Vice President, Center for New Middle East (CNME)

About AJC

American Jewish Committee (AJC) is the global advocacy organization for the Jewish people. From world capitals to college campuses, AJC works with leaders across society to stand up for Israel; confront antisemitism, no matter the source; and uphold the democratic values that unite us. In the wake of Hamas’ October 7 attack—the worst massacre of Jews since the Holocaust—AJC has mobilized its global network to tackle the unprecedented threats facing world Jewry. Join us. Together, we can shape a new future for Israel and the Jewish people.

Your Department

AJC’s Center for a New Middle East (CNME), a part of Global Affairs, utilizes AJC’s unparalleled global advocacy network to foster deeper diplomatic, economic, and civic ties between Israel and its Arab neighbors. It builds upon AJC’s historic success in cultivating trust and opening doors to all levels of government across the Arab world. Drawing upon the relationships AJC has nurtured since its initial visits to Morocco in the 1950s, and expanded since the Madrid Peace Conference of 1991, AJC pursues programs across three principal sectors: diplomacy, business, and civil society. AJC actively promotes U.S. commitment to Israel’s security and its full integration in the Middle East and North Africa, regional business collaboration, and interfaith dialogue to advance Israeli-Arab understanding. This holistic approach, combined with AJC’s global architecture—with 15 international posts, including offices in Jerusalem and Abu Dhabi, and a range of government contacts and communal partners around the world—uniquely positions the Center to advance AJC’s policy and institutional agendas.

By bringing together decades of trust, international architecture, and multifaceted programs, the Center for a New Middle East can do things that no other organization can accomplish. The Center will have the power to convene the best and brightest from across the world to build bridges, shape policies, and instill the hope needed to truly create a new Middle East.

Your Impact

The VP of CNME will implement the vision and strategy for AJC's initiatives in the Middle East region and oversee AJC’s Middle East policy in partnership with other key internal policy experts.

The VP will be responsible for cultivating and sustaining trusted relationships with targeted and impactful diplomatic contacts in Washington, D.C., and across the Middle East and North Africa, expanding civil society and private sector engagement, including growing business engagement, and fostering strong lay leadership engagement with the Center and broader AJC’s activities.

The VP will lead the development and execution of the department's overall strategy, goals, objectives, and action plans with an overall goal of deepening and advancing AJC’s efforts to strengthen Israel’s engagement with the Arab and Muslim world in a way that better interconnects the various centers of expertise within AJC.

Your Role

Your role is as a highly accountable, publicly visible leader and a hands-on expert and executor. You will serve as the lead strategist and people manager of CNME.

Lead, manage and inspire the team in the daily operations of CNME.

• Cultivate a culture of innovation and collaboration within the team and across the broader AJC, to bring the power of “One AJC” to the work of CNME.
• Oversee and inspire an ambitious and growing team to develop new ideas, engage and monitor the intricacies of Middle East policy, and interconnect our issues to the wider workings of AJC.

Diplomatic Outreach. Cultivate, develop and expand AJC’s relationships with senior stakeholders in Washington and in the Middle East.

• In Washington, work with the existing talented team to partner with the AJC’s Policy and Political Affairs department to prioritize relationships with the U.S. Administration and Congress, and with other departments in AJC to reach out to diplomats, business associations, and civic leaders.

Lead the incubation and execution (from concept to full deployment and follow-up) of innovative programming promoting enhanced Israel-Arab and Israel-Muslim engagement and scale such programming.

• Partner with internal colleagues to leverage existing cross-departmental AJC signature programs, such as Project Interchange, national and regional business and civic summits, and diplomatic events.
• Create measurable metrics of impact for AJC programming and broader scope of work.

Lead the development and coordination of Middle East engagement strategy across multiple AJC departments, ensuring consistency of purpose, common goal alignment and clarity of execution/deployment plans.

• Engage in frequent meetings to collaborate across multiple AJC international and regional offices, including but not limited to Jerusalem, Abu Dhabi, Brussels, Johannesburg, AJC’s Asia Pacific Institute, and Muslim-Jewish Relations, aimed at developing and coordinating global programs which expand AJC’s efforts to advance regional cooperation and integration and facilitate AJC offices’ utilization of their networks to deepen and expand the Abraham Accords.
• Work closely with AJC’s various young leader development programs to scale next generation fellowships within the United States, Europe, and the Middle East.

Partner with Global Marketing and Communications on key messaging and policy documents related to the Middle East.

Support CNME Board engagement, fostering engagement to advance CNME mission and fundraising; in strong partnership with the resource development team, create a strategy for sustainable engagement with senior AJC Lay Leaders on the vision for CNME and its impact.

Supervisory Role

Oversee a small but diverse /team of 4–7 senior and junior staff members.

Education, Training, and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree preferred.
• 10 to 15 years of relevant work experience, including leadership roles.
• U.S. Foreign Affair, Middle East geopolitics expert.
• Deep policy and advocacy expertise. Steeped in Middle East policy
• Expert in U.S. Foreign Policy
• Strong knowledge of Israel history, international relations, and foundational understanding of Jewish Diaspora
• Embraces AJC’s non-partisan status
• An adept, dynamic and confident public speaker (English required)

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Passion for AJC’s mission and values, including respect, teamwork, integrity, excellence, and accountability.
• Proven ability to lead and inspire a dispersed diverse team.
• Strong organizational and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills.
• Competence in Microsoft Office and social media platforms.

Physical Demands

• Remaining in a stationary position for extended periods.
• Communicating effectively with diverse audiences.
• Traveling as required to accomplish tasks and represent AJC.

Disclaimers’

The duties listed are intended as examples and may be subject to change as organizational needs evolve.

Compensation

The salary for this position is $185,000 to $220,000 depending on relevant experience.

Benefits

Regular Full-time employee benefits:

• Medical, vision, and dental plans
• Flexible Spending Account options
• Generous Paid Time Off (PTO) - 15 vacation days per year, which increases with continued employment
• Paid Holidays (many Federal and major Jewish Holidays)
• Hybrid work schedule
• 403(b) participation, after one year of employment
• Transit plan
• Competitive Paid Parental Leave

• After applicable waiting or probationary periods have been met

Ready to apply?

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AJC is an equal opportunity employer.