Director of Public Affairs and Community Relations

Jewish Federation of Greater New Haven

Department: Public Affairs

Reports To: Chief Executive Officer

About the Organization

The Jewish Federation of Greater New Haven brings people together to strengthen Jewish life, support Israel, care for those in need, and build a vibrant, secure, and connected community. Through philanthropy, leadership, and partnerships, the Federation serves as the central address for Jewish communal life and a trusted partner within the broader civic landscape.

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.

If you are interested in the role. please send a resume and cover letter to Sandy Horvath at [email protected]. 

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.

Key Responsibilities

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 tracking progress.
• Maintain strong organization, follow-through, and accountability across all areas of work.
• Ensure that work is aligned with Federation strategy and executed in a thoughtful and disciplined manner.
• Manage the department budget and monitor expenses in alignment with organizational priorities.
• Assist with fundraising efforts related to public affairs initiatives, in partnership with development staff, as appropriate.

Organizational Collaboration

• Work collaboratively with colleagues across the Federation and JCC to integrate public affairs into broader organizational efforts.
• Contribute to a team-oriented culture grounded in professionalism, respect, and shared mission.
• Potentially supervise staff or consultants supporting public affairs work.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree preferred.
• Significant experience in public affairs, communications, community relations, government relations, or a related field.
• Demonstrated experience addressing or responding to antisemitism or related community issues strongly preferred.
• Excellent writing and communication skills, with the ability to craft clear, thoughtful, and effective messaging.  Prior press or communication experience preferred.
• Strong political awareness and the ability to navigate complex and sensitive environments with sound judgment.
• Demonstrated ability to build and sustain productive working relationships across organizations and teams.
• Strong organizational and project management skills, with the ability to prioritize and manage multiple responsibilities effectively.
• Ability to work collaboratively with colleagues, volunteers, and stakeholders holding diverse viewpoints.
• Strong computer and technology skills, including comfort with digital communication tools and platforms.
• Demonstrated ability to operate both independently and in close partnership with senior leadership.

Personal Qualities

The ideal candidate will demonstrate:

• Integrity and a deep commitment to the Federation’s mission
• Emotional maturity, professionalism, and sound judgment
• The ability to remain calm, thoughtful, and constructive in complex or high-pressure situations
• Strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills
• A collaborative, team-oriented approach
• Respect for a broad range of perspectives and the ability to engage productively across differences
• A disciplined, organized, and solutions-oriented work style
• Ability to engage constructively with differing viewpoints without becoming reactive or dismissive
• Demonstrates strong judgment in representing an organization externally, including understanding when to lead and when to support senior leadership

This position requires a professional who values institutional mission, exercises sound judgment, and approaches complex community issues with discretion, professionalism, and respect for others.

Organizational Alignment

The Director serves as a representative of the Jewish Federation of Greater New Haven and is expected to advance the organization’s mission and priorities in close partnership with the CEO and volunteer leadership.

The CEO serves as the primary external representative of the Federation. The Director plays a key role in advancing the organization’s work by supporting external relationships, preparing for high-level engagement, and representing the Federation in appropriate settings.

This role requires strong judgment in understanding when to engage directly and when to support senior leadership. Success depends on the ability to operate within a coordinated leadership approach, ensuring that all external engagement reflects the Federation’s priorities, relationships, and institutional voice.

Commitment to the Role

The Federation seeks a professional interested in building meaningful and lasting relationships within the Greater New Haven community. This role is best suited for someone motivated by long-term impact, consistency, and sustained engagement.

Professional References

Final candidates will be asked to provide professional references who can speak to their leadership style, collaborative approach, and professional judgment.