What you will be responsible for:
“Jewish wisdom, traditions, and culture [have the power to be] resources for navigating the joys and challenges of daily life, enabling young people to thrive... For today’s educational programs to be successful, they must deliver on this promise.” -- From Census to Possibilities: Designing Pathways for Jewish Learners
Will you help our great city deliver on this promise?
In this role, you will make your mark on and lead JUF’s commitment to ensuring that Chicago’s youth (in elementary through high school) experience a Jewish education that helps them thrive. This means working closely with the education leaders at Chicago’s part-time Jewish education programs to support the sector with relationship building, professional learning, grant making, and data collection. It also involves deep listening—listening to the data, to families, and to young people—to understand the programming gaps in our community and consider how the community might fill them. This position starts on June 20th, 2024.
What you can expect from JUF:
A warm, caring, and collaborative workplace where you have the autonomy to make this work your own and the support system to realize your vision. Seriousness of purpose and joyfulness of spirit will surround you on the JUF Education team and beyond. Formal and informal mentoring available. Hybrid work environment (working downtown Tuesday-Thursday), professional development budget, and generous benefits including a 401(k) match, 22 days of paid time off, 11 sick days, and up to 21 paid holidays. The salary range for this role is $80,000-$110,000.
What you will be doing:
- Working across the denominational spectrum to strengthen Chicago’s network of part-time educational leaders and programs for learners.
- Envisioning and nurturing an ecosystem in which a maximal number of Jewish young people (grades K-12) have access to and enroll in compelling, joyful, high-quality Jewish educational programs in Greater Chicago.
- Mapping the Jewish learning experiences of learners between grades K-12 in Greater Chicago, with an eye toward identifying gaps and areas for growth.
- In support of congregational education programs and leaders:
- Providing friendly, insightful consultation.
- Fostering professional learning for Chicago’s congregational education leaders to improve learner outcomes in Hebrew, Israel, and Jewish studies.
- Devising initiatives and/or convenings that bolster part-time Jewish education in areas such as talent pipeline, social-emotional learning, working with families and clergy, relational leadership and engagement, generational trends and gaps among stakeholders, curricular enhancement, system change, and data collection.
- Periodically visiting part-time Jewish educational programs when they are in session (including occasional weekends).
- Working together with JUF’s Evaluation and Quality Improvement team and various stakeholders to co-create a shared outcomes framework that illustrates our communal goals for the Jewish education of learners in elementary, middle, and high school.
- Partnering with the JUF Teen Department to support the growth of formal Jewish educational programs for teens.
- Participating in national leadership convenings for part-time Jewish education.
- Undertaking assignments tasked at the discretion of the Associate Vice President of JUF Education.
- Supporting JUF Campaign and mandatory campaign-related activities on an ongoing basis.
What you need to succeed:
- 8+ years experience with leadership in the Jewish community
- 5+ experience leading a Jewish education program (preferably in the last 10 years)
- MA or higher in Jewish education or relevant field
- Passion for excellent educational experiences for young people
- The boldness of an innovator and the heart of an educator
- Track record of innovative thinking, visionary leadership, and change management in Jewish education
- A keen sense of what is happening on the ground in part-time Jewish education, including challenges, innovative curricula and solutions
- Extensive network in Jewish education and Chicago Jewish community
- Background in working with and serving a diverse array of educators, learners, and stakeholders from across a community
- Strong ability to convene and facilitate conversations
- Warmth, with a kind sensibility, integrity, and a sense of humor
- Record of working as a self-starter
- Strong organizational and planning skills
What you’ll love about us:
At JUF, you can be part of one of the largest non-profit social welfare institutions in Illinois. We provide food, refuge, healthcare, education, emergency assistance, and essential services to 500,000 Chicagoans of all faiths and millions of Jews around the world. We offer medical, dental, and vision insurance, 401(k) with base contribution and match, additional health and wellness benefits (pet insurance!), financial benefits, professional training, tuition reimbursement, paid family leave, and much more. We have a flexible schedule with core hours and the ability to work from home / remote a few days per week on a hybrid basis.