Manager, Immersive Experiences

Job Description

Job Description

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) staff lead responsible 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 to time, but is 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. 

• Identify what 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 leaders assigned to each mission to align donor cultivation, stewardship, and leadership development goals. 

• Translate engagement objectives into mission plans, participant journeys, and meaningful experiences that connect participants directly to Federation's work and impact. 

• Work with the Director, Donor Engagement and FRD staff to define fundraising strategy, participant outcomes, engagement goals, and follow-up opportunities for each mission. 

• Support recruitment planning and participant engagement strategies in partnership with FRD. 

Mission Planning and Execution  

• Partner with the FRD staff lead assigned 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 staff lead responsible 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 resources in close coordination with Communications and other relevant staff partners. 

• Support mission logistics and real-time decision-making before, during, and after travel in partnership with the FRD staff lead. 

• Staff domestic 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. 

• Coordinate across 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 with FRD staff on stewardship strategies, leadership pathways, and donor follow-up. 

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

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

• Analyze participation and engagement trends to inform future mission strategy. 

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 strengthen Federation's overall engagement strategy.

Success Looks Like  

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

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

• Lay leaders and staff partners understand their 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 are leveraged to 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. 

• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, CRM systems, and project management tools. 
• Candidates must reside in or be willing to relocate to the Greater Washington (DC, MD, and Northern VA) region. This is a hybrid position, with 3 days a week required in our headquarters 

Preferred  

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

• Knowledge of donor engagement, stewardship, and moves management. 

• 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 to identify priorities, 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 at shalomdc.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 to 6 weeks of paid parental leave (after one year)

• Commuter bonus

• Hybrid work environment