Jobs Board

Selah Program Manager

Reports to: Chief Vision Officer
Location: Remote – U.S. applicants only (commuting proximity to NYC, LA, DC, or Bay Area preferred)
Classification: Full-time, non-exempt (eligible for union)
Salary Range: $70,000 – $74,000
Projected Start: Early March 2025

About Bend the Arc
Bend the Arc is building a multiracial, multiethnic, intergenerational movement of Jews and allies across the country who are rising up to build an American future free from white supremacy, antisemitism, and racism. We’re investing in systems that keep our communities safe and divesting from systems that uphold white supremacy. We organize, advocate, tell stories, and develop the leaders that we need to finally build a true multiracial democracy in America. And we’re fighting for the joyful future we deserve: one where Black liberation is realized and where all of us — within and beyond our Jewish community — are safe and thriving.

The Bend the Arc family of organizations consists of Bend the Arc: Jewish Action, our 501(c)(4) organizing and advocacy arm; Bend the Arc Jewish Action PAC, the first and only Jewish PAC to advocate exclusively for progressive policies in the U.S.; and Bend the Arc: A Jewish Partnership for Justice, our 501(c)(3) education and leadership arm. We are proud to be a Union shop and to be working with the Non-profit Employees Union (NPEU) toward finalizing a Collective Bargaining Agreement and achieving our goals.

Headquartered in New York City, we have remote staff nationwide with clusters in Los Angeles and Washington DC, along with a network of staffed chapters, volunteer-led local groups, and affiliates organizing across the country.

Working at Bend the Arc: 
As a workplace, Bend the Arc is committed to building an antiracist and pro-Black organizational culture where staff can be whole people and are set up to be successful in their work. We are creating a culture of resilience, self-awareness, and ongoing learning to meet the political moment and to move toward our north star: a multiracial democracy where Black liberation is realized and where everyone can live and thrive.

We recognize the difficulty of our work and are committed to joy, celebration, and meaning in the midst of growth and struggle. We do this by prioritizing wellness and meeting staff needs through our policies, benefits, Bend the Arc Workers Union, culture of appreciation, and focus on relationship before task. As a Jewish organization, we root ourselves and our work in Jewish tradition, ritual and wisdom by engaging with Jewish holidays, text study, and more. We work in a collaborative hierarchy and strive to make decision making clear and transparent.

As an organization currently led by a majority Black senior team but with a majority white staff, our work to become an antiracist, pro-Black organization is ongoing and resourced. All staff are expected to participate in our race equity transformation work and apply shared principles, practices, and tools in executing their everyday job responsibilities. Staff are held accountable to a set of competencies that are regularly assessed through our evaluation process. This work takes place in regular all-staff meetings, trainings, an annual staff retreat, team meetings, and in ad-hoc and standing cross-team committees.

About the Position:
Bend the Arc’s Selah Leadership Program is designed for Jewish social justice leaders working in Jewish and secular organizations. Selah is the first leadership training designed specifically for Jewish leaders working across the social change field. Selah provides unparalleled training for leaders, new tools to enhance personal vision and facilitate organizational change, and the opportunity to learn with innovative and inspiring Jewish social change leaders. Selah is rooted in the approach that by transforming leaders, we are better able to transform society. Selah approaches this learning process on three levels: the individual, the institution, and the field, and integrates personal development, organizational effectiveness, and collaboration skills. Since its founding in 2004, Selah has trained more than 340 leaders from over 200 organizations.

Since 2015, the program has been dedicated to supporting the leadership of self-identified Jewish Leaders of Color (JLOC) to help our institutions better reflect the full diversity of the American Jewish community, build community in service of the leadership development, support, and elevate the leadership and vision of Jewish Leaders of Color.

