Position Announcement

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Jewish Labor Committee

The Jewish Labor Committee is seeking an individual to fill the position of Executive Director of a national agency that is the liaison between the labor movement and the organized Jewish community.

The Jewish Labor Committee

The Jewish Labor Committee mobilizes support from the Jewish community for issues of concern to the trade union movement and mobilizes support from the labor movement for issues of concern to the Jewish community. The JLC works to assist labor federations, unions and their locals in diverse campaigns and to maintain the support of the Jewish community for the broad social goals of the labor movement. At the same time, the JLC works to mobilize support from the American labor movement for a secure Israel, Holocaust education, combating anti-Semitism and other issues of Jewish concern.

Labor unions remain powerful institutions in American life.  In many progressive movements, unions and union activists play leading roles.  As labor unions in Europe and progressive organizations in the United States become more outspokenly critical of Israeli policies and actions, the role of the JLC is increasingly important.  By keeping labor unions informed about Israel, and by organizing American Jews to stand with workers and their unions, the JLC can call on union leaders for their support when Israel is under threat of boycotts or other actions.  The Jewish community and unions are both significantly invested in domestic social change work.  Strengthening the relationship between these two important partners is vital to the health of the progressive movement and its continued support for Israel.

Example of JLC Programs:

• Trade union study tours to Israel
• Working to support the peace process and Israel’s security
• Holocaust teacher training programs
• Combating anti-Semitism and other forms of bigotry
• Promoting Jewish heritage events in public schools through teacher unions
• Supporting unions during strikes and organizing drives
• Developing Religion and Labor programs in support of unions
• Promoting pro-union legislation in the organized Jewish community and general public
• Working with other labor support groups (African-American, Latino, etc) on behalf of workers’ issues
• Promoting the use of union label products and services

Structure: The Jewish Labor Committee is headquartered in New York and has full or part time regional offices in Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, Philadelphia and New York.

The Executive Director Position

The Executive Director provides leadership and vision for the building of the organization, raises needed funds, and administers the overall growth, work and development of the organization. The Executive Director is responsible for:

Membership and Board Development

• Recruit as members and leaders key activists in the labor and Jewish communities;
• Diversify the JLC’s base in both communities. Maintain existing relationships and build new relationships with national union and Jewish community leaders;
• Recruit additional board members and increase overall board capacity;
• Build and support JLC chapters across the United States;
• Maintain/raise the visibility of the JLC in the labor and Jewish communities.

Fundraising and Financial Management

• Maintain and most importantly, develop new sources of funding for the organization in/beyond the Jewish community and the labor movement;
• Provide oversight of an annual dinner and journal as well as annual outreach campaigns to Jewish federations, unions, members and other supporters;
• Provide budgeting and financial oversight for all operations and assist local offices to establish local fundraising events and projects.

Policies and Program Leadership 

• Develop and administer key policies and programs;
• Encourage the development of new policies and programs that meet the organization’s goals;
• Organize events and actions.

Staff Administration

• Train and supervise staff, interns and volunteers;
• Assure adherence to personnel policy and the staff union contract.

Public Representation and Leadership.   

• Represent the organization in speeches, workshops and meetings;
• Represent the organization to the media.

Key Qualifications

• Organizing/organization building experience;
• Fundraising and financial management ability;
• Knowledge of labor movement and/or Jewish community;
• Leadership skills and ability to manage people and projects;
• Strong oral and written communication skills;
• Ability to develop coalitions with like minded groups;
• Broad vision and attentive to detail.

Salary and Benefits

• Salary commensurate with experience;
• Excellent benefit package including health care, pension, generous vacation and holidays;
• Starting date:  January 2010

To Apply

Email a résumé to jlcras@aol.com                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

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WHEN APPLYING: Be sure to indicate that you saw this information online at UNIONJOBS.COM. Do not just say the Internet.