Stephen Hoffman is a graduate of Dickinson College and received his MSW from the University of Maryland and a Masters in Jewish studies from the Baltimore Hebrew University. He also was a graduate of the Council of Jewish Federations' federation executive recruitment and education program (FEREP).

In July of 2001, Stephen Hoffman became the Chief Executive Officer of the United Jewish Communities. Prior to his current position, Steve's professional life had been spent at the Jewish Community Federation of Cleveland where he began as an associate in the community relations department and later led the social planning and research departments, as well as had supervisory responsibilities for community relations, communications, and other matters before becoming the chief professional officer of the Federation in December 1983. He was also the founding director of the Council for Initiatives in Jewish Education on a part-time basis while continuing to serve as the chief professional officer of the Federation.

He serves on the Visiting Committee of the Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences of Case Western Reserve University, is a board member of the Musical Arts Association (Cleveland Orchestra) and of the Greater Cleveland Roundtable, an organization devoted to promoting racial harmony in the city of Cleveland.

He is an Associate Member since February 2009. In the past he served as an Associate Member of the Executive.