Director of Public Affairs and Community Relations

Location and

Job Title:

Director of Public Affairs and Community Relations
JCC of Greater New Haven
360 Amity Rd
Woodbridge, CT 06525

About the Role

The Jewish Federation of Greater New Haven seeks a thoughtful, strategic professional to serve as its Director of Public Affairs and Community Relations. This role is centered on leading the Federation's efforts to address and respond to antisemitism, strengthen support for Israel, and build meaningful relationships across diverse communities. The Director will operate at the intersection of public affairs, communications, and community leadership, helping to shape both strategy and response in a complex and rapidly evolving environment.

This position requires a professional who combines strong communication skills, sound judgment, and emotional maturity with the ability to engage constructively with individuals holding a wide range of perspectives.

Position Summary

The Director of Public Affairs and Community Relations leads the Federation's work in combating antisemitism, advancing Israel engagement, and building strong civic and intergroup relationships.

Working closely with the CEO and a committee of lay leaders, the Director will develop and implement a strategic public affairs agenda that includes:

• Combating antisemitism
• Strengthening relationships with K-16 educational institutions
• Building partnerships with elected officials
• Engaging in interfaith and cross-community outreach
• Promoting understanding of and support for Israel

This role represents a strategic evolution beyond the traditional JCRC model, with a strong emphasis on clear communication, disciplined execution, collaboration, and systems that support effective and timely response.

This role operates in close partnership with the CEO and requires strong judgment in representing the Federation externally. The Director will support and help prepare senior leadership for high-level engagement, while also representing the organization in appropriate settings. Success in this role requires discretion, role clarity, and the ability to navigate external relationships in a way that reflects organizational priorities and leadership structure.

Salary Range:
Starting at $75,000

Antisemitism Response and Public Affairs

• Lead the Federation's efforts to monitor, assess, and respond to antisemitism locally and beyond.
• Develop coordinated strategies for addressing incidents in partnership with community leaders, institutions, and law enforcement where appropriate.
• Serve as a central point of coordination for community response, ensuring a measured, strategic, and professional approach.
• Track trends and proactively identify emerging issues impacting the Jewish community.

Communications and Messaging

• Serve as a lead writer and strategist for public-facing communications related to antisemitism, Israel, and community relations.
• Draft statements, talking points, briefings, op-eds, and correspondence.
• Work closely with internal communications staff to ensure messaging is clear, consistent, and aligned with Federation priorities.
• Support leadership in media engagement and help manage relationships with local media outlets.

Community Relations and Coalition Building

• Build and sustain relationships between the Jewish community and diverse communities, faith leaders, civic organizations, and institutional partners.
• Engage constructively with individuals and groups representing a broad range of perspectives.
• Facilitate respectful dialogue and help navigate sensitive or complex community issues.
• Strengthen community partnerships that advance mutual understanding and shared goals.

Government and Institutional Relations

• Cultivate community relationships with elected officials and public sector leaders.
• Partner with K-16 institutions to address antisemitism and support constructive engagement.
• Represent the Federation in civic and policy-related settings as appropriate.

JCRC Leadership and Partnership

• Serve as the professional lead and staff partner to the Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC), working in close collaboration with lay leadership.
• Ensure the JCRC operates as a thoughtful, inclusive, and effective forum for community perspectives on public affairs issues.
• Facilitate productive and respectful dialogue across a range of viewpoints, particularly on complex and sensitive issues.
• Guide the work of the JCRC and its focus areas, including combating antisemitism, Israel engagement, interfaith outreach, K-16 partnerships, and government relations.
• Translate community input into clear, strategic recommendations aligned with Federation priorities.
• Maintain appropriate balance between professional leadership and volunteer engagement, ensuring both strong direction and meaningful participation.

Strategy, Prioritization, and Execution

• Set clear priorities across multiple areas of responsibility and manage competing demands effectively.
• Develop systems and processes for monitoring issues, coordinating responses, and…