Director of Convening

Position Summary

JFGW seeks a strategic and relational leader to serve as its first Director of Convening. This newly created role will be central to strengthening community connections, fostering collaboration, and guiding collective action across the local Jewish communal ecosystem. The Director will lead the design and implementation of engaging, purpose-driven convenings that bring together diverse voices and build capacity for shared leadership.

This is an exciting opportunity for a creative facilitator and systems thinker who enjoys working across lines of difference, values listening and inclusion, and thrives in both independent and collaborative environments. The Director will shape a new organizational strategy for convening, contributing to community impact and learning at scale.

Key Responsibilities

Design and Lead a Flagship Community Convening

• Lead the design and facilitation of a large-scale convening of 80–90 diverse community leaders (volunteer and professional) who will gather 3–4 times per year.
• Shape the goals and structure of the convening to surface communal priorities, generate strategic insights, and strengthen relationships across sectors.
• Partner with internal and external stakeholders to curate inclusive agendas, recruit participants, and evaluate outcomes.
• Support the design and implantation of working groups that will meet between plenary sessions.

Cultivate and Facilitate Communities of Practice

• Develop and coordinate Communities of Practice (CoPs) across key segments of the community, such as agency executives, early childhood directors, and senior rabbis, etc.
• Work closely with leaders to determine the purpose and design of each CoP, iterating with intentionality based on changing circumstances, and supporting participants to gradually take ownership of agendas and goals.
• Foster shared learning, relationship building, and strategic alignment within and across groups.

Support Leadership Programming

• Assist in the development and refinement of curriculum and session design for existing leadership cohorts and programs for lay, professional, rabbinic, and thought leaders.
• Collaborate with colleagues to envision and develop new leadership offerings that respond to emerging needs and opportunities within the community.
• Help ensure sessions are well-facilitated, strategically aligned, and reflective of diverse perspectives and leadership contexts.

Strengthen Internal Convening Strategy and Practice

• Collaborate with colleagues to consult on convening design, methodology, and facilitation tailored to a range of purposes (e.g., learning, relationship-building, strategy development, best practice sharing).
• Help clarify the strategic intent of different convenings and recommend formats, structures, or techniques to enhance impact.
• Contribute to the development of an overarching convening strategy for the organization that reflects its values, priorities, and adaptive learning culture.

Shape Continuous Learning through Measurement and Evaluation

• Develop and implement evaluation tools to assess the effectiveness of convenings, communities of practice, and leadership programs.
• Establish clear success metrics aligned with organizational goals to measure impact, participant learning, and community outcomes.
• Synthesize and share insights from evaluation efforts with stakeholders to inform organizational decision-making and learning.

Qualifications and Experience

• 7–10 years of experience in community building, facilitation, organizational or leadership development, or a related field.
• Demonstrated success designing and facilitating convenings with diverse stakeholders.
• Strong understanding of group dynamics, facilitation methodologies, and collaborative engagement practices.
• Ability to build trust and relationships across diverse backgrounds and sectors.
• Self-starter with strong organizational skills and the ability to navigate complexity and ambiguity.
• Excellent interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills.
• Experience developing new initiatives, leading cross-functional efforts, and team organizational collaboration.
• Familiarity with the Jewish community and/or the DMV region is a plus.

Organizational Culture and Values

The Director of Convening will join a team committed to leading with purpose, listening and responding with care, and fostering a culture of learning and collaboration. We value inclusion, transparency, and trust — and seek a colleague who brings curiosity, humility, and a deep respect for diverse perspectives.

A People-Friendly Workplace The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington is a dynamic and collaborative workplace offering a people-friendly environment, including:

• Excellent health care and retirement benefits
• Generous Vacation and Sick leave
• 6 weeks paid Parental Leave after 1 year
• Commuter bonus
• Hybrid work schedule
• Opportunities for continued professional development
• Access to the JPRO Network, which connects, educates, inspires, and empowers professionals working in the Jewish nonprofit sector