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Reports to: Chief Executive Officer (CEO)

The Director of Public Affairs leads the Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee’s (JFSM) efforts to strengthen its voice, influence, and partnerships across the broader community and the donor base. This position focuses on advocacy, coalition building, and public positioning, ensuring the Federation is a respected and effective leader on issues impacting the Jewish community and the broader region. The role is simultaneously a strategist, a communicator, a crisis manager, a relationship broker, and a steward of donors. Their fundamental job is to ensure that JFSM’s work is understood – by the public, by the press, by elected officials, and by the communities it serves – while being fully supported by donors.

Location: 580 McIntosh Rd., Sarasota, FL 34232

Salary range: $90,000 – $110,000, final salary commensurate with experience. Benefits include health, wellness, and retirement plans (4% match for each employee, up to 3% employer 401k match, possible additional employer contribution up to 7%) and a relocation bonus may be provided.

• Collaborate with the CEO on JFSM’s public affairs strategy and lead its implementation, focusing on combating antisemitism, supporting Israel, and advancing key community priorities.
• Serve as lead on government relations and coordinate with external counsel to engage local, state, and national elected officials, civic leaders, and policy influencers.
• Monitor emerging issues and recommend proactive and responsive advocacy actions.
• Build and sustain coalitions and relationships with interfaith partners, nonprofit organizations, and civic institutions.
• Lead coalition efforts around shared priorities such as security, education, and civil discourse.
• Strengthen engagement with non‑Jewish audiences, including business, education, and government sectors.
• Manage crisis communications, ensuring timely, credible, and legally defensible responses to incidents such as data breaches or public safety issues.
• Collaborate and coordinate with internal teams across operations, communications, and development to align messaging and policy objectives.
• Maintain strict confidentiality and professional boundaries for all JFSM matters.

• Partner with C‑Suite colleagues on designing high‑impact outreach initiatives and implement those that expand the Federation’s reach and relevance.
• Prioritize engagement activities with existing and potential stakeholders.
• Align outreach with programming, communications, and donor engagement efforts.
• Support community‑facing initiatives tied to education, public events, and thought leadership.

• Collaborate with marketing and leadership to ensure consistent messaging and positioning across all public‑facing efforts.
• Contribute to speechwriting, briefing materials, and key messaging for external audiences.
• Serve as a visible ambassador for the Federation in select public settings.

• Accountable for managing relationships with a portfolio of top donors to increase their commitment and investment in JFSM’s projects.
• Leverage every opportunity to interact with all donors and solidify their connection to the mission, resulting in ongoing financial support and sustainability.
• Identify potential funders and partners to support advocacy initiatives through grants and other financial commitments.

• Passion for our mission: a genuine interest in and connection with the organization’s values and community impact.
• Strong relationship management skills.
• Bachelor’s degree in nonprofit management, business, communications, journalism, political science, or a related field required; advanced degrees a plus.
• 5–7+ years of experience in public affairs, government relations, community relations, or advocacy, preferably in a non‑profit organization.
• Some knowledge of donor stewardship and willingness to train and mentor the successful candidate.
• Strong writing, editing, and strategic messaging skills, with the ability to craft messages for diverse audiences under pressure.
• Deep understanding and professional experience maintaining strict confidentiality.
• Demonstrated success in building coalitions and partnerships.
• Strong understanding of antisemitism, Israel, and Jewish communal priorities.
• Excellent communication and strategic thinking skills.
• Ability to reprioritize among fast‑breaking issues and allocate time precisely according to relative risks and opportunities.
• Professional discipline in messaging and advocacy, prioritizing JFSM’s needs as evidenced by experience.
• Demonstrated organizational and leadership skills.
• Proficiency in CRM platforms (e.g., Salesforce, Blackbaud) and Microsoft Office Suite.
• Knowledge of legislative processes, regulatory environments, and public policy trends.
• Experience in crisis management, stakeholder engagement, and media relations.