Jewish Engagement Director

Asheville Jewish Community Center•Asheville, NC

About The Position

The Jewish Engagement Director provides strategic leadership for Jewish life at the Asheville JCC by creating meaningful opportunities for people of all ages and backgrounds to connect with Jewish culture, traditions, learning, and community. Working closely with the Executive Director, the Director establishes the vision and priorities for Jewish Engagement, identifies emerging community needs, cultivates strategic partnerships, and develops innovative engagement opportunities that strengthen Jewish identity, belonging, and community. This position is responsible for departmental leadership, staff supervision, budgeting, volunteer engagement, and ensuring that Jewish Engagement remains a vibrant and visible expression of the JCC's mission.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in related field or equivalent relevant experience required
Strong knowledge of Jewish history, culture, traditions, and values.
Passion for building Jewish community and creating welcoming, inclusive experiences.
Five or more years of experience in Jewish communal work, cultural programming, education, nonprofit leadership, or a related field.
Experience developing and managing community programs and events.
Demonstrated success developing long-term program strategies that increase engagement, participation, or community impact
Experience supervising employees and volunteers.
Strong organizational, project management, and problem-solving skills.
Excellent interpersonal, communication, and customer service skills.
Experience developing and managing departmental budgets.
Ability to build collaborative relationships with diverse stakeholders.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and Outlook.

Responsibilities

Develop and implement a long-term vision for Jewish Lifelong Engagement that advances the Asheville JCC's strategic priorities and responds to the evolving needs of the Jewish community.
Monitor emerging issues, demographics, trends, and member feedback to proactively identify opportunities for the JCC to deepen Jewish engagement through programming, partnerships, and community leadership.
Explore innovative models of Jewish engagement and recommend new programs, partnerships, and initiatives that strengthen the JCC's role as the center of Jewish communal life in Western North Carolina.
Conduct an annual review of the department's program portfolio, recommending programs to expand, redesign, sunset, or replace based on participation, community need, mission alignment, and financial sustainability.
Develop, oversee, and continuously evolve a diverse portfolio of Jewish programming that celebrates holidays, traditions, culture, history, and contemporary Jewish life for seniors, adults, families, teens, and children.
Recruit and support volunteers, presenters, and community "program champions" who help shape, implement, and promote programming.
Serve as an internal resource for integrating Jewish values, traditions, and culture throughout the organization.
Lead collaborations with department directors to incorporate Jewish themes into JCC programming, communications, and special events that create authentic, welcoming Jewish experiences throughout the organization.
Develop initiatives that expand the reach and impact of Jewish learning, connecting both Jewish and non-Jewish community members with meaningful Jewish experiences.
Build and maintain collaborative relationships with synagogues, Jewish organizations, schools, cultural institutions, and community partners.
Welcome Jewish newcomers by providing information about the JCC and helping connect them with appropriate programs, staff, and community resources in collaboration with the Membership Engagement Coordinator.
Establish annual departmental goals, priorities, and success metrics, regularly evaluating outcomes and adapting strategies to maximize impact.
Hire, train, supervise, coach, and evaluate department staff, including the Jewish Lifelong Engagement Coordinator, receptionists, and other assigned employees or contractors.
Draft and manage the department's annual operating budget.
Monitor departmental performance, evaluate outcomes, and provide regular reports to leadership and the Board.
Partner with the Marketing & Development Director to market programs, communicate impact, and increase participation.
Assist with grants, sponsorships, fundraising, and donor stewardship related to Jewish engagement initiatives.
Foster a welcoming, inclusive environment consistent with the Asheville JCC's mission and values.
Participate in organizational meetings and collaborative leadership initiatives.
Comply with all Asheville JCC policies and procedures.
Perform other duties as assigned.