Managing Director

BACKGROUND

The Aviv Foundation envisions communities and a society that is
diverse, broad, inclusive, and provides all members with
opportunities to participate and thrive. Founded in 2016 and based
in Washington, D.C. and Israel, Aviv is a private family
philanthropy that invests in solutions with the potential to create
systemic change. In the United States, Aviv works to support
meaningful connections to Judaism, further positive change in the
child welfare and education systems, and inspire citizens to be
civically engaged. In Israel, it is committed to safeguarding a
Jewish and democratic state, building a thriving and inclusive
civil society, and working to create conditions to advance peace
between Israelis and Palestinians. The Board and staff of Aviv
approach their work with humility, integrity, empathy, curiosity,
respect, riskiness, and adventure. To its grantees, Aviv holds a
role that goes far beyond funding. They view Aviv staff as
supportive, knowledgeable thought partners who ask critical
questions and provide meaningful feedback. Grantees also see Aviv
as a funder that invests in innovation and pushes grantees to
continually improve. While Aviv is a newer foundation, it has
already built a reputation for being unusually approachable,
responsive, and proactive, with potential to have an even greater
effect on its impact areas and the broader philanthropic field in
the years to come.

 

POSITION

Over the years, Aviv has grown its impact and expanded its team,
and will continue to do so in its next chapter. In support of that
growth, Aviv strives to continually improve its strategies and
tactics, foster a compelling and supportive culture, and create a
more clearly defined, vibrant public presence with grantees, peer
funders, and the broader philanthropic community. The role of the
managing director is an exciting new addition to Aviv’s staff in
anticipation of the growth ahead. This person will help lead a team
of highly skilled, knowledgeable subject matter experts in the U.S.
as well as focus on foundation-wide initiatives that advance Aviv’s
work across impact areas and its two geographic bases. The managing
director will be a strategic, creative, collaborative individual
who will partner closely with a dedicated Board and staff to
achieve ambitious strategic priorities while sustaining a warm,
empathetic, driven culture.

 

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Partner closely with the Board and Executive Director to build
  a deep understanding of Aviv’s philanthropic priorities,
  particularly in the U.S.; collaborate with the staff to ensure that
  Aviv’s work meets those priorities.
• Serve as a creative collaborator with the executive director,
  with a goal of developing highly effective grantmaking programs and
  consistent practices that maximize the resources of Aviv.
• Provide thoughtful, proactive communication and support to the
  Board and executive director on a regular basis.
• Serve as a strategic thought partner to the executive director
  on issues such as planning for future growth in grantmaking,
  operating effectively as one foundation with two geographic bases,
  and deepening Aviv’s impact through transparent and open
  relationships with grantees and other funders.
• Coach and develop direct reports (currently three U.S. program
  staff members); provide vision, leadership, and direction for the
  team, ensuring their activities are aligned with stated outcomes
  and focused on realizing strategic goals. Invest in their
  professional growth and learning.
• In partnership with the entire Aviv team, plan and execute new
  foundation-wide initiatives that amplify and improve upon the
  current strength of the grantmaking programs; for example,
  implementing an aligned theory of change and impact measurement
  approach across program areas, developing structures for knowledge
  sharing across the foundation, and exploring external convenings
  and other strategies for amplifying programmatic impact.
• Help foster and contribute to an organizational culture that
  values and inspires staff, ensuring strong internal communications
  and motivating them to reach their fullest and most productive
  potential as a cohesive team.

QUALIFICATIONS

Experience 

• Significant relevant experience in philanthropy (e.g. as a
  grantmaker, grantee, and/or consultant).
• Experience with living donors or equivalent stakeholders is
  ideal. Experience specific to Aviv’s impact areas or experience in
  Jewish-centered or Israel organizations is not required.
• Experience driving organization-wide initiatives and
  impact.
• A track record of successfully leading diverse teams to achieve
  ambitious outcomes; the ability to guide the professional growth of
  subject matter experts, build culture, set goals, adjust and
  rethink systems, manage deadlines, and evaluate results.

Personal Attributes

• Highly motivated by the opportunity to drive impact; a
  commitment to advance Aviv’s mission and values.
• An ability to think critically and creatively about Aviv’s
  impact areas and how to best structure systems and programs to
  ensure the right balance of alignment and autonomy.
• Superb interpersonal skills, with the ability to develop
  effective relationships and partnerships both internally and
  externally.
• Exceptional writing skills, with the ability to compellingly
  convey information in a way that meets the needs of the intended
  audience.
• An aptitude for facilitating and participating in discussions
  that cover a wide range of ideas, ambitions, and opinions.
• Emotional intelligence and an ability to maintain tact,
  discretion, and confidentiality as needed for a family foundation.
  • Ability to serve as an effective spokesperson and ambassador for
  the Foundation, with strong verbal and written communication
  skills.
• A sense of humor, patience, flexibility, and warmth.

COMPENSATION

• The Aviv Foundation seeks to build a team of exceptional
  professionals and approaches compensation with a strong commitment
  to equity and generous investment in its staff. Final compensation
  will be based on relevant skills and experience.
• Attractive, competitive benefits package, including paid
  vacation, health insurance coverage, flexible spending program,
  403(b) contribution, professional development fund, and matching
  gift opportunities.

Frequently cited statistics show that women and people from
underrepresented groups apply to jobs only if they think they meet
100% of the criteria. If you meet many but not all the criteria and
feel you may be a good fit for the role, the Aviv Foundation
encourages you to apply.

The Aviv Foundation is an Equal Opportunity Employer and
does not discriminate on the basis of age, color, national origin,
ethnic origin, citizenship status, disability, race, religion,
creed, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or
expression, marital status, veteran status, or any other
characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law in its
employment policies. In addition, The Aviv Foundation will provide
reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with
disabilities.

To apply, please send cover letter and résumé as one PDF
to AvivMD@pbrsearch.com with subject line “Chronicle of
Philanthropy – Aviv Foundation MD Position” and filename “Last
Name First Name – Letter Resume.”