Job Description

Cornell Hillel, a flagship Hillel within the Hillel movement, seeks an Executive Director to work in partnership with students, campus staff and faculty, alumni and Hillel’s Board of Trustees to strengthen and sustain a meaningful, vibrant, and dynamic Jewish campus community. The ideal leader will be a strong community organizer who will bring a passion for Jewish life, learning, Israel and a commitment to pluralistic Jewish expression. The top candidate will have proven experience in building capacity and organizational excellence, as well as experience building a Jewish educational vision that includes Israel education, student engagement and leadership.

Reports to: Cornell Hillel Board of Trustees, and to the President of Hillel International.

What you do well:

• Building and sustaining a vision, prioritizing when one area needs to take precedence over others.
• Engaging and inspiring others, including students, staff, donors and volunteer leaders, in an exciting vision for Jewish life on campus.
• Finding creative ideas and solutions, and helping those ideas come to fruition. Raising the capital and find the stakeholders who can make those ideas a reality.

What you bring to the position:

• An advanced degree in an applicable field and a minimum of 5 years of prior professional management experience are preferred.
• A proven track record of professional success in leadership/management, including knowledge of financial resource development, staff supervision and development, strategic planning and organizational development, Jewish education and Jewish culture and values.
• Joy in working with college aged students.
• Strong Jewish leadership and a love of Jewish life and practice as well as a nuanced understanding of Israel education and advocacy.
• Proven ability to work with a Board of Trustees and donors.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, facilitation, and team- and consensus-building skills
• Ability to maximize effective use of office technology.
• Comfort traveling regionally, nationally and internationally as needed.

What you will own:

Student life and engagement

• Provide guidance and leadership which empowers Cornell students to create meaningful programming and campus activities
• Support students as they engage in the full range of activities which Hillel offers
• Deal with the cycle of life events affecting Jewish students during their college years
• Assist students in dealing with various University departments to facilitate programming and activities

Strategic Planning, Vision and Leadership

• Develop, articulate and promote a dynamic and innovative vision for Jewish life at Cornell in partnership with key stakeholders, including students, Board of Trustees, alumni, parents, staff , Hillel International and Cornell University.
• Manage programs and projects to ensure effective and efficient internal operations and external affairs, including reporting, data and metrics to track progress and growth.

Jewish Education

• Facilitate pluralistic Jewish student life on campus, engaging with and encouraging students to develop meaningful Jewish journeys and experiences.
• Empower students to create and implement their own Jewish programming on campus
• Work cross-denominationally to encourage and promote an inclusive approach to religious expression.
• Work with the university and stakeholders to ensure the provision of kosher food on campus.

Board of Trustees

• Engage with dedicated lay leaders committed to Cornell Hillel’s mission and vision.
• Work with Board of Trustees committees to implement the strategic vision for Cornell Hillel.
• Provide Board of Trustees with the information they require to fulfill obligation to monitor Cornell Hillel and make informed decisions. Provide opportunities for Trustee interaction with students, young alumni, administration and others interested in the furtherance of Jewish campus life.

Financial Resource Development and Management

• In close coordination with the Board of Trustees, develop and implement a strategic approach to financial resource development and management to sustain Cornell Hillel’s operations.
• In conjunction with the Development Director and Development Committee of Board of Trustees, spearhead development activities, including annual and endowment/capital campaigns, major gifts cultivation, planned giving efforts and face to face solicitation.
• Oversee and manage the fiscal operation of Hillel through budget planning and management processes.

Human Resource Management

• Cultivate potential Hillel professionals as well as develop current professionals to be leaders in this work.
• Manage a dynamic team with a track record of success and innovation. Oversee the supervision, performance evaluation, and ongoing professional development of the Cornell Hillel staff.
• Provide opportunities for continuing professional training, growth and education.

Community Relations

• Overall responsibility for the strategic relationships with all stakeholders, including students, the University, parents, alumni, and donors.
• Serve as the representative of the Jewish community on campus, and promote awareness of campus-based needs and issues in the local Ithaca Jewish community.
• Advocate on behalf of Jewish students and Jewish interests, and utilize appropriate organizational resources in the Jewish community.
• Work in collaboration with Hillel International professionals and volunteer leaders.

What you’ll get out of it:

• Hillel offers a comprehensive benefits package, including health insurance, Group Supplemental Retirement Annuity (GSRA), pension plan, life insurance, Long Term Disability (LTD), Flexible Spending Plan, generous vacation/sick time, and parental leave.
• Competitive salary.
• Great professional development, mentoring, and skill building opportunities.
• Travel regionally and abroad, particularly to Israel.
• Unlimited paid coffee dates with students.

More about us:

Cornell University is one of the world’s foremost institutions of higher education, with seven undergraduate schools and five graduate schools located in Ithaca, NY, in the Finger Lakes Region of Central New York State. Cornell Hillel is housed in Anabel Taylor Hall, home of the Cornell United Religious Works. Jewish students make up approximately one-quarter of the student body on the Ithaca campus, approximately 3,500 students. Cornell Hillel currently engages a talented professional team of ten full time professionals.

Cornell Hillel sponsors more than two dozen student organizations and has one of the largest student-allocated program budgets within Hillel. Cornell Hillel sponsors a variety of student-led Shabbat services every week, and provides religious observance for the High Holy Days, Passover and other occasions. Cornell is home to hundreds of Hillel programs each academic year.  Cornell Hillel is affiliated with Hillel International. Hillel International enriches the lives of Jewish students so that they may enrich the Jewish people and the world, and envisions a world where every student is inspired to make an enduring commitment to Jewish life, learning and Israel.

Ithaca combines small town life with a world class academic/college town community. Ithaca has been named one of the top 100 places to live, a top 10 recreation city, a best green place to live, and one of the "foodiest" towns in America.

To Apply:

Visit www.hilleljobs.com to apply. Please contact [email protected] with questions.

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