Manager, Immersive Experiences

Position Overview

The Manager, Immersive Experiences develops, plans, and enables Federation missions and immersive donor experiences in close partnership with the Financial Resource Development (FRD) staffleadresponsible for executing each mission on the ground. This position translates donor engagement strategy, cultivation priorities, and organizational goals into meaningful experiences that strengthen relationships, deepen understanding of Federation's work, inspire philanthropy, and build leadership engagement.

Federation missions and immersive experiences are among our most powerful donor engagement strategies, creating meaningful opportunities for participants to experience Federation's impact firsthand, deepen their connection to Jewish life and community, build lasting relationships, and inspire greater philanthropic investment and leadership.

Working closely with FRD, Communications, Impact, Executive Leadership, lay leaders, and external partners, the Manager, Immersive Experiences supports the full lifecycle of Federation missions, including planning, recruitment support, logistics, participant experience, stewardship, and evaluation, while partnering with the FRD staff lead on on-the-ground execution.

The Manager, Immersive Experiences is both a strategic planner and hands-on implementer, responsible for managing multiple domestic and international experiences simultaneously and ensuring each mission is thoughtfully developed, operationally sound, aligned with donor engagement goals, and reflective of Federation's values and priorities. The Manager, Immersive Experiences may staff missions from time totime, butis not expected to serve as the on-site staff lead for every mission.

Key Responsibilities

Mission Strategy and Participant Engagement

• Ensure missions strengthen participants' understanding of Federation's impact locally, in Israel, and around the world, with clear connections between the experience and Federation's work.

• Identifywhat participants should experience and where missions should visit in close coordination with the Impact team, ensuring each experience is grounded in Federation's priorities, partnerships, and impact story.

• Partner with the Director,Donor Engagement,CDO, FRD staff,and lay leadersassigned to each missionto aligndonor cultivation, stewardship, and leadership development goals.

• Translate engagementobjectivesinto mission plans, participant journeys, and meaningful experiencesthat connect participants directly toFederation'swork and impact.

• Work withtheDirector, Donor EngagementandFRDstafftodefinefundraising strategy,participant outcomes, engagement goals, and follow-up opportunities for each mission.

• Support recruitment planning and participant engagement strategies in partnership withFRD.

Mission Planning and Execution

• Partner with the FRD staffleadassigned to each mission to develop, plan, and enable successful mission execution.

• Own mission planning from concept through post-mission follow-up, coordinating closely with the FRD staffleadresponsible for on-the-ground execution.

• Develop project plans, timelines, budgets, registration processes, and communications schedules.

• Coordinate transportation, accommodations, security planning, venues, vendors, guides, and travel partners.

• Prepare mission materials, participant briefings, itineraries, and leadership resourcesin close coordination with Communications and other relevant staff partners.

• Supportmissionlogisticsand real-time decision-making before, during, and after travelin partnership with the FRD staff lead.

• Staffdomestic and international missions as assigned, recognizing that this role may support some missions on site but will not serve as the on-site staff lead for every mission.

• Ensure a high-quality participant experience throughout the mission lifecycle.

Lay Leadership and Stakeholder Management

• Partner with lay chairs and volunteer leadership throughout planning and execution.

• Coordinateacross FRD, Communications, Impact, the Jewish Community Foundation, and Executive Leadership.

• Negotiate and manage contracts, scopes of work, budgets, payment schedules, deliverables, and ongoing relationships with tour operators, hotels, transportation providers, security vendors, consultants, and other external partners, ensuring high-quality service and alignment with Federation expectations.

• Prepare mission briefings for the CEO, CDO, mission chairs, and key stakeholders.

Communications and Storytelling

• Partner with Communications to develop recruitment materials, messaging, participant communications, and mission storytelling.

• Coordinate photography, video, testimonials, and participant reflections.

• Ensure mission content supports broader fundraising, stewardship, and community engagement goals.

• Develop post-mission communications and engagement opportunities.

Stewardship and Follow-Up

• Coordinate post-mission reunions, educational opportunities, and engagement activities.

• Partner withFRDstaff on stewardship strategies, leadership pathways, and donor follow-up.

• Track participant involvement, engagement outcomes, and mission-related fundraisingactivity.

• Maintain mission records, templates, evaluation tools, and planning resources.

• Analyze participation and engagement trends to inform future missionstrategy.

Organizational Leadership

• Develop,maintain, and continuously improve standardized mission planning resources, including SOPs, timelines, templates, chair handbooks, planning checklists, communication tools, vendor files, and other operational playbooks to ensure consistency and continuity across all Federation missions.

• Maintain the annual mission calendar and coordinate organizational planning.

• Support the development of mission budgets and long-term experiences planning.

• Contribute to cross-departmental efforts that strengthenFederation'soverall engagement strategy.

Success Looks Like

• Missions are well planned, well executed, and aligned with donor engagementobjectives.

• Participants report meaningful connections to Federation, Jewish life, and community impact.

• Lay leaders and staff partnersunderstandtheir roles, responsibilities, and timelines.

• Recruitment,logistics, communications, and follow-up are coordinated and proactive.

• Missions generate measurable donor engagement, leadership development, and stewardship opportunities.

• Stories, relationships, and outcomes from missions areleveragedto strengthen future engagement efforts.

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent professional experience.

• 4-7 years of experience in project management, event management, donor engagement, travel programs, missions, nonprofit development, or related fields.

• Demonstrated experience successfully managing complex projects with multiple stakeholders.

• Exceptional organizational and logistical planning skills.

• Strong written and verbal communication skills.

• Experience working directly with volunteers, donors, community leaders, or senior stakeholders.

• Ability to manage budgets, contracts, vendors, and external partners.

• Ability to travel domestically and internationally and work evenings and weekends as needed.

• Proficiencywith Microsoft Office, CRM systems, and project management tools.

Preferred

• Experience planning and staffing domestic or international missions, conferences, educational journeys, or immersive experiences.

• Knowledge of donor engagement, stewardship, andmovesmanagement.

• Experience within Jewish communal organizations, nonprofits, higher education, or mission-driven organizations.

• Familiarity with Israel travel, Jewish community organizations, and Federation systems.

• Experience working with volunteer leadership structures.

The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington brings people together, mobilizes resources, and drives impact to strengthen Jewish life across Greater Washington and beyond.

We serve as a strategic leader, convener, and catalyst, working across organizations, leaders, and communities toidentifypriorities, align efforts, and respond to evolving needs. By connecting people, resources, and ideas, we help drive coordinated action and build a vibrant Jewish future. Learn more atshalomdc.org.

How We Work

Across roles, our work is grounded in:

• Clear priorities and shared goals

• Accountability for outcomes, not just activity

• Collaboration across teams and stakeholders

• Consistent, aligned execution

• A focus on impact and community need
  

How We Support You

• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision coverage

• Retirement plan with employer contribution

• Generous paid time off, including Jewish holidays

• Up to6 weeksof paid parental leave (after one year)

• Commuter bonus

• Hybrid work environment