Application Guide

How to Apply for Assistant Director, Finance and Programs - JFNA

at Jewish Federations of North America

🏢 About Jewish Federations of North America

Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA) is a powerful network of 141 local Federations raising over $3 billion annually to support Jewish communities worldwide. The Center on Aging, Trauma, and Holocaust Survivor Care is uniquely positioned to advance person-centered, trauma-informed care through federal grants, making this a place where your work directly impacts vulnerable populations on a national scale.

About This Role

This role combines financial oversight with programmatic leadership, managing a portfolio of federally funded subgrantees to ensure compliance, budget fidelity, and high-quality service delivery. You will be the key liaison between JFNA and subgrantee organizations, providing technical assistance, drafting grant narratives, and building systems that strengthen the entire grant lifecycle.

💡 A Day in the Life

A typical day might start with a monitoring call with a subgrantee to review their quarterly financial report and program milestones, followed by drafting a budget narrative for a new grant proposal. In the afternoon, you could lead a virtual training session on grant compliance for subgrantee staff, then review vendor contracts for an upcoming program launch.

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Interview Prep

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🎯 Who Jewish Federations of North America Is Looking For

  • Has 5+ years of progressive experience in budget analysis, grant management, or program management within a nonprofit, grantmaking, or government setting
  • Possesses a deep understanding of the intersection of finance, budgets, programming, and compliance, especially with multi-year federal grants
  • Holds a Bachelor's degree (advanced degree in MSW, gerontology, business, or public administration preferred) and can apply that knowledge to complex social service programs
  • Excels at building capacity in others, whether through coaching, site visits, or creating standard operating procedures for subgrantees

📝 Tips for Applying to Jewish Federations of North America

1

Tailor your resume to highlight experience with federal grant compliance (e.g., SAMHSA, ACL, HHS) and multi-year budget management, not just general finance

2

In your cover letter, explicitly connect your background to trauma-informed care or aging services—research JFNA's Center on Aging to show genuine interest

3

Use specific examples of how you've provided technical assistance or capacity-building to subgrantees or partner organizations

4

Quantify your impact: e.g., 'Managed a $2M grant portfolio across 10 subgrantees with 100% compliance'

5

Mention any experience with MOUs, cooperative agreements, or vendor contracts, as these are key responsibilities

✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

['Your passion for the mission: supporting Holocaust survivors and older adults through trauma-informed care', 'Your proven ability to manage federal grants and subgrantees, including budget analysis and compliance', 'Your experience creating systems and SOPs that improve efficiency and program outcomes', 'Your collaborative approach to technical assistance and capacity-building, not just oversight']

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🔍 Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • → Review JFNA's Center on Aging, Trauma, and Holocaust Survivor Care website to understand their current initiatives and grant programs
  • → Read recent press releases or annual reports from JFNA to grasp their strategic priorities and funding sources
  • → Familiarize yourself with federal grant regulations (e.g., Uniform Guidance 2 CFR 200) and how they apply to subgrantee management
  • → Look into the network of 141 Jewish Federations to understand the organizational structure and how the Center fits in
Visit Jewish Federations of North America's Website →

💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

1 How would you handle a subgrantee that is significantly behind on spending their federal grant budget?
2 Describe a time you developed a training or coaching program for grantees—what was the outcome?
3 What is your experience with trauma-informed care principles, and how would you integrate them into grant monitoring?
4 How do you prioritize competing deadlines across multiple grants and subgrantees?
5 Tell us about a time you identified a compliance risk and how you addressed it
Practice Interview Questions →

⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Don't focus only on finance without showing programmatic understanding—this role blends both
  • Avoid generic statements about 'helping people' without connecting to trauma-informed care or aging services specifically
  • Don't neglect to mention federal grant experience; if you lack it, emphasize transferable skills like compliance and multi-year budgeting

📅 Application Timeline

This position is open until filled. However, we recommend applying as soon as possible as roles at mission-driven organizations tend to fill quickly.

Typical hiring timeline:

1

Application Review

1-2 weeks

2

Initial Screening

Phone call or written assessment

3

Interviews

1-2 rounds, usually virtual

✓

Offer

Congratulations!

Ready to Apply?

Good luck with your application to Jewish Federations of North America!

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