The Selah Program Manager will lead the Selah Leadership Program in its next phase. Core goals of the position include:

Shepherd the success of the pilot alumni cohort bringing together alumni of the past 17 cohorts into an intentional multiracial community of practice

Navigate and support an evolving alumni network that is prioritizing being intentionally anti-racist and multi-racial

 

Key Responsibilities: 

Lead community of practice alumni cohort through in person and online cohort experiences and retreats

Lead application and onboarding process for cohort

Ensure upcoming Selah Cohorts are effective, and all processes and content, including group development and community-building, are developed and executed with excellence

Effectively manage all processes and vendors related to outreach, recruitment, program implementation and evaluation

Together with the Selah Facilitation Team and Bend the Arc staff leadership, co-develop strategies for growth and successful implementation of Selah as a method for strengthening the Jewish social justice sector in general and Jewish Leaders of Color specifically

Manage and coordinate new leadership cohorts including but not limited to communication with participants, logistical support and coordination of all partner organizations

Manage outreach and recruitment process for future cohorts, Selah network gatherings, and/or network activities

Build/maintain excellent relationships with partner groups, facilitators, program alumni and participants

Take part in coordination of special events, development of new initiatives and programs, fundraising and other tasks that may be necessary to advance the organizational mission of Bend the Arc

Apply knowledge of training facilitation, group process design, and curriculum development and/or partner with others to develop curriculum and other content

Contribute to thinking and decisions about the future of the program, and how we effectively engage alumni in a multi-racial network

Build connections with other leadership development practitioners to track what is happening in the field and to be learning and building from one another

Support the continuing existence and growth of the Selah alumni network as a vibrant, supportive, rigorous, and high-value community by developing a plan for regular engagement of the network

 

Required Skills and Qualifications: 

Strong commitment to and passion for the mission of Bend the Arc

Passion for leadership development, for developing leaders, and for supporting the leadership of Jewish Leaders of Color.

Minimum of 5 years of experience working in the social justice sector, with direct experience organizing and/or facilitating leadership trainings

Demonstrated commitment to racial equity, experience using a racial equity lens in planning and/or analysis, and have undergone strong racial equity training

Excellent written and verbal communication skills; ability to create and edit written materials

Strong interpersonal skills and relational orientation

Ability to initiate and manage multiple complex projects and strong project management experience

Ability to work effectively in a results-oriented team environment and meet established deadlines

Experience with and commitment to creating environments that address and minimize racism, sexism, homophobia and other forms of oppression

Meticulous attention to detail

Demonstrated proficiency in Google platforms (Gmail, Google Docs, Google Hangouts, etc.), Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) as well as skills with or ability to learn project management applications, Slack, Slideroom, social media, CRM, and other new technologies and systems

Ability to work evenings or on weekends if needed as well as ability to travel in-state and out-of-state periodically throughout the year (approximately 10% travel required)

 

Compensation, Benefits, and Work Schedule 
This is a full-time non-exempt position, not eligible for the Bend the Arc Workers Union. The work schedule will include some evenings and weekends when needed, with occasional travel required for in-person events (1-2 times per year). The salary range is $70,000 – $74,000 commensurate with experience and this position is eligible for overtime pay. Statistics show that women and candidates from marginalized identities are less likely to negotiate, so to maintain equity, Bend the Arc has moved away from the culture of negotiation. When we make an offer, we offer the highest salary within the salary range that we assess matches the individual’s qualifications and fit for the role. Our employees are offered a comprehensive benefits package:

Medical, dental and vision benefits effective your first day of employment and fully paid for by Bend the Arc for individual coverage and employer contribution of 80% toward monthly premiums for dependent and family coverage;

Flexible scheduling policy:

Generous paid time off:

Personal:

20 vacation days per year

24 sick days per year

2 floating holidays per year

Org-Wide Office Closures:

24 paid holidays per year

8 paid summer Fridays off per year

Leave of Absence (up to 20 paid weeks annually), eligibility after 30 working days:

Parental Leave paid up to 14 weeks

Family, Medical, and Emergency Leave paid up to 12 weeks

Paid 12-week Sabbatical after 7 years of employment;

