SECTOR:
Foundations / Philanthropy
FUNCTION:
Program Management
LOCATION:
CA – Greater San Francisco Bay Area
LA – New Orleans metropolitan area
NY – New York metropolitan area
ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION
Common Era is a funder and R&D platform powered by the Jim Joseph Foundation. At Common Era, we believe that the people and projects to inspire a new generation of Jews—the growing majority—are off the radar of mainstream institutions and funders. We work to identify inspiring people to collaborate with and design amazing projects, resource them, scale them, and, by doing so, cultivate stronger communities. To get there, we are growing a vibrant pipeline of projects and leaders that share our commitment. This effort to build and develop new projects and highlight out-of-the-box work looks beyond probable geographies, groups, and institutions. We seek amazing, inspiring people and work that serve unlikely young people in uncommon and impactful ways.
We do not take ourselves too seriously while trying to do something that could not be more important. We are attracted to the unexpected and unknown and maintain curiosity about how they might have something to do with what we are looking to achieve. We are a mix of divergent and convergent thinkers, with an emergent mindset. We seek out the best, smartest, and most experienced people to join us. We also expect them to be kind, diplomatic people who make the lives of others better. It’s the love of people and community that drives us every day.
Finally, our North Star is to ensure that Jewish education and life is an ongoing movement, designed for today and the future, empowered by dynamic and diverse people at its center to enhance our lives and the world.
ABOUT THE POSITION
The Senior Portfolio Lead will bring relentless focus to identify, build and support this pipeline of new projects. They will develop processes for cultivating talent and fundable ideas, follow internal systems to approve and fund quickly, and ensure that the most impactful projects are highlighted and documented for potential further investment. They will be a key member of the Common Era team that collaborates to ensure that all investments are of the highest quality and are positioned to have the greatest impact.
Reporting to the Chief Research and Development Officer, the Senior Portfolio Lead will work alongside a team of four colleagues predominantly based in New Orleans.
Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
Strategy
- Implement Strategic Priorities: Play a key role in executing and implementing Common Era’s range of activities including cultivating talent and ideas; research and experimentation; and funding and building projects.
- Evolve Strategies: Support the continued iteration of existing strategies towards greater impact and efficiency
Project Management
- Manage Key Partnerships & Projects: Generate and manage significant partnerships with ally organizations and groups from a broad array of backgrounds and industries. Oversee the entrepreneurial life cycle and pipeline of new projects running through a process of ideation through launch, including business planning and talent acquisition
- Operational Efficiencies: Implement best-in-class processes for dispersing and monitoring contracts and grants, reducing barriers to small organizations and getting resources out quickly and efficiently
- Common Era Support: Play an active role in other Common Era initiatives as needed to grow this thriving ecosystem, including special projects such as fellowships, idea salons, etc.
Entrepreneurial Development
- Identify Talent: Source, engage, cultivate and manage a growing team of implementers, leaders, creators/designers and diverse collaborators
- Ideation and Activation: Identify new directions to pursue, explore and develop, while advancing existing ideas and activities
- Develop New Portfolio Investments: Generate fundable projects and strategic approaches to building out an impactful portfolio of investments.
CANDIDATE REQUIREMENTS:
- 10+ years in talent development, project management, human centered design, and/or entrepreneurship
- Experience identifying and supporting entrepreneurial talent
- Experience overseeing project and community management
- Track record of working closely with C-Suite leaders and stakeholders from a wide variety of backgrounds
- Strong communications skills
- Experience with impact tracking and reporting
- Highly organized, with strong detail-orientation
- Broad entrepreneurial networks and worldview
- Collaborative orientation
- Demonstrated curiosity and creativity
- Basic fluency with Jewish life
COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:
Location: This is an exempt position ideally based in New Orleans, LA. Candidates in New York and California will also be considered.
Compensation and Benefits: $140K – $170K
The Jim Joseph Foundation is an equal opportunity employer—we celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. The Foundation provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.
This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.
Like the Jim Joseph Foundation, On-Ramps is deeply committed to equity. We believe social change happens when people with a wide range of backgrounds, experiences, and identities come together with common purpose.
On-Ramps is committed to the inclusion of all qualified individuals in the hiring process, including but not limited to those with disabilities. If you require reasonable accommodation(s) to participate in the application or interview process, please contact info@on-ramps.com.
