Summary
The Jewish Federation of New Mexico seeks a passionate executive director (ED) with strong community building, fundraising, strategic thinking, and management skills to lead a vibrant statewide community of roughly 24,000 Jewish people. The ED will oversee all Federation operations, including governance, hiring and supervision of personnel, fundraising, programming, relationships with New Mexico’s various Jewish institutions, relationships with the broader community and its civic leadership, and management of our activities and partnerships in Israel.

 
The ED will be the recognized professional leader and spokesperson for the Federation and New Mexico’s Jewish community. S/he will cultivate Jewish community by working with Federation’s dedicated corps of volunteers to fill the lay leadership pipeline while fostering and maintaining strong collaborative partnerships with the state’s many Jewish institutions. These include four major congregations in Albuquerque, five in Santa Fe, the JCC of Greater Albuquerque, two Hadassah chapters, the New Mexico Jewish Historical Society, plus Jewish communal groups in Taos, Las Vegas, Roswell, and other rural and isolated Jewish communities, to name just a few. The ED will work with the Board and other key community stakeholders to create a supportive, energized environment where new ideas, programs, and services can incubate and grow, and the currently strong financial position of the organization—along with advances in financial resource development, both through annual campaign and planned giving initiatives—can be secured for the future. This position provides a unique opportunity for the ED to influence every aspect of Jewish community in New Mexico.

Background Information
Founded in 1948, the Jewish Federation of New Mexico is the state’s primary convener of Jewish life. Federation funds and administers programs and services designed to provide Jewish engagement from birth to old age, from generation to generation, throughout the state. Federation is “the heart of Jewish New Mexico,” providing financial assistance to roughly 40 nonprofit organizations and programs throughout New Mexico and in Israel, along with innovative programming and critical social services to vulnerable Jewish New Mexicans. Federation administers both Hillel at the University of New Mexico—serving the university’s population of approximately 300 Jewish students—as well as the Jewish Care Program, which provides social services for seniors, Holocaust survivor care, rent and utility assistance to low-income Jewish families, and various types of counseling.

Headquartered in beautiful Albuquerque, New Mexico, with an office of our Jewish Care Program also operating in Santa Fe, the Jewish Federation of New Mexico serves the entire state, which has Jewish residents living in 31 of its 32 counties. Albuquerque offers vibrant Jewish life, including Reform, Conservative, Orthodox, and Renewal congregations, several chavurah groups, and a state-of-the-art Jewish Community Center.

Albuquerque is a city of roughly 500,000 residents, rich in history, culture, and natural beauty. Boasting year-round sunshine, big skies, and mountain vistas, the region sits at more than 5,000 feet above sea level, making it a prime destination for skiers, snowboarders, and other outdoor enthusiasts.

Kirtland Air Force Base, Sandia National Laboratories, and Intel are significant contributors to the city’s multi-billion-dollar science and technology sector. Facebook and Netflix also both recently opened facilities in and around Albuquerque, ensuring a bright future for the area’s economy. Additionally, New Mexico is an entertainment industry hub, having served as the backdrop for some of the world’s most popular films and television series. Albuquerque has been ranked as one of Outside Magazine’s 10 best big cities for active families, and the community offers an unmatched quality of life.

Executive Director Success Factors
Builds Trusting Relationships
The ED builds trust and maintains relationships with a range of stakeholders, including the Board, beneficiary agencies, synagogues, donors, Jewish communal leaders, elected officials, business community influencers, staff, and other volunteers and professionals. The ED successfully positions Federation as an influential community entity and serves as the face of the organization. S/he will manage expectations and consistently deliver on commitments.

Strategic Planning and Vision
The ED leads the organization’s strategic planning and visioning process. S/he sets key strategic goals and, along with the Board, creates a “road map” to achieving both day-to-day and larger-scale deliverables. Areas of focus include fundraising, donor stewardship/donor relations, marketing/setting Federation’s narrative, Israel advocacy, and more. Federation’s strategic plan is reviewed and updated every three years, or as necessary to maintain relevance in an evolving Jewish and nonprofit sector landscape.

Fundraising Skills
The ED leads all fundraising efforts and, under the advisement of the Board and Finance Committee, directs the organization’s financial resource development activities, investing, and fund management. S/he is a successful fundraiser, and together with staff and volunteers, engages, excites, and stewards donors at all levels. The ED is responsible for growing the annual “Heart of Jewish New Mexico Campaign,” while helping create a tradition of planned giving to ensure the future of Federation and Jewish life throughout New Mexico. S/he should possess outstanding interpersonal skills and passion for the Federation mission.

Ability to Communicate Effectively
The ED must be a compassionate listener and diplomatic communicator. S/he has outstanding written and verbal communication skills, as well as the ability to navigate community challenges that arise within and between institutions and individuals. The ED must be able to exercise discretion, is able to consider all sides of an issue, and embraces compromise, while making decisions—both collaboratively and unilaterally—that are in the best interest of the Federation and the Jewish community.

Strong Manager and Team Builder
The ED must be able to assemble and manage a team of professionals with a variety of skill sets and abilities. S/he must be able to lead by example, inspiring staff to reach their potential by demonstrating a passion for the work and strong understanding of each staff member’s role in the organization and community. S/he must be able to delegate as needed and hold staff accountable for meeting goals and deliverables.

Passion for and Knowledge of the Jewish World and Israel
The ED must understand the issues affecting Jewish life locally, nationally, and globally. S/he must be able to effectively communicate the complexities of Israel and its geopolitics to the Jewish and non-Jewish communities.

Key Qualifications
The ideal candidate will be:

• A good communicator who listens well, manages time commitments, and projects an outgoing personality to represent Federation as its spokesperson and community leader.
• Passionate and knowledgeable about Jewish community and the Federation system, with a keen understanding of the Jewish people and the needs of Jews locally, in Israel, and around the world.
• Knowledgeable about the fiduciary responsibilities and financial operations of nonprofit organizations, and general legal and governance requirements.
• A strong leader and a team player who is able to successfully work with and mentor staff, help them set and achieve goals and objectives, and evaluate results.
• An effective and dynamic fundraiser, with a proven record of success.
• A collaborator with strong community relations skills who can develop and steward relationships with donors, prospects, other Jewish institutions, and the broader community.
• A strategic thinker and planner with the organizational expertise and vision to successfully develop and implement Federation’s long-term goals.
• A minimum of 5 years for-profit or nonprofit management experience, with a demonstrated track record of success.
• Bachelor’s degree minimum; master’s or equivalent preferred.

Compensation
A competitive compensation package is available for the successful candidate.

Contact
Interested individuals should submit a cover letter and resume to info@jewishnewmexico.org.