Chief Executive Officer – The Jewish Federation of Greater Ann Arbor

Chief Executive Officer – The Jewish Federation of Greater Ann Arbor 

About the Jewish Federation of Greater Ann Arbor 

The Jewish Federation of Greater Ann Arbor serves as a vital force and hub for a thriving Jewish community, raising $1.8 million in its last campaign and holding an endowment of more than $3 million. Ann Arbor anchors Jewish life in Washtenaw County, with an estimated 20,000 Jews in the surrounding area and seven congregations offering diverse religious and cultural experiences. The Ann Arbor JCC houses the Early Childhood Center, the Jewish Federation of Greater Ann Arbor, and the Hebrew Day School, and runs community-wide programs; Jewish Family Services, housed separately, supports various populations, primarily new immigrants. The Hebrew Day School offers a strong K-5 education serving a broad cross-section of the Jewish community, including Israelis in Ann Arbor for graduate study. 

Ann Arbor, one of the top ten cities to live in the U.S., according to U.S. News & World Report’s Quality of Life Index, and the hub of Washtenaw County, is a university town of about 150,000, including 50,000 University of Michigan students, roughly 6,000 of whom are Jewish and engaged through one of the country’s biggest Hillels. A highly active and philanthropic UM Jewish alumni network spans the U.S., and the Jewish community remains a vibrant, cohesive part of both campus and town life. 

The community’s vibrant cultural life includes performances by renowned groups such as the Royal Shakespeare Company and New York Philharmonic, local theater and symphony organizations, university arts departments, and museums dedicated to art, archaeology, science, and children’s education and discovery. Beyond the University of Michigan, Detroit is located 40 minutes away, and the DTW international airport is only 25 minutes from Ann Arbor. Washtenaw County is also home to Eastern Michigan University, Washtenaw Community College, the University of Michigan Health System, Trinity Health System, strong K–12 schools, and more than 140 parks, rivers, lakes, and recreational facilities. 

The CEO Opportunity 

The CEO leads the Jewish Federation of Greater Ann Arbor and the Community Foundation, providing overall leadership and guidance in fostering a thriving, inclusive Jewish community in Washtenaw County, the Diaspora, and Israel. 

Working with the Board, the CEO is the face of the Federation, responsible for governance, policy development, and implementation, as well as oversight of planning, development, implementation, coordination, and evaluation of all Federation initiatives and operations. 

The CEO leads the Federation's financial resource development efforts, overseeing fundraising strategy while cultivating strong relationships with current and prospective donors and community foundations. The CEO manages a high-performing professional staff, ensures effective and efficient operations, and serves as a compelling, confident communicator both internally and externally. 

As a collaborative and visible community leader, the CEO strengthens partnerships across Ann Arbor’s Jewish ecosystem, including organizations, schools, synagogues, volunteers, and other key stakeholders. Through strategic leadership, the CEO advances fundraising, expands programs, and creates meaningful opportunities that deepen engagement and ensure the long-term vibrancy and sustainability of Ann Arbor’s Jewish community. 

Key Responsibilities 

Organizational Leadership and Strategic Vision 

• Provide strategic leadership to the Board, staff, and broader community by developing and advancing a clear, forward-looking vision that strengthens the Federation’s role as a central convener and leader. 

• Recruit, lead, and evaluate a high-performing professional and lay team through strong supervision, coaching, and mentorship, fostering a collaborative, accountable, and high-performing culture capable of advancing the Federation’s mission and core programs. 

• Create a positive work environment that values employees through professional development and teamwork. 

• Ensure the Federation’s data platforms and technology systems are aligned and optimized to support organizational goals and evolving needs. 

Resource Development 

• Lead the organization’s fundraising strategy, strengthening donor engagement, and growing the annual campaign, corporate gifts and overall donor base. 

• Actively cultivate relationships with major donors and personally solicit leadership gifts for the annual campaign, designated initiatives, and endowment. 

• Implement a strategic total financial resource development model that integrates Annual Campaign, Jewish Community Foundation, capital and other special campaigns and fundraising initiatives. 

