Vice President, Community Impact

Passion. Purpose. Impact. Combined Jewish Philanthropies (CJP) is at the heart of Greater Boston's Jewish community, and our reach is felt around the world. Ranked by Boston Business Journal as Massachusetts’ largest nonprofit organization, CJP is a philanthropic investor and mobilizer of people, resources, and skills that make a meaningful difference.

Position Overview

CJP is embarking on an ambitious journey toward a bold 10-year vision: to build a community where no one stands alone, where enduring bonds unite us, and where every generation discovers the joy of making Jewish life their own. Achieving this level of impact requires bold action, and CJP is raising its ambitions as we partner with hundreds of community organizations to radically expand connection and engagement in Jewish life across Greater Boston.

The Vice President, Community Impact is a key strategic architect of this transformation. Positioned at the intersection of strategy and execution, the VP oversees a major portfolio of priority community investment areas designed to anticipate emerging needs, fill critical gaps, and accelerate innovation to expand Jewish engagement and build identity, community, and connection. A nimble and adaptable leader, the VP turns CJP's vision into actionable multi-year strategies - equally comfortable setting strategy, navigating ambiguity, and driving execution to build an inclusive and enduring future for our region.

To achieve this, the VP designs and leads integrated investment approaches combining grantmaking, strategic partnerships, capacity building, and research to create measurable, systems-level impact. Leading a team of strategic investment professionals, the VP serves as a trusted advisor to senior leadership, a strategic partner to community organizations, and a collaborative leader across CJP.

Work Authorization

CJP is not able to offer visa sponsorship for this position. Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States without visa sponsorship.

What Success Looks Like

• The successful candidate moves seamlessly between big-picture strategy and day-to-day execution. They are equally comfortable helping define the future direction of a community investment area, making difficult investment decisions, facilitating complex conversations among diverse stakeholders, and ensuring bold ideas translate into measurable outcomes.
• They thrive in complexity and ambiguity, exercise sound judgment, build trust quickly, and lead through influence as much as formal authority. They bring both analytical rigor and deep curiosity about people, organizations, and communities.

Core Responsibilities

Vision & Organizational Leadership
• Serve as a key organizational leader shaping and implementing CJP’s 10-year vision, with a focus on inspired Jewish life and engaging and educating our next generation.
• Serve as a member of CJP's Strategy & Impact leadership team, partnering closely with colleagues within the department as well as cross-functionally with Marketing, Development, and Community Building.
• Collaborate with the Strategy & Impact Leadership Team to shape organizational priorities, identify emerging opportunities, and ensure alignment across CJP's broader investment portfolio.
• Prepare strategic recommendations, investment cases, and executive presentations for senior leadership, the Board of Directors, and major philanthropic partners.
• Manage, coach, and develop a high-performing team of strategic investment professionals, fostering a culture of strategic thinking, continuous learning, accountability, and collaboration.

Portfolio Strategy & Investment Leadership

• Lead the development of ambitious, multi-year strategies within assigned investment areas, translating CJP's organizational priorities into actionable investment plans with clear goals, milestones, and measures of success.
• Assess emerging community needs, demographic trends, and ecosystem opportunities to recommend where CJP should focus its investments for the greatest long-term impact.
• Develop integrated investment approaches that leverage grantmaking, partnerships, capacity building, convening, research, and other tools to strengthen community outcomes.
• Continuously evaluate portfolio performance, emerging opportunities, and changing community needs to recommend where CJP should deepen investments, adapt strategy, or conclude initiatives.
• Exercise strategic judgment in balancing competing priorities, making recommendations about resource allocation, and ensuring investments remain aligned with CJP's mission and long-term objectives.

Investment Execution & Community Impact
• Lead complex, multi-year investment initiatives from strategy through implementation, ensuring investments achieve measurable community outcomes.
• Partner closely with nonprofit organizations and community leaders to co-create solutions that strengthen institutional capacity and advance shared goals.
• Design and oversee investment approaches that encourage innovation, build organizational resilience, and accelerate systems-level change across the community.
• Ensure disciplined execution by establishing clear milestones, monitoring progress, addressing implementation challenges, and adapting strategies as new information emerges.

Community Leadership & Strategic Partnerships
• Build trusted relationships with nonprofit executives, communal leaders, philanthropists, educators, donors, and other key stakeholders across Greater Boston. The VP will be a critical external representative of CJP in the community, attending partner and community events, volunteer and donor meetings, and other external engagements.
• Convene diverse partners around shared opportunities and challenges, fostering collaboration across organizations and sectors.
• Represent CJP as a thoughtful, credible leader who brings strategic insight, sound judgment, and a collaborative approach to advancing community priorities.

Learning, Evaluation & Continuous Improvement
• Partner with the AVP of Research & Evaluation to establish meaningful measures of success across investment portfolios.
• Use data, community feedback, and ecosystem insights to inform strategic decisions, strengthen investments, and demonstrate long-term impact.
• Build a culture of learning that encourages experimentation, reflection, and continuous improvement across the portfolio.

Qualifications and Experience

• 10+ years of progressive leadership experience in strategy consulting, philanthropy, nonprofit strategy, corporate strategy, public sector innovation, social impact, or related fields.
• Minimum of 7 years’ experience in a senior level management position, including cross-functional teamwork, balancing multiple priorities, and 5+ years' proven supervisory responsibility of several direct reports.
• Demonstrated success leading complex, cross-functional strategies, investment portfolios, or organizational initiatives from concept through sustained execution.
• Exceptional strategic thinker with experience translating broad organizational priorities into actionable plans and measurable results.
• Experience balancing multiple priorities, exercising sound judgment under ambiguity, and making recommendations that influence organizational direction.
• Outstanding relationship builder with a track record of influencing senior leaders, boards, executives, or external partners without relying solely on formal authority.
• Strong analytical skills and experience using data, evaluation, and evidence to guide strategic decisions.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including experience preparing executive presentations, investment recommendations, and board materials.
• Experience managing and developing high-performing teams.

Preferred

• Experience in management consulting, philanthropy, foundation leadership, nonprofit strategy, systems change, or organizational transformation.
• Familiarity with grantmaking, strategic philanthropy, impact investing, or community development.
• Master's degree in public policy, business administration, nonprofit management, or a related field.

Leadership Competencies

• Strategic Leadership & Systems Thinking
• Investment Judgment & Resource Stewardship
• Executive Communication & Influence
• Portfolio Leadership & Execution
• Coalition Building & Stakeholder Engagement
• Analytical Rigor & Learning Agility
• People Leadership & Talent Development

Why This Role Matters

CJP is making bold investments in the future of Jewish life. This role sits at the center of that work. The VP will shape how significant philanthropic resources are invested across some of CJP's most important strategic priorities. By building ambitious investment strategies, strengthening community partnerships, and translating vision into measurable results, this leader will help define the next chapter of Jewish life in Greater Boston.

Working Conditions:

• Hybrid Work Schedule: CJP staff follow a hybrid work model. On-site work is required on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, while remote work is an option on Mondays, Thursdays, and Fridays with occasional in-person meetings on those days.
  
• Physical Requirements: This role involves remaining in a stationary position, often sitting or standing for prolonged periods, primarily working at a computer. Staff need to be able to carry a laptop and bag to and from the office.
  
• Inclusivity: We are committed to creating an inclusive environment for individuals of all abilities and backgrounds.