Support efforts to combat antisemitism on campus and within UJA’s network.
8. Design and lead staff development within the team, including retreats, site visits, and other learning opportunities.
9. Facilitate or participate in interdepartmental activities, develop action plans, and implement projects, as well as assuming the leadership position of key content areas and initiatives.
10. Stay informed about current issues in the Jewish community, nonsectarian nonprofit sector, and trends in philanthropy to increase knowledge, understand contexts, and promote innovative and creative approaches to areas of responsibility, as well as serve as a resource to UJA-Federation and its network of agencies.
11. May be assigned to manage specific content areas and other additional projects or tasks as assigned by the managing director.

Requisite Competencies and Experience

1. 10+ years of related experience in the field.
2. Ability to think critically, generate ideas and advance all priorities.
3. Ability to focus simultaneously on the big picture and on the details.
4. Track record of creative problem solving, especially in situations that involve multiple constituencies and interests.
5. Effective collaborator and interpersonal skills that allow for success with diverse temperaments and varying work styles.
6. Ability to write and speak clearly and with conviction.
7. The knowledge, skills, and stature to represent the Network Department internal and external forums and to speak about its general and specific work.
8. Comfort with a fast-paced, multidimensional environment.
9. Knowledge of UJA-Federation’s network of agencies.

Salary range: $115K-$125K commensurate with experience.