• Oversees the administration and operation of the Jewish Community Foundation, including multiple direct reports on that team. 

Community Relations 

• Advance the Federation’s role as convener and facilitator of strategic partnerships, programs, and community-wide initiatives, both within and beyond the Jewish community. 

• Partner with volunteer and professional leaders to build strategic relationships with community organizations, agencies, and external stakeholders, fostering an inclusive, connected community and respectful engagement around critical issues. 

• Serve as the Federation’s chief ambassador and spokesperson, representing the organization throughout the community’s religious, cultural, and civic life and engaging with partners, funders, and stakeholders across a broad range of constituencies. 

• Ensure the Federation’s story, messaging, and positions are clearly articulated to both the Jewish and broader community, supported by an integrated marketing, PR, and communications plan that builds understanding of and support for its work. 

• Cultivate relationships with local, county, state, and federal government authorities, alongside a full-time Community Relations professional, to secure funding and support for Jewish communal initiatives. 

• Provide decisive leadership during crises, ensuring sound decision-making, continuity of operations, and transparent communication with key stakeholders. 

Board and Lay Partnerships 

• Develop and execute short- and long-term strategies to engage, cultivate, train and sustain a strong pipeline of lay leadership. 

• Serve as a trusted advisor to the Board across areas including finance, policy, programs, and governance. 

• Partner with the Board and its committees to shape and advance the Federation's strategic vision and leadership priorities. 

Financial and Operational Management 

• Provide sound fiscal leadership and strong fiduciary oversight to ensure the organization’s financial health and sustainability. 

• Partner with finance and administration staff and volunteer leadership to ensure effective financial management and oversight of the Federation and Foundation, including development of the annual budget with alignment, transparency, and buy-in from lay leadership. 

• Provide oversight to ensure that organizations and initiatives receiving Federation allocations use funds appropriately and in alignment with their intended purposes. 

Community Planning 

• Foster an inclusive approach to community growth and development by strengthening the Federation’s role as a convener and steward, engaging Jewish organizations and their representatives as well as other community and governmental organizations and agencies. 

• Provide direction and support for a long-term community strategic planning process, including current work with the Older Adults and Capital Needs planning committees. 

• Maintain a commitment to building an inclusive community through sensitivity to the diversity of the constituency. 

Qualifications 

• Passion for advancing an ambitious vision for the Federation, with the energy, drive, and collaborative leadership approach necessary to bring it to life. 

• Commitment to core Jewish values, a strong connection to Israel and Zionism, and sensitivity to and respect for the diversity of Jewish identities, perspectives, and practices. 

• Strong knowledge of the organized Jewish community at the local, national, and international levels, including JFNA and global Jewish issues, with the ability to translate broader communal priorities into meaningful local engagement, programming, and fundraising.  

• Demonstrated ability to: 

• Inspire and lead an organization toward a shared vision, measurable impact, and sustainable growth. 

• Provide strategic and operational leadership, including organizational development, planning, financial stewardship, and effective administration. 

• Lead and manage a complex, mission-driven organization, ideally within the Jewish communal or nonprofit sector. 

• Cultivate major donors, secure significant philanthropic investments, lead successful annual campaigns, grow endowments, and advance diversified fundraising strategies. 

• Build and sustain trust, credibility, and productive relationships with a wide range of stakeholders, including lay leaders, donors, community partners, volunteers, and professional staff. 

• Significant progressively responsible leadership experience, including executive-level management responsibilities. 

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to inspire, influence, and engage diverse audiences. 

• Engaging, approachable, and relationship-oriented leadership style. 

• High personal integrity, sound judgment, and strong commitment to ethical leadership. 

Compensation Package 

Salary Range: $180,000-$200,000 (commensurate with experience) 
 
Benefits & Perks: The Jewish Federation of Greater Ann Arbor offers reimbursement up to $5,000/year for individual health insurance purchased by employees, retirement plans, short and long-term disability, life insurance and 401(k) employer match. 

The Jewish Federation of Greater Ann Arbor is an equal opportunity employer.