Role Overview

The University of Connecticut Hillel is seeking a dynamic, engaging, and innovative professional with an entrepreneurial spirit and strong leadership skills to join our staff as Assistant Director. The Assistant Director will be responsible for programming, engagement, and leadership development for our student community. We are seeking a leader with a strong talent for coordinating and integrating the many moving parts of UConn Hillel’s programs and projects to ensure the effective flow and function of our staff and student leaders. The Assistant Director will work collaboratively with a talented staff and engaged student leaders to pursue UConn Hillel’s mission to connect Jewish students to each other and to their Judaism, to inspire and equip the next generation of Jewish leaders, and to build a thriving Jewish community on campus.

What You’ll Do

• Work closely with student leaders and staff to envision, co-create, and support high-impact, innovative programming, and Jewish experiences and to offer support and guidance.
• Direct, coordinate, mentor, and support the growth of our programming staff members.
• Manage all information flow within the organization to keep our team on the same page including marketing, social media, programming and overseeing the program calendar.
• Oversee engagement and database tracking of students’ participation and engagement and maintain our data management system as part of the Measuring Excellence initiative of Hillel International. Help staff and students to make effective use of this data as a “data-informed” organization.
• Manage and ensure implementation of ongoing and signature programs such as holiday and Shabbat programming, Hummus Experience, FYSH (First Year Students of Hillel), and more.
• Mentor student leaders as they contribute to Hillel and the campus community in new, creative ways. Recruit, supervise, and lead the student internship team and student board including developing leadership retreats and on-going leadership development.
• Develop and implement opportunities to expand Hillel’s reach and visibility on campus and in the community through partnerships, relationship building, sponsorships, and campus-wide initiatives.
• Lead weekly staff meetings, meet one-on-one with staff, and facilitate staff involvement in full-team efforts (i.e., major holidays, FYSHFest, Welcome Week programming, UConn Family Weekend).
• Oversee the program budget, distribute funds, account for costs, and pursue grant opportunities.
• Staff and attend events. This role requires flexibility and includes occasional nights and weekends.
• Participate in ongoing Jewish learning and professional development.
• This role is a fully onsite position.

What You’ll Bring to the Job

• 3-5 years professional experience. Hillel experience strongly preferred, or experience in Jewish, experiential, and/or higher-education settings.
• A passion for working with emerging adults and investing in their growth as Jewish leaders, a commitment to pluralism, and a belief in the potential of every college student to grow as a leader and as a person.
• Strong supervision skills and the ability to manage multiple projects, motivate and empower others to achieve outcomes.
• Keen organizational and management skills that will continue to unify our team.
• Familiarity with higher education and campus settings.
• An awareness of your unique Jewish knowledge and experiences and ability to serve as a role model to inspire others on their Jewish journey.
• A drive to engage in ongoing personal and organizational self-evaluation with an openness to trying new ideas and learning from mistakes.
• Strong written and verbal skills with an ability to communicate with a variety of stakeholders effectively and proactively, including students, parents, staff, alumni and university partners.
• Demonstrated ability to think and act strategically in order to reach goals, including proactive planning and attention to deadlines.
• A commitment to creating an inclusive, vibrant, and pluralistic Jewish community.
• A strong entrepreneurial spirit and approach oriented towards creative problem-solving, proactive communication, and collaboration.
• Confidence initiating and running programs, and comfort asking questions.
• Ability to collaborate across teams both inside and outside of Hillel.
• Bachelor’s degree required; Advanced degree is a plus

What You’ll Receive

• Competitive salary in the non-profit marketplace. The salary range for this role is $70,000 - $75,000.
• A comprehensive benefits package, including health insurance, retirement plan, Life, AD&D and Long Term Disability (LTD) insurances, generous vacation/sick time, and parental leave.
• Great professional development, mentoring, and skill-building opportunities.
• Travel regionally and abroad, particularly to Israel as relevant.

About UConn Hillel

UConn Hillel provides a friendly, warm, and pluralistic environment in which students can shape their college experience by connecting socially, culturally, and spiritually to their Judaism. Hillel operates out of a beautiful 8,500 square foot facility in the center of campus and near the Kosher dining hall. With almost 2,000 Jewish college students, Hillel offers students the means to explore and celebrate their Jewish identity in a dynamic and comfortable environment. Each year, Hillel connects students to their community, their peers, and their heritage through an array of social, cultural and community service programs. The momentum is here, and we want to continue our trajectory.