Senior Missions Associate
- Location
- Chicago, IL
- Work type
- Full Time
- Posted
- 2026-08-03
Job description
What you’ll be doing:
Serve as a primary liaison between land agents, JUF’s Israel Office, and partner agencies (e.g., JAFI, JDC, ORT) to support the planning and execution of mission trips. Ensure clear communication, alignment on goals, and timely follow-through.
Take ownership of building and refining mission itineraries by facilitating planning calls, synthesizing stakeholder input, conducting independent research, and recommending impactful sites, speakers, and experiences. Maintain a strong working knowledge of relevant regions and global travel considerations.
Partner with lay leaders to support their involvement in missions, ensuring they are well-prepared, informed, and meaningfully engaged.
Manage all pre- and post-mission communications with participants, ensuring clarity, timeliness, and a high-quality participant experience from recruitment through follow-up.
Manage recruitment lists in Salesforce, ensuring statuses are up-to-date and ready to share in a timely fashion for relevant staff and lay leadership.
Partner with the Marketing and Communications department to develop mission-related marketing assets, leveraging platforms such as Hive to track projects, timelines, and deliverables.
Track progress against the Missions To-Do list, proactively identifying gaps or delays and adjusting priorities to ensure deadlines and program goals are met.
Monitor mission budgets, track expenses, and process vendor invoices in a timely and accurate manner.
Escort mission groups, manage logistics in real time, troubleshoot challenges, and support participant engagement. Contribute to fundraising efforts during missions.
Support initiatives for the JUF Annual Campaign as needed, particularly where mission programming intersects with fundraising and donor engagement.
Develop and demonstrate a strong understanding of JUF’s mission, programs, and global impact, and confidently represent this work to participants and stakeholders.
What you need to succeed:
Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution.
2+ years of relevant work experience (non-profit, fundraising, travel, etc.)
Strong interpersonal, communication, and relationship-building skills.
Extraordinary organizational skills and attention to detail.
Proficiency in data analysis, reporting, and performance measurement.
Proficient in all Microsoft Office Suite of Products; Salesforce experience preferred.
Experience staffing or leading a group travel experience preferred.
Passion for immersive travel experiences.
Demonstrated ability to solve complex challenges across itinerary design, donor engagement, and real-time operational logistics during trips.
Ability to work independently.
Knowledge of Jewish community, culture, and communal service strongly preferred.
Must be able to travel abroad 1-2 times per year (on average).