Ralph I. Goldman Fellowship

WHAT IS THE RALPH I. GOLDMAN FELLOWSHIP?

The Ralph I. Goldman (RIG) Fellowship is the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee’s (JDC) premier leadership opportunity. Awarded annually to one outstanding individual, it is designed for emerging leaders within the Jewish community, as well as visionary thinkers and practitioners from all fields, including not limited to, policy makers, writers, business innovators, artists, and community builders.

The Fellowship offers an enriching, hands-on experience to immerse the participant in Jewish communities around the world and exposing them to the key challenges confronting global Jewry. Fellows collaborate closely with senior JDC staff to identify and design unique international placements shaped by their skills, interests and the critical needs of communities abroad.

Operating in more than 70 countries around the world, RIG Fellows placements are tailored to their strengths, backgrounds and preferences. Past Fellows have served in locations such as Georgia, Ethiopia, India, Israel, Hungary, Nepal and Ukraine, typically completing two or three international assignments over the course of their Fellowship year.

This is a paid, professional opportunity for an exceptional emerging leader who is committed to making a meaningful impact on the global Jewish world. RIG Fellows receive a stipend and generous benefits.

Essential Functions

Fellowship Design & Planning

• Participate in a 2-month orientation for 2 weeks at JDC headquarters in New York, NY, followed by 4-5 weeks at JDC offices in Jerusalem, Israel
• Partner with senior JDC staff to identify and design international placements aligned with the Fellow's expertise and the needs of communities abroad
• Adapt the Fellowship plan responsively as priorities and circumstances evolve throughout the year

Field Placement & Global Engagement

• Complete international placements, applying professional expertise across fields such as social work, community building, human resources, or international development to JDC's global work
• Engage directly with local Jewish communities and JDC partners to contribute meaningfully to programs and initiatives on the ground

Leadership & Professional Development

• Gain exposure to and complete Entwine’s program curriculum
• Build leadership capacity through hands-on experience navigating JDC's complex, cross-cultural global operations
• Cultivate relationships with JDC staff, community leaders, and partners across multiple countries while demonstrating initiative and self-direction
• Share quarterly updates with the Ralph I. Goldman Fellowship Selection Committee
• Present to the JDC Board at the end of the Fellowship capturing the key learnings and experiences from the Fellowship year

Community & Legacy

• Deepen knowledge of global Jewish issues and the challenges facing communities worldwide
• Embody the values of Ralph I. Goldman and remain engaged with the RIG alumni network and broader Entwine community post-Fellowship

Required Qualifications & Competencies

• Professional achievement in the candidate’s chosen career
• Demonstrated progression of leadership in the Jewish communal space, either as a professional or community leader
• Strong public speaking/presentation skills and relationship building ability. Adept at conflict resolution, goal setting and prioritization.
• Deep interest in international Jewish affairs and public service
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent and proven academic excellence
• Ability to travel full-time and often with minimal notice

Preferred Qualifications & Competencies

• Additional advanced degrees can be a plus but not a requirement
• Knowledge of foreign language(s) is a plus but not a requirement
• Formal and/or informal Jewish education is a plus but not a requirement

What are the compensation and benefits for the Ralph I. Goldman Fellow?

This is a full-time position paid semi-monthly at a salary of approximately $66,000 (dependent on currency exchanges and may be more or less than the posted amount).

• We offer a comprehensive benefits package for RIG Fellows, including but not limited to:100% coverage by JDC’s travel insurance, which includes emergency medical evacuation coverage.
• 9 vacation days per six-month period of service, or a total of 18 vacation days for the Fellowship year.
• Up to $2,000 for professional development and education.

Work Environment

This role has the opportunity for a hybrid of both on-site and remote working; as such, it may operate partially in a professional open-office environment indoors. This individual may need to work in a shared workspace and may require the ability to both utilize this space for collaboration and to filter out noise to focus independently. This role may require the routine use of standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, scanners, and filing cabinets.

This role requires travel approximately 10 times a year nationally and internationally, during which the work environment may include professional office spaces, hotels, and/or field environments with varying degrees of heat/cold, wet/humid, and dry/arid conditions.

Equal Employment Opportunity

JDC is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. As the world’s leading global Jewish humanitarian organization, we are committed to treating people with compassion and respect. All qualified applications will be considered for employment without regard to age, race, color, national origin, ancestry, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, reproductive health decision-making, marital status, height, weight, disability, mental disorder, familial status, veteran status, genetic information, AIDS/HIV-positive status, victim of domestic violence, sex offenses or stalking, or any other protected characteristic as established by law.

JDC provides reasonable accommodations for employees with disabilities and encourages employees to request reasonable accommodations when needed.

Other Duties

As a nonprofit, JDC is focused on allocating resources in the most effective manner and aims to run a lean operation. At times, employees may be asked to wear multiple hats or take on additional duties to fill the needs of the organization or their department. Additional duties, responsibilities and activities may be assigned at any time with or without notice.

HOW TO APPLY

Visit Entwine's website here to learn more and apply. Applications through this form, hosted on the JDC Careers site via Comeet, will not be considered. All applicants must apply per the directions on the JDC Entwine website in order to be considered.