Community Planning and Project Management Associate

Are you looking for a mission-driven non-profit where your skills can help people in need around the world? At the Jewish United Fund (JUF), we take pride in our mission and in having a work culture that fosters a sense of belonging and feels rewarding, supportive, and inclusive. We have a hybrid schedule and offer generous benefits including a 401(k) match, up to 22 days of paid time off (starting with 15), up to 11 sick days (starting with 7), and up to 21 paid holidays. The salary range for this role is $55,000-$58,000.

Department Overview:

The Jewish United Fund (JUF)’s Planning & Allocations Department stewards communal resources to respond to the most critical needs facing our community, maximizing the impact of every dollar raised. The department’s core objectives include:

• Drive community planning: assess communal needs, set strategic funding priorities, and identify new initiatives
• Invest/allocate dollars in Chicago, Israel, nationally, and around the world
• Engage volunteer leaders in data analysis, decision-making, advocacy and ambassadorship

What you’ll be responsible for:

You will be part of a team focused on community planning, volunteer engagement, resource allocation, and convening Jewish communal leaders to strengthen and enhance the Chicagoland Jewish community.

This position will primarily support JUF’s Community Building & Jewish Continuity Commission (CBJC) portfolio of engagement organizations and programs including camps, youth/teen engagement organizations, family and adult engagement programs, inclusion, belonging and experiential engagement initiatives. CBJC advances Jewish education, engagement, and community connection through planning and grantmaking across a broad portfolio of organizations and initiatives.

This position will also contribute to the work of other Planning & Allocation Commissions, the Overall Planning and Allocations Committee (OPAC), and department-wide priorities as needed. Collectively, JUF’s Planning & Allocations department allocates $70+ million in community resources each year.

This work includes but is not limited to conducting agency due diligence, supporting community planning projects, maintaining project timelines and tracking deliverables, conducting research to assist with planning efforts, engaging with diverse stakeholders, working on data visualization strategies to communicate compelling impact stories, creating meeting materials including slide decks, providing meeting support, and collaborating with other internal departments and external organizations.

This position is ideal for someone who is organized, efficient, and detail-oriented; takes initiative; and wants to use their nonprofit experience to strengthen Jewish engagement, and community life.

What you’ll be doing:

This position will provide support across the Jewish engagement investment portfolio, advancing community planning, volunteer engagement, grantmaking, and strategic initiatives of the Community Building & Jewish Continuity (CBJC) Commission.

• Provide high-level support for the CBJC Commission’s planning and allocations process, including developing meeting agendas, materials, grant summaries, and presentation decks; reviewing program and budget submissions and grant reports; and supporting the onboarding and engagement of volunteers.
• Support the development of written and oral presentations informed by data analysis and community insights.
• Cultivate and maintain strong, collaborative relationships with volunteers, community partners, and grantees.
• Manage work plans and timelines for assigned community planning initiatives by tracking milestones, deliverables, decisions, and action items; and coordinating follow-up.
• With guidance from the management team, support the collection, analysis, visualization, and interpretation of data related to Jewish engagement needs and impact; develop impact reports for volunteers; and assist with evaluation and measurement efforts.
• Conduct research to inform and advance Commission community planning priorities.
• Support special community planning initiatives, organizational research, volunteer and professional education efforts, and convenings related to youth and teen engagement, adult engagement, camp, inclusion of diverse demographics and geographics in Jewish life, and emerging community needs.
• Serve as a primary point of contact for day-to-day inquiries from CBJC organizational partners.
• Actively participate in local and national conversations and professional networks, maintaining awareness of trends and best practices across the Jewish engagement landscape.
• Identify and promote opportunities for cross-agency collaboration.
• Support the development, collection, and review of annual reports and corresponding allocation materials for organizations under the Commission’s purview.
• Represent the Planning & Allocations Department in interactions with other JUF departments and partner organizations and participate in community planning discussions.
• Assist with the development of PowerPoint presentations and meeting materials for JUF’s Overall Planning and Allocations Committee (OPAC), ensuring a high degree of quality, accuracy, and timeliness.

What you need to succeed:

• Bachelor’s degree and 2+ years of office experience
• Knowledge and experience in a non-profit setting or the human service field
• Highly collaborative team player who enjoys engaging with colleagues
• Experience in detailed project management
• Strong oral and written communications and research skills, including ability to listen and synthesize multiple inputs with sensitivity, diplomacy and professionalism
• Requires discretion and independent judgement in performing all aspects of the position (meeting facilitation, budget review)
• Ability to use technology, including approved AI and emerging digital tools, to improve efficiency and quality of work
• Ability to take initiative and work collaboratively with volunteer leadership and professionals
• Organized and detail oriented, with demonstrated ability to juggle multiple priorities and meet deadlines
• Proficient in all Microsoft Office Suite of Products, and competency/comfort learning new platforms

What you’ll love about us:

At JUF, you can be part of one of the largest non-profit social welfare institutions in Illinois. We provide food, refuge, healthcare, education, emergency assistance, and essential services to 500,000 Chicagoans of all faiths and millions of Jews around the world. We offer medical, dental, and vision insurance, 401(k) with base contribution and match, additional health and wellness benefits, financial benefits, professional training, tuition reimbursement, paid family leave, and much more.

Our Hybrid Schedule:

We have a hybrid work policy to allow staff the flexibility to work from home / remotely on Mondays and Fridays. Tuesdays-Thursdays, the standard work location is 30 South Wells Street in Chicago, and staff are expected to work in person. We have a 36.5 hour work week, not a 40 hour work week. Our work hours are 8:30am-5pm Monday-Thursday and 8:30am-4pm Friday with a daily 1 hour lunch break.

Salary Range: $55,000-$58,000

Status: Union Eligible