The Organization: Mission & Values

The Jewish community has important work to do, and it cannot be done without skilledand engaged people.

Leading Edge supports, connects, and elevates all the people who embody the Jewishnonprofit sector — professionals, leaders, and Board members. By mobilizing Jewishnonprofits to improve their talent recruitment and development, workplace culture andperformance, Leading Edge strengthens the entire Jewish sector so it can better serve theJewish community and the world.

Purpose: Leading Edge exists to strengthen the Jewish nonprofit field so it can betterserve the Jewish community and world.

Vision: Leading Edge envisions a thriving Jewish communal ecosystem where talentedand engaged people are empowered to drive change.

Mission: Leading Edge mobilizes Jewish nonprofits to become places where great peopledeliver great impact.

Values: Excellence, Curiosity, Humility, Empathy, Belonging, and Integrity


The Position: Summary

Title: Chief Impact Officer

Reports To: Gali Cooks, Chief Executive Officer

Direct Reports: Vice President, Outreach & Engagement; Vice President, Communications; & Vice President, Data & Technology

Location: Remote

Summary: The Chief Impact Officer (CIO) will be a visionary executive responsible for driving organizational growth, innovation, and impact insupport of Leading Edge’s mission to mobilize Jewish nonprofits to become places where great people deliver great impact. In thisinaugural role, the CIO will be responsible for positioning Leading Edge as the primary thought leader and mobilizer of Jewishorganizations to invest in talent, leadership, and culture to better serve the Jewish community and world. The CIO will ensure allLeading Edge efforts are data-driven, mission-aligned, and drive sustainable sector-wide impact.

Reporting to the CEO and working closely with the Executive Team and Board of Directors, the CIO will lead strategy, innovation,and evaluation across the organization’s core impact areas and supervise a team of nine – one of the largest teams within theorganization. The work of the CIO will include advancing field-building initiatives and partnerships to enable maximum scale andinfluence, overseeing communications to amplify Leading Edge’s voice, expanding program participation, and guiding thedevelopment of offerings that strengthen the Jewish nonprofit field. As a senior leader and close thought partner to CEO Gali Cooks,the CIO will translate bold vision into actionable strategies that move the field toward shared norms of talent, leadership, andworkplace culture. They will engage key stakeholders with the credibility and confidence to catalyze change.

This is both a public-facing and internally integrative role, requiring equal parts strategic foresight, relational savvy, and operationaldiscipline.

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The Position: Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership & Sector Innovation

• Translate Leading Edge’s vision into actionable strategies that elevate talent, leadership, and workplace culture across the Jewish nonprofit sector.
• Position the organization as the primary thought leader and mobilizer on talent, leadership, and culture through research, sector insights, andfield-wide convenings.
• Partner with the Chief Program Officer to design, pilot, and scale innovations that address critical sector challenges and opportunities.

Partnerships & Stakeholder Engagement

• Build and sustain high-impact relationships with funders, Jewish organizations, research institutions, and sector leaders.
• Represent Leading Edge in public forums, conferences, and philanthropic settings to strengthen reputation and deepen investment in talent andleadership development.
• Convene stakeholders to drive collaboration, innovation, and field-wide adoption of Leading Edge’s standards and practices.

Data, Impact, & Technology

• Lead development of data-informed strategies that strengthen Leading Edge’s thought leadership and program effectiveness.
• Oversee the creation of tools, dashboards, and evaluation frameworks that measure organizational and sector-wide impact, ensuring continuouslearning and iteration.
• Harness technology to create scale, efficiency, and engagement, while ensuring alignment with organizational goals

The Person: Pivotal Experience & Expertise

• Strategic Growth: Proven senior leadership experience shaping and executing strategies that drive organizational growth, field-wideinfluence, and lasting impact. Visionary, data-driven, and results-oriented, with a demonstrated record ofdesigning and scaling high-impact initiatives. Skilled at systems-level thinking and brings creativity and problemsolving ability to complex challenges.

• StakeholderEngagement &Influence: Exceptional skill in building and maintaining relationships with diverse partners. Outstanding communicationabilities, both written and verbal; this leader will be equally adept at speaking to executive audiences, engaginggrassroots professionals, and galvanizing networks toward shared goals.

• Data, Insight, &ThoughtLeadership: Deep facility with data-informed strategy, research, and evaluation, with the ability to translate complex findingsinto accessible insights that drive decision-making. Familiarity with Jewish communal life and its unique challengesand opportunities is preferred; candidates without direct Jewish nonprofit experience should demonstrate theagility and curiosity to quickly gain fluency in the field.
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The Person: Culture Impact

• People-CenteredLeadership: Deeply committed to supporting, empowering, and elevating people, both within the organization and in thebroader community. Serves as a trusted collaborator to the CEO and executive team, contributing intellectual rigorand courage to strategic decision-making.

• Collaboration &Trust: Approaches leadership with humility and mutual respect, demonstrating high emotional intelligence that inspiresconfidence across staff, funders, and sector leaders. Serves as a mentor and culture carrier, cultivating talent andmodeling curiosity and empathy. Creates spaces where people feel heard, valued, and elevated, buildingleadership capacity across the organization and field.

• Agility &Innovation: Thrives in dynamic, fast-changing environments. Inspires teams to adapt, innovate, and deliver results withoutlosing sight of long-term goals. Navigates complexity and change with steadiness and compassion. Balances boldvision with relational sensitivity, enabling the organization to grow while maintaining alignment and morale duringtimes of transformation.

Compensation

This is a full-time exempt position, with a salary between $300,000 and $325,000 commensurate with experience. Leading Edge providesa best-in-class benefits package, including: 100% coverage for employees and 50% coverage for spouses and dependents for medical,dental, and vision; retirement matching, wellness benefits, ample flex time, and a three-month paid parental leave; and a generousprofessional development stipend.

Engagement Team

J.J. Cutler
Managing Partner, Social Impact Practice
jcutler@heidrick.com

Elliana Sinykin
Associate, Social Impact Practice
esinykin@heidrick.com

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Leading Edge is committed to equal employment and advancement opportunities. Leading Edge does not discriminate againstemployees or applicants for employment on any legally recognized basis [“protected class”] including, but not limited to: race, color,ethnicity, religion, creed, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, and related medical conditions), gender, pregnancy, reproductive healthdecisions, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, transgender status, national origin, citizenship, alienage, ancestry, age,disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, partnership/union status, familial or caregiver status, status as a victim orwitness of domestic violence, veteran or military status, political affiliation, hairstyle or hair texture, or any other basis protected byfederal, state, or local laws. Leading Edge considers skill, experience, education, attitude, and potential for growth when employmentselections and all other employment-related decisions, such as compensation or promotion, policy administration, etc., are made.