Community Engagement Social Worker at Rita Levine Rabin Hillel at Hunter College

Hillel International • New York, NY

10d • $85,000 - $90,000

About The Position

The Community Engagement Social Worker is the in-house social worker at Rita Levine Rabin Hillel at Hunter College. The role combines relationship-building and wellness care to help students access support, feel connected, and find a welcoming Jewish community. The social worker leads the Wellness Program, connects students to food, career, mental health, and campus resources, builds relationships with students, mentors student leaders, and supports students as they navigate college.

The role is divided approximately equally between student engagement and student wellbeing and support systems. Student engagement includes outreach, supervising and mentoring interns, facilitating student-leader meetings, developing programs, co-facilitating Jewish learning, recruiting for immersive experiences, and monitoring digital channels for opportunities to connect with students. Student support includes managing food-access programs, coordinating career services, providing short-term one-on-one support and referrals, maintaining resource and assistance systems, training staff, and reporting data to funders.

Hunter Hillel serves more than 1,100 commuter students annually in New York City, including many first-generation and lower- or middle-income students with substantial work, family, and financial responsibilities. The organization addresses immediate needs and builds community, leadership, and Jewish connection. The role is full-time and exempt, with a stated starting salary range of $85,000–$90,000.

Requirements

• Master of Social Work (MSW) degree.
• Experience with college-age students, ideally in campus, community, or youth settings.
• Strong communication, organization, and teamwork skills.
• Commitment to inclusive, welcoming environments.
• Readiness to support student issues including food insecurity, job readiness, family crisis, and financial literacy.
• Comfort engaging students in settings such as Shabbat dinners and one-on-one conversations.

Nice To Haves

• LMSW credential.
• SIFI credential.
• Program planning or supervision experience, or a strong interest in learning.
• Familiarity with Jewish life.
• A strong New York City network.
• Openness to growing one’s relationship to Judaism.

Responsibilities

• Build relationships with 75 unique students annually, including 30 per semester who are not yet engaged in Jewish life, using tabling, lounge time, and coffee chats.
• Track student engagement in Hillel systems and contribute to funder and Hillel International reports.
• Supervise undergraduate engagement interns and facilitate the monthly student leaders’ meeting.
• Develop new programs each semester and support Shabbat, late-night, and other programming.
• Co-facilitate a Jewish Learning Fellowship class each semester, incorporating a wellness perspective.
• Recruit students for Birthright, Perspectives, and the annual Shabbaton.
• Monitor student WhatsApp chats and Hillel social media channels to identify opportunities for connection and students who may need individual support.
• Run the monthly Met Council grocery program and weekly sliding-scale kosher lunches; assess need, track participation, and make referrals.
• Coordinate career services with CommonPoint Queens, organize the annual alumni and seniors career gathering, and run free headshot events twice a year.
• Provide one-on-one short-term support, receive staff referrals, and connect students to mental health care and campus services such as counseling and housing.
• Supervise two MSW interns each year and mentor undergraduate wellness interns.
• Maintain the resource directory; track scholarship and cash assistance with leadership; train staff on serving students; and report data to UJA-Federation and other funders.

Benefits

• Hillel pays 85% of individual health insurance premiums and 70% of family premiums.
• 403(b) retirement plan.
• Up to $2,500 per year for professional development.
• Annual professional conference and national Hillel cohorts.
• Culture of mutual respect, humor, and healthy work-life balance.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level