Monthly utilities stipend; $50 per month towards wifi, cell phone, electricity;

Commuter Benefits; option to allocate pre-tax income for public transit/parking;

Access to professional development funding;

Access to funding for home office equipment;

401(k) eligible from first day of employment plus 2% employer contribution;

Flexible Spending Account or Health Savings Account;

Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account for eligible child/elder care;

Adoption Assistance Program up to $1,500 for qualified adoption expenses;

Life Insurance fully paid for by Bend the Arc;

Long and short term disability benefits fully paid for by Bend the Arc;

Voluntary Accident and Injury Insurance;

Employee Assistance Program provides access to resources, counseling, and discounted programs to support your mental, physical, and financial wellbeing

Working Conditions 
Bend the Arc is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals and will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations to participate in the application and interview process and to perform essential job functions. Please advise in writing of any needs at the time of application by emailing hr@bendthearc.us.

Must be able to operate a computer, video platforms, and other office machinery throughout working hours. Must be able to identify, discern, and communicate across different platforms (chat, email, phone and video conferencing), and collect and analyze information in databases and spreadsheets. Must occasionally travel by air and ground transportation and move about to attend conferences, events, and an annual staff retreat in accordance with organizational guidelines on travel due to COVID. Any work related travel would be paid for by Bend the Arc.

Hiring Process & New Hire Orientation
Bend the Arc’s hiring process has been designed to bring in a diverse applicant pool, ensure equity, mitigate bias, and provide applicants with transparency and clear expectations. The interview process typically involves a phone screen (audio call), one or two group interviews (video call), sometimes an exercise, and then a final interview (video call). We strive to keep the interview process between 10-12 weeks long.

Due to the number of applications we typically receive, we sincerely regret that we cannot respond to all applicants. Candidates who have completed a phone screen will receive a weekly update on their application and overall hiring timeframe. Candidates who complete an assignment and last round of interviews (“final candidates”) will receive an honorarium of $150 upon completion of the process. Final candidates may be asked to disclose any outside employment, self-employment, and other outside positions and activities (i.e. Board seats, positions in a foundation, etc.).

Once hired, new employees will partake in a comprehensive onboarding process,  receiving the necessary training and resources to carry out their responsibilities as well as refine and develop their skills and meet clearly laid-out expectations.

The first three (3) months of employment are considered a New Employee Orientation (NEO) period. During this time, employees will be provided clear work expectations, feedback, and mechanisms for support including, but not limited to, coaching or training. Employees will also be provided with racial equity training relevant to Bend the Arc’s work and mission. During the NEO, employees will have check-ins with their supervisors and receive feedback on their performance and acclimation to the role. At the end of the NEO, the supervisor, along with HR, will determine if the NEO can conclude or should be extended.

To Apply
Research suggests that women and structurally marginalized and/or underrepresented groups of people believe they need to meet 100% of the requirements in job postings to even apply. Bend the Arc encourages anyone who believes they have the skills and motivation necessary to succeed to apply for this role, even if you don’t meet 100% of the qualifications, as no one applicant ever does. We look forward to hearing from you!

Please submit your resume and a cover letter to jobs@bendthearc.us with “Selah Program Manager” in the subject line of your message. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis through December 31, with a start date in March 2025.

Bend the Arc values a diverse workforce and an inclusive culture because we recognize that diversity within our staff helps us organize and work well with diverse Jewish and progressive constituencies. Candidates should be willing to work within the Jewish community, but may be of any (or no) faith or background.

Bend the Arc provides equal employment opportunities to all applicants and employees without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, marital status, citizenship, disability, veteran status, record of arrest or conviction, or any other legally protected status. Women, people of color, people with disabilities, and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and gender non-conforming individuals are strongly encouraged to apply.

This job description is intended to convey information essential to understand the scope of the position. It is not intended to be an exhaustive list of skills, efforts, duties, or responsibilities associated with the position.