Director, PJ Library in New York

Description:

BACKGROUND

PJ Library®, an award-winning international Jewish family engagement program created by the Harold Grinspoon Foundation (HGF), strengthens Jewish identities and serves as an outreach and family engagement vehicle, using bedtime story books as its core. In partnership with hundreds of philanthropists and Jewish organizations, PJ Library delivers the gift of free, high-quality Jewish books each month to families raising Jewish children ages six months through eight years.

PJ Library in New York

In North America, the PJ Library program operates in most cities through one partner organization that runs the program at the local level and funds part of the cost of the program. New York is unique, in that many partner organizations have been implementing the program to families living in select neighborhoods. These organizations have brought PJ Library to nearly 20,000 families raising Jewish children. In order to scale the program further, PJ Library is creating a new model, with one central administrator, to be known as “PJ Library in New York.” This new administrator will be responsible for the administration of PJ Library across all of New York’s five boroughs, Long Island, and Westchester. Responsibilities will include funding the program, marketing, and working with multiple partners to provide engagement opportunities for young families across the region.

THE POSITION

The Harold Grinspoon Foundation, a results-driven, entrepreneurial non-profit organization headquartered in Agawam, Massachusetts, is seeking a Director to lead the PJ Library program in New York City, Long Island and Westchester, to be known as “PJ Library in New York.” The position will be based in New York City.

The Director will lead PJ Library in New York and will report to senior management of PJ Library at the HGF offices in Agawam, MA. The ideal candidate is able to build upon an already successful brand and program, with the goal of doubling the number of families participating in the program in the New York region over the next three years, while increasing the number and quality of Jewish family engagement programs available for PJ Library families across the region. This entrepreneurial role is unique because of the strong starting point the program has in New York, with nearly 20,000 families currently engaged in the program and many partner organizations already running engagement programs. The ideal candidate has the ability to expand the program, fundraise to sustain and grow it, manage a staff, manage a budget, and develop and grow engagement opportunities across the region.

Responsibilities:

• Strategic Oversight and Management (estimated 30% of time): This role will involve a myriad of high level and operational tasks. The ideal candidate will have experience running an organization or large program, growing its size and scope, overseeing operational issues, and managing excellent customer service for PJ Library families.
• Fundraising and Financial Management (estimated 30% of time): This position will have the core responsibility for raising funds, stewarding donors, managing the budget, and tracking expenses. In addition, the Director will be expected to work with the development staff (both in NY and at the HGF) to create a fundraising strategy and lead solicitations as the budget grows to $4 million annually in the first three years. Fundraising includes not only raising funds, but also stewarding donors through regular communication.
• Manage Partnerships and Other Relationships (estimated 20% of time):
  • Promote the mission of PJ Library and the importance of engaging Jewish families with young children.
  • Serve as the PJ Library in New York key spokesperson to community partners, organizations, religious institutions and at conferences, and other community/fundraising events.
  • Develop and nurture community relationships and network with community partners, organizations and religious institutions to market the program, and provide engagement activities for young families.

• Engagement (estimated 10% of time):
  • Consult with and work closely with the national staff of PJ Library on engagement strategies for PJ Library in New York.
  • Organize and provide professional development for partners that provide programming under the PJ Library name.
  • Direct, coordinate, and staff PJ Library in New York events and fairs.
  • Set and oversee appropriate programming goals and strategies for NY boroughs, Long Island, and Westchester.
  • Work and assist PJ Library program professionals in the field in their daily work and oversee appropriate strategies throughout the region.
• Marketing and Communications (estimated 10% of time): Develop and execute a communications strategy to attract new families to subscribe to the program, especially in underserved neighborhoods and among unaffiliated Jews. This will include event sponsorships, brand partnerships, and social media or advertising campaigns. In addition, lead the effort to communicate with subscribers for the purpose of connecting them with each other and local opportunities to get involved with the Jewish community.

Qualifications: