The Union for Reform Judaism (URJ) is seeking a New York-based World Zionist Congress (WZC) Regional Campaign Director to work with its campaign leadership to run its largest-ever mobilization and Get Out the Vote effort by managing and supporting the greater New York region’s congregations in this exciting campaign to support our Reform Jewish values in Israel.
URJ WZC Campaign
The WZC is an elected legislative body that serves as a platform for Diaspora Jews to have a voice in Israel. Today, the WZC meets every five years to enact policies and make decisions that impact a billion dollars in spending.
During the WZC elections, which will be held from March 10- May 4, 2025, North American Reform Jews can cast a vote that will influence policy and $1 billion in budget decisions in Israel and advocate for democracy, pluralism, security, and humanitarian causes.
The URJ is running an unprecedented campaign for the 2025 WZC Election. The North American Reform Movement is building a passionate team of leaders in congregations and communities across the country. We are supporting this people-driven movement with a talented team of campaign and organizing professionals and the tactics, tools, technology, and know-how of cutting-edge campaigns.
The national campaign team and our regional leaders will support the congregational and community campaign captains to help them run a local campaign of education and engaging, community-building activities. Ultimately, we will run our biggest-ever GOTV effort in the 2025 WZC election, engaging tens of thousands of our people and building consensus that we want to write the next chapter of Jewish history together.
What’s at Stake?
Since October 7, we see that what happens in Israel impacts all Jews. We are facing rising levels of shocking, overt anti-Semitism in America. In 2024, there is no opting out – what happens in Israel affects us all.
Our opponents in the WZC election – ultra-orthodox religious fundamentalists – have a vision for the future of Israel that is diametrically opposed to ours. They are highly motivated and organizing against us to destroy what we value. If they win, they will chip away at Israel’s democracy; roll back gains for LGBTQ+ rights, gender equity, and religious pluralism; strip our Israeli Reform clergy and communities of their rights, funding, and infrastructure; make sure that our converts and children are not welcome in the Jewish state; and block any hope of Palestinian self-determination and safety. They want to write the next chapter of Jewish history and write us out of it.
The Israeli Reform Movement, our partners in Israel, are fighting every day to support and sustain a community at war and in trauma, while standing strong for Israeli democracy, pluralism, security, and a road to self-determination for Palestinians. Our campaign will help support these essential goals.
Regional Director Role
Regional directors are key to the management structure of the WZC 2025 campaign. These leaders will be the campaign’s hands-on connectors to our captains at our top congregations, helping to support their work and bring their feedback back to the campaign leaders.
The New York regional director will help the volunteer captains at the largest congregations in the region keep on track to build their teams, engage with voters, and meet their vote goals. The regional director will also help support the captains at other congregations in their region.
As a regional director, you will be accountable for mobilizing volunteers and delivering votes from New York. Reporting to the campaign manager, you will be the key resource and manager of the volunteer congregational captains in the region. You will also manage two volunteer area coordinators and campaign fellows in the region.
This role is a full-time campaign position which begins in December 2024 and ends in May 2025, after the close of the WZC voting period.
Job Responsibilities
The regional director will:
- Work closely with campaign leadership to engage congregational captains, share information, provide training, and support the campaign
- Manage and motivate volunteer captains in all target congregations through regular communication and relationship building to reach campaigns goals, including captain recruitment (as needed), follow up, and support
- Manage volunteer area coordinators and campaign fellows assigned to the region
- Support the captains in their planning and execution of in-person and online events
- Reach out to other congregations in their region and provide support to their captains
- Share feedback, best practices, and successful tactics from the region to campaign leadership and other regional directors
- Manage and track congregational captain’s execution of Empower App tasks and calls to action
- Work with campaign leadership to refine ongoing trainings for staff and volunteers
- Provide campaign leadership with recommendations and insights to refine program tactics and adjust methods as needed
- Share weekly reports on progress to goal
During GOTV, the regional director will:
- Work with congregational captains to activate the GOTV plan to reach their vote goals
- Coordinate ballot tracking, reporting, and data entry
- Coordinate regional text and phone banks
- Assist in planning and supporting in-person GOTV events
- Share feedback to campaign leadership from regions
Key Attributes and Qualifications
- 2+ years of campaign experience, including multiple cycles of leading voter-targeted field operations, or organizing campaigns for advocacy organizations
- Demonstrated leadership qualities and experience managing staff
- Previous experience working with volunteers is a plus
- Ability to build and maintain relationships with staff, stakeholders, and volunteers with beliefs across the political spectrum
- Knowledge of and ideally relationships with the Jewish community in New York (Congregations, Federation, JCCs etc.)
- Demonstrated passion for Israel, Zionism, and knowledge of the Reform Movement in the US and Israel and deep love of the Jewish community
- Excellent communication skills, both oral and written
- Experience creating training materials or training volunteers
- Highly organized, strategic thinker, focused planner and self-starter who works well independently, manages their own time, and takes initiative
- Excellent political judgement and discretion.
- Ability to manage multiple tasks in a fast-paced environment
- Spirit of service and a sense of humor preferred
- Strategic mindset with flexibility to quickly adjust tactics
- Metrics-driven approach to planning, evaluating, and reporting on work
- Access to reliable transportation and willingness to travel as needed throughout the state
- Must be proficient with computer technology and databases, Salesforce experience is a plus. Proficiency in MS Office (Word, Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint) and Google Suite.
Salary
The pay range for this position is $7,000 to $9,000 per month based on qualifications, experience, and location. The benefits package includes a health insurance stipend and cell phone stipend.
To apply for this position, submit a cover letter that tells us why you are applying for this role along with your resume online at https://grossmansolutions.applytojob.com/apply. The cover letter should be concise and compelling and outline the specific ways in which you would be a good fit for this position.
ABOUT US
Every team member at the Union for Reform Judaism (URJ) plays an essential role in our mission to create a whole, just, and compassionate world. Our team is creative, thoughtful, and innovative. Each member of the team is empowered to make meaningful contributions to achieving our shared goals. Our diverse team is made up of individuals with different skills and backgrounds and every team member is willing to take risks as well as take action to develop and create big ideas for the future of the Reform Movement. While this position focuses on a particular area of work, every team member is a vital part of our overall success.
The Union for Reform Judaism (URJ) provides vision and voice to build strong communities that, together, transform the way people connect to Judaism and change the world. We acknowledge that due to racism, ableism, homophobia, and other forms of oppression, that our communities are not whole until everyone experiences a sense of belonging within the Jewish community. As the largest Jewish movement in North America, we stand for a Judaism that is inclusive and reflective of a wide range of identities and accept the responsibility of dismantling oppression both inside and outside of our communities. Through camping, youth experiences, programs, information sharing, and networking opportunities, our over 850 congregations and 15 residential camps create opportunities for our communities to enhance their capacity to build and expand community, engage in meaningful and authentic Jewish life, deepen Jewish learning, energize worship, pursue social justice and develop inspired leadership. Together, our employees and stakeholders, are creating Reform Judaism of today.
The URJ strives to be a welcoming and inclusive environment that acknowledges diversity as a critical strength. We promote strenuous policies and practices of equal opportunity and diversity, equity, and inclusion. It is our objective to recruit, hire, and retain the most qualified individuals including those of any race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation or identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic or status protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. Our equal employment philosophy applies to all aspects of employment, including recruitment, compensation, benefits, training, promotions, transfers, job benefits, and terminations. The URJ encourages applications from women, people of color, persons with disabilities, individuals who identify as LGBTQIA+, and other often underrepresented groups.