Director of Public Affairs

Director of Public Affairs
Reports to: Chief Executive Officer (CEO)

Job Summary
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 and Salary
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.

Key Responsibilities
Public Affairs & Advocacy

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.

Community Engagement & Outreach

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.

Communications & Messaging Alignment

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.

Donor Stewardship (30% of time)

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.

Qualifications

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.

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