Crisis Response and Community Preparedness Support Specialist

PURPOSE: Jewish Community Services (JCS) enhances the resilience and mental health of New York City's Jewish community through a population health approach. By equipping Jewish-serving organizations with essential knowledge and resources, JCS strengthens mental well-being and supports communities in navigating both everyday challenges and large-scale crises. This includes tailored training, scalable crisis response models, and operational frameworks designed for preparedness and rapid mobilization. The Crisis Response and Community Preparedness department strengthens the capacity of Jewish communities and partner organizations to prepare for, respond to, and recover from crises, trauma, and emerging communal challenges through clinical expertise, organizational consultation, preparedness planning, and resilience-building. The department responds when crises occur, builds capacity before they occur, and sustains individuals and communities through specialized stabilization services. Crisis Response provides structured clinical and operational leadership before, during, and immediately following community crises and critical incidents. This role supports the operation of JCS crisis response. Working under the direction and clinical supervision of the Senior Director, the Crisis Response and Community Preparedness Support Specialist carries crisis operations and coordination, staff and community support, Psychological First Aid, deployment and scheduling of response staff and volunteers, delivery of trainings and toolkits, and response documentation, so that support reaches communities quickly and each response is well run and well captured. POSITION OVERVIEW: The Crisis Response and Community Preparedness Support Specialist serves as the operational point person for JCS crisis response and is part of the crisis response lead team. The Senior Director leads each response, provides clinical oversight, and guides the continued development of the program. The Support Specialist coordinates people, logistics, and resources, supports the mobilization of staff and volunteers, and helps deliver the materials and trainings that bring support to the community quickly. Crisis response is the day-to-day anchor of this role. Program development and community support work is carried out as projects alongside it, structured so the Support Specialist can step fully into a response when a situation is activated. This is a new role within a growing department. It calls for someone who is clinically grounded, culturally attuned, comfortable working in an evolving environment, and motivated to help build something new. The Senior Director provides clinical supervision alongside direction, guidance, and mentorship. This role offers the opportunity to help build an emerging crisis response and community preparedness program and grow alongside it. KEY ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS: Crisis Response Operations and Coordination Readiness Serves as the operational point person and response team coordinator for JCS crisis response. Maintains response readiness, including current protocols, contact lists, and resource materials. Activation and mobilization Initiates the internal response protocol and coordinates its execution upon activation by the Senior Director or designated department leadership. Mobilizes and deploys response staff and volunteers as directed by the Senior Director, and manages scheduling and coverage throughout the response. Sets up and manages response logistics, including booking and scheduling systems, internal communications, and documentation. During the response Provides staff and community support throughout the response. Provides Psychological First Aid and trauma-informed crisis support, under the clinical supervision of the Senior Director. Produces and distributes response materials and referral information, coordinates translation and interpreter services, and uses culturally appropriate language in materials and communications. Tra…