West Coast Engagement Officer

Reports To: Jointly to IPF Atid Director and Chief Growth and Strategy Officer

Position Type: Full-Time, Exempt

Location: Los Angeles, CA or San Francisco, CA (This role will be the only staff member based on the West Coast)

BACKGROUND

Israel Policy Forum’s mission is to build support for a secure, Jewish, democratic Israel through a viable resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. We do that by elevating the public discourse and advancing pragmatic U.S. policy toward the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, U.S.-Israel relations, and regional diplomacy among policymakers and community leaders.

POSITION SUMMARY

Israel Policy Forum has an exciting opportunity for a West Coast Engagement Officer, a new position created to expand Israel Policy Forum’s presence on the West Coast by supporting Israel Policy Forum’s rapidly growing young professionals program, IPF Atid, and laying the groundwork for expanded community presence and development activity.

Created in July 2017, IPF Atid engages thousands of leaders in their 20s and 30s. IPF Atid has chapters in Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, Washington, DC, and Toronto and also hosts programs in smaller communities across North America.

This role will serve as the primary point of contact for Israel Policy Forum in Los Angeles and the Bay Area, representing the organization in key community spaces and working in close collaboration with the IPF Atid, Development, Operations, and Communications teams.

This position is 70% focused on IPF Atid, working to support the growing work of the IPF Atid team by recruiting leaders, building partnerships, and managing events for the Los Angeles and Bay Area chapters.

The balance of time will be spent on development and partnership building, working closely with Israel Policy Forum Board members on the West Coast, IPF Atid Steering Committee members, and other leadership program participants.

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES

IPF Atid Management and Expansion (70%)

• Engage with local 20s and 30s community members; recruit and collaborate with the IPF Atid lay leaders to design a variety of programs, including dialogues, policy briefings, Shabbat dinners, social gatherings, and more.
• Oversee and ensure the seamless execution of IPF Atid programming, such as managing all logistics from event software and registration to detailed agendas, catering, vendor payments, invoices, and post-event follow-up.
• Work with IPF Atid staff to support Steering Committee members in fulfilling their roles and responsibilities; organize and staff Steering Committee meetings, including preparation of agendas and materials, and work with members to ensure effective follow up.
• Monitor and analyze key performance metrics to gauge the success and effectiveness of programs, adjusting strategies as needed to meet goals.
• Manage and oversee the budget for West Coast programming, ensuring financial targets are met.
• Travel regularly between Los Angeles and San Francisco with occasional evening or weekend work to accommodate event schedules and community needs.
• This role will also assist with event planning for other local Israel Policy Forum events, especially when they overlap with Atid programming.

Development and Partnership Building (30%)

• Identify, establish, and sustain strategic partnerships with key organizations to increase engagement and expand the Israel Policy Forum’s presence on the West Coast.
• Cultivate relationships with current and potential supporters.
• Meet on a regular basis with development staff and local donors and lay leaders to collaborate on and help execute development strategies and priorities in Los Angeles and the Bay Area.
• Plan and execute donor and cultivation events in Los Angeles and the Bay Area, in collaboration with local donors and lay leaders.

DESIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

• A minimum of five years of relevant experience in community engagement, events planning, development, and/or other related fields.
• Bachelor’s degree in a related field preferred or equivalent work experience.
• Excellent judgment and decision-making abilities, and ability to maintain a high level of calm and professionalism.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to edit, proofread, and ensure the accuracy of finished work products.
• Outstanding time management skills with an ability to be responsive to revisions and meet deadlines.
• Demonstrated ability to execute short-term, deadline-driven daily tasks, as well as to manage multiple long-term projects requiring input from and collaboration with others.
• Ability to take initiative, be resourceful, and exhibit a problem-solving mindset, and a desire to learn new skills.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment with a variety of cross-functional departments and build and maintain relationships.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, Google Suite, and project management software.
• Experience with a CRM database, particularly Salesforce, is preferred.
• Knowledge of Israel and the Middle East and current events, and familiarity with the institutional Jewish community and U.S.-Israel relations is a plus.
• Commitment to Israel Policy Forum’s mission and the vision of a secure, Jewish, democratic Israel.