Program Officer; Local Jewish Community

The Program Officer - Local Jewish Community, plays a key role in advancing the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphias mission by supporting and managing grantmaking programs that strengthen Jewish education, engagement, and social services across Greater Philadelphia. Reporting to the Director of Strategy & Impact, this position helps identify, implement, and evaluate funded initiatives that respond to community needs and align with the Federations strategic priorities.

The Program Officer works collaboratively within the Strategy & Impact department and across the organization to build strong relationships with partner agencies, support impact measurement, and ensure the effective stewardship of philanthropic investments in the local Jewish community.

Grantmaking & Portfolio Support:

Manage day-to-day aspects of assigned grant portfolios serving the local Jewish community, including tracking grant activity, maintaining accurate records, and coordinating with the Project Manager to ensure grant processes are current, timely, and compliant throughout the grant lifecycle.

Community Knowledge & Internal Collaboration:

Serve as a liaison between Strategy & Impact and other Federation departments by sharing insights about partner organizations, community trends, and funded initiatives to promote organization-wide understanding of local investments.

Stakeholder Engagement & Research:

Support strategic decision-making by researching and compiling information about community organizations, relationships, and initiatives. Conduct literature reviews and gather field intelligencethrough conversations with peer foundations and Federationsto identify best practices in grantmaking and scholarship administration.

Site Visits & Relationship Building:

Coordinate and participate in site visits and meetings with partner organizations across the five-county Greater Philadelphia area. Prepare briefing materials, document outcomes, and track follow-up actions to strengthen relationships and inform grant oversight.

Reporting, Evaluation & Data Management:

Review qualitative and quantitative data from funded organizations and prepare clear summaries and reports for internal and external audiences. Regularly brief the Local Director of Strategy & Impact on portfolio developments and ensure accurate tracking of grant information in the database.

Continuous Improvement:

Stay informed about emerging best practices in philanthropy, program evaluation, and community engagement, and contribute ideas to improve grant processes, data collection, and impact reporting.

• Education: Bachelor's degree, or equivalent & relevant experience required; advanced coursework or a Master's degree in a related field preferred, but not required.
• Experience: 35 years of progressively responsible experience in philanthropy, grantmaking, nonprofit program management, or a related field.
• Skills: Strong analytical, organizational, and writing skills, with the ability to translate complex information into clear, actionable insights.
• Judgment & Independence: Demonstrated ability to manage projects and priorities with limited supervision and sound professional judgment.
• Interpersonal Skills: Proven ability to build productive relationships with diverse stakeholders and navigate complex organizational environments.
• Technical Skills: Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite required and experience with grant management systems, preferred.
• Knowledge: Familiarity with Jewish communal organizations, values, and the nonprofit ecosystem strongly preferred. Knowledge of Jewish customs and traditions required.

Work Conditions & Environment

• This position requires working in the Philadelphia office two days per week and collaborating with colleagues located in Philadelphia and Israel.
• The role involves local travel for site visits and meetings across the five-county Greater Philadelphia area, as well as occasional domestic travel for conferences. Flexibility to attend some night and/or weekend events and programming required.

Overview

Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia offers a competitive compensation and benefits package, including a hybrid work schedule, medical, dental, vision, prescription drug program, life insurance, generous paid time off and 403b retirement savings program.

Our Mission

The Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia mobilizes financial and volunteer resources to address the communities most critical priorities locally, in Israel and around the world.

Commitment to Diversity

We deeply value the diversity of insight, perspective, and experience brought by people from backgrounds typically underrepresented in Jewish institutions. This includes Black, Latinx, and Asian people, Black Jews, Jews of Color, lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, and gender non-conforming people, and people with disabilities. We also welcome applications from people of diverse religious, spiritual, and cultural backgrounds.

About the Organization:

Since 1901, the Jewish…