Disability Services Fellow

Jewish Family & Children's Service of Minnesota•Golden Valley, MN

13h•Hybrid

About The Position

The Disability Services Fellow supports and expands the Jewish Community Inclusion Program (JCIP) at JFCS. This yearlong paid fellowship is designed to cultivate new leaders in the Jewish community disability services field and provides leadership opportunities, community engagement, mentorship, training, and professional experience. Projects are aligned with the Fellow’s interests and program needs. The Fellow collaborates with JFCS staff across departments, develops opportunities with community partner organizations, promotes accessibility and inclusion at JFCS events and external programs, and builds supportive relationships with program participants and their families. Potential projects include community assessment, program evaluation, event preparation, resource referrals, accessibility consultation, inclusion advocacy, volunteer coordination, and community education. The hybrid fellowship runs January 1, 2027 through December 31, 2027 and is approximately 15 hours per week, including at least 7.5 hours per week in the JFCS Golden Valley office. The schedule is flexible but requires some evening and weekend availability, especially Sundays, to attend community events and programs. The fellowship provides a $10,000 stipend. Course credit may be available if permitted by the participant’s degree requirements. The Fellow receives ongoing mentorship from JFCS staff, relevant training and professional development opportunities, and community connections to support future career goals.

Requirements

Passion for disability inclusion and accessibility.
Strong relationship-building skills, including the ability to connect with and build trust among Jewish adults with disabilities, their families, and community partner stakeholders.
Ability to foster a welcoming, inclusive, accessible, and engaging environment for volunteers, partners, and clients of all identities and abilities.
Resourcefulness, adaptability, and effective collaboration skills.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
Attention to detail and ability to manage multiple projects on different timelines.
Ability to model and uphold organizational values of compassion, inclusion, innovation, integrity, and collaboration.
Comfort using Microsoft Office, cloud-based collaboration platforms, and basic data-management tools, and ability to learn new systems.
Some evening and weekend availability, especially Sundays.
Ability to work approximately 15 hours per week, including at least 7.5 hours per week in the JFCS Golden Valley office.

Nice To Haves

Graduate study in social work, disability policy and services, nonprofit administration, education, or a related field.
Early-career interest in gaining experience and training in disability services, Jewish communal work, and a comprehensive human services agency.
Need for a community organization placement for a relevant degree or licensure program, if its requirements align with the fellowship parameters.
Experience and/or interest in community assessment, program evaluation, disability inclusion advocacy, and/or case management.
Eligibility to receive course credit, subject to degree requirements.

Responsibilities

Support and expand the Jewish Community Inclusion Program (JCIP) at JFCS.
Collaborate with JFCS staff across departments.
Establish new opportunities with community partner organizations.
Elevate accessibility and inclusion at JFCS events and external programs.
Build supportive relationships with program participants and their families.
Contribute to projects such as community assessment, program evaluation, event preparation, resource referrals, accessibility consultation, inclusion advocacy at local organizations, volunteer coordination, and community education.
Attend community events and programs, including some evenings and weekends, especially Sundays.