Lakes Regional Director

National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW) is a 133-year-old Jewish feminist civil rights organization working for equity and justice for women, children, and families in the United States and Israel. With 250,000 grassroots advocates and 45 local sections, we combine education, direct service, and advocacy to create lasting social change. We approach our work through a Jewish, gender, economic, and racial justice lens, centering those most impacted.

Our deep partnerships across civil rights, faith-based, and governmental spaces reflect our intersectional values.

The Chicago‑based Regional Director will lead all engagement and advocacy efforts in the states and communities in the Great Lakes region (Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, Wisconsin), working closely with national colleagues and community‑based Local Leadership Councils to enhance and deepen NCJW’s impact. Policy and communications support will be provided by the national team. This position encompasses thought leadership and expertise in advocacy, mobilization, and programming needed to advance NCJW’s policy agenda.

Organizing, operations, and support for volunteer advocacy are also essential areas of expertise necessary. The person in this position will report to the Vice President, Engagement and Leadership and the Vice President, Government Relations and Advocacy. The Regional Director must be an effective communicator, with strong interpersonal skills required to engage effectively with NCJW’s expansive network of changemakers and community leaders.

• Provide thoughtful input to the national office on NCJW’s overall field engagement strategy.
• Support the establishment of Local Leadership Councils in communities to serve as the volunteer‑based leadership of NCJW’s nationwide movement.
• Offer strategic direction to Local Leadership Councils, helping determine local priorities within NCJW’s core advocacy issues.
• Create local action plans and budgets for communities/states in the region, working in partnership with national staff and the Local Leadership Councils.
• Assist NCJW in growing its movement and creating capacity from the ground up by identifying and reaching out to potential supporters, including influential local leaders.
• Work with the national staff to devise innovative ways to engage supporters.
• Represent NCJW at local events in the region.

• Organize and mobilize local support for NCJW’s nationwide advocacy campaigns, with support from the national staff.
• Tailor campaigns to local interests as needed.
• Collaborate with local partner organizations and coalitions to deepen the impact of the campaigns.
• Support the national Government Relations team, as requested, in organizing in‑district meetings with elected officials and NCJW advocates.
• Implement educational training programs (in‑person and virtual) developed by the national team.
• Assist Local Leadership Councils in planning and hosting virtual and in‑person events and educational programs.
• Coordinate with Local Leadership Councils on community service projects that align with NCJW’s core advocacy priorities.

• Expand fundraising at the local level through the involvement of Local Leadership Councils (with support from NCJW’s national Development team).
• Support Local Leadership Councils in identifying and engaging prospects.
• Coordinate with the national Development team in facilitating outreach to, and solicitations of, local prospects.

• Minimum of 7 years of political campaign and/or issue and grassroots/field organizing experience.
• Knowledge of, and experience in, the political environment in the Great Lakes region (Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and Wisconsin) is highly desirable.
• Strong and effective communications and interpersonal skills; comfortable with public speaking.
• A broad network of contacts in the region, and the ability to deepen and grow this network.
• Track record of successful fundraising, particularly in cultivating and stewarding donors at the local, state, and regional levels.
• Experience planning meetings and events.
• Demonst…