Executive Assistant, Rabbinic – Job Description

Since our founding in 1825, B’nai Jeshurun (BJ) has been at the forefront of the American Jewish experience. As we approach our third century, our vision is focused on the spiritual work of transformation and on the creation of a Jewish path that is authentic, profound, and helps all members of our community seek and live their purpose to the fullest.

Our spiritual leaders and our nearly 1,800 member families share a vision of a diverse, dynamic, and inclusive community that offers many paths to Jewish religious life, while supporting one another in their spiritual quests. We are committed to honoring tradition while re-imagining and innovating our practices and programs to create a vibrant, contemporary, and relevant Jewish life for all who are seeking it.

Our community is led by Rabbi Rolando Matalon, together with a senior leadership team that comprises Rabbi Felicia Sol, who oversees all programs, and Executive Director/COO Colin Weil, who oversees advancement, communications, finance and administration, and operations. BJ has a staff of approximately 40 full-time and 10 part-time employees.

Our pivot to all-virtual programming during the COVID-19 pandemic expanded our reach substantially to thousands of additional individuals and families from around the country and beyond, who now regularly join us for prayer and learning. Our post-pandemic vision includes a dynamic hybrid operation where most of our offerings are available in-person in our historic Upper West Side campus, as well as through various online platforms. Additionally, we are building a robust library of on-demand content for our community.

Job Overview

The Executive Assistant, Rabbinic, role will consist of providing clerical and administrative support to Rabbi Rolando Matalon and Rabbi Felicia Sol. To be a successful candidate for this role, one must be a quick learner and problem solver with a welcoming and professional personality. This is a rewarding position in a dynamic work environment for a capable and responsible candidate. Standard working hours are Monday through Fridays, generally with evenings, weekends, and holidays off, however occasional evening work will be required, and all staff support massive High Holy Days operation. A quality candidate should also be mature, flexible, and discerning in relating to others and must be able to communicate clearly and articulately in verbal and written forms.

Key Responsibilities include but not limited to

Clerical and Administrative Support

• Maintain confidentiality and uses a high degree of discretion.
• Coordinate logistics, prioritization, and multiple calendars for high-level meetings between Rabbis and staff, as well as between Rabbis and community members.
• Provides calendar management. Prioritizes inquiries and requests while troubleshooting conflicts; makes judgments and recommendations to ensure smooth day-to-day flow that allows for down-time as needed.
• Handles all calls/visitors and responds to correspondences with grace, sophistication and professionalism.
• Manage certain personal and confidential administration for the rabbis.
• Interact with the Board of Trustees, principal volunteers, and donors.
• Coordinate materials, travel, and itineraries for appointments and trips.
• Monitor donations, create reports and thank you letters for major donors.
• Manage personal and confidential records and communications.
• Manage and review Toward Shabbat weekly email.
• Coordinate quarterly Rabbinic and Minyan Grid.
• Maintain Rabbi’s Shabbat and Holiday Calendar and Rabbinic In/Out Calendar.
• Compile weekly Pulpit Notes with input from multiple teams.
• Coordinate with the Senior Manager of the Executive Office to arrange board meetings and other collaboration with Board leaders and the Executive Director.
• Work closely with Lifecycles manager related to pastoral care of members.
• Take notes at meetings and share as required.
• File, retrieve, and manage documents.

Coordinate Rabbinic Classes, Retreats, Services, and Special Events:

• Manage creation of website content, program registration, learning packets, room setup, emails, and monitoring via Zoom.

Other:

• Be a resource for members with comments, questions, ideas, and issues/
• Provide support to the membership and development department during the High Holy Days season.
• Work with the Development department to coordinate various fundraising events, campaigns, and donor engagement.
• Ad hoc projects for the Executive Director.
• Other duties as assigned.

Experience and Skills:

• BA degree and minimum of 3-5 years of administrative experience, preferably experience supporting a senior level position.
• A basic understanding of Jewish knowledge and culture is highly preferred.
• Highly organized with the proven ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.
• Superb attention to detail and highly organized ability to prioritize.
• High proficiency with Microsoft Office and Google Suite (calendar, drive, and email) required.
• Experience with Salesforce and Nitro preferred.
• Expert level of professional written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong decision making ability.
• Excellent interpersonal, team-building and communication skills.
• Ability to work in a fast paced environment, under pressure, while remaining flexible and efficient.
• Anticipate needs and solve problems proactively.
• Ability to work during Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur required.

Compensation and Benefits:

This is a full-time, exempt position, with a salary range of $55,000-$70,000 based on experience level. Salary will be based on experience level. BJ offers medical, dental, and vision insurance policies, vacation, sick, and holiday (to include National and Jewish) pay, and a 403b retirement plan.

To Apply:

Please send resume and cover letter to careers@bj.org with the subject line, “Executive Assistant, Rabbinic.”

B’nai Jeshurun is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion in recognition of our values, commitment to social justice, and responsibility to our spiritual leaders and staff, congregants, and the communities within which we live and work. We strongly encourage applications from people of color, persons with disabilities, women, veterans, immigrants, and LGBTQIA+ applicants.