Executive Director

Adat Shalom Reconstructionist Congregation | Bethesda, Maryland

Organizational Overview

Adat Shalom Reconstructionist Congregation is a vibrant, participatory synagogue located in Bethesda, Maryland, with an annual budget of approximately $2 million and 440 member households drawn from across the Washington, DC metropolitan area. The congregation serves as a central hub for worship, education, and community life, supported by clergy, professional staff, and a Board of Directors.

Following the departure of its long-standing Executive Director, the congregation seeks an accomplished and collaborative executive to lead the organization’s next phase of growth.

Position Overview

Adat Shalom seeks an experienced Executive Director (ED) to provide steady, values-driven leadership. This full-time position requires a collaborative leader who can advance our mission while managing day-to-day operations and supporting our community's spiritual, educational, and social initiatives.

The Executive Director operates within a shared leadership model involving clergy and lay leaders. Success in this role requires the ability to build trust quickly, navigate complex relationships with discretion, and maintain clear boundaries while fostering alignment.

As a key member of the leadership team, the ED will work collaboratively with the Board of Directors, Senior Rabbi, other clergy, staff, and congregants to sustain and strengthen the synagogue’s participatory culture and operations. The ideal candidate brings strong leadership, organizational, financial, and people management competency along with strong interpersonal skills, sound judgment, discretion, and a collaborative approach.

This role emphasizes operational excellence, team stability, consistent leadership presence as well as a commitment to empowering member volunteers while supporting the strategic and programmatic vision of the organization.

Organizational Structure & Reporting

The Executive Director reports to the Board President and has the following direct reports:

• Administrative/office staff (1.0 FTE)
• Program, membership and communications staff (3.0 FTEs)
• Facilities personnel (2 FTEs plus hourlies)
• Contracted service providers (e.g., security, bookkeeping, accounting, IT, vendors, etc.)

As stated above, the ED maintains key collaborative relationships with:

• Clergy
• Congregational members
• Congregational leaders and volunteers
• Board Committees (e.g. Finance, Governance)
• Member Driven Committees (e.g. Hospitality, Hesed, Membership, social action)
• External vendors and partners

Scope of Work & Key Responsibilities

Operational Leadership

• Oversee day-to-day operations, including administration, communication, marketing and digital presence, facilities, and vendor management
• Ensure continuity across core functions
• Ensure alignment between congregational values and operational practice
• Maintain a visible, steady, and collaborative presence within the community
• Support communications, publications, and digital platforms (including website and social media)
• Foster a culture of teamwork, accountability, and effective collaboration
• Manage risk and ensure adequate insurance protection for the organization
• Develop, maintain and ensure accuracy of CRM and membership portal
• Ensure compliance with legal, regulatory and safety requirements
• Working with clergy and staff, coordinate life cycle events, programming, and facility usage with member volunteers and member-driven committees

Staff & Human Resource Management

• Supervise and evaluate direct report staff and contractors
• Lead hiring and onboarding for key roles
• Clarify/define roles, responsibilities, and workflows for all positions
• Revise as needed and oversee the performance management system
• Ensure effective HR practices, policies are implemented, complied with and updated
• Collaborate with the Board’s Personnel Committee and any HR Consultants, as needed

Financial Oversight

• Collaborate with the Treasurer and Finance Committee to oversee budget development and day-to-day financial operations
• Ensure accurate financial reporting, internal controls, and compliance
• Monitor budget performance and maintain budget discipline and transparency
• Oversee membership-related financial policies and processes
• Participate in and support fundraising efforts, including the Annual Appeal and endowment initiative

· Serve as the operational and logistical foundation that enables relationship-based fundraising by the VP of Development and volunteer fundraising leadership

Facilities, Security & Vendor Management

• Oversee facility management, maintenance, and security
• Coordinate synagogue food service, ensuring health and kashrut compliance
• Manage capital projects and contractor/vendor relationships
• Coordinate scheduling, space use, and resource allocation
• Support long-term facilities planning with Board leadership

Governance & Board Support

• Support Board processes and governance practices
• Prepare materials for and attend Board meetings
• Maintain organizational records and ensure policy compliance
• Serve as lead professional for many of the congregation's lay-led committees, partnering with committee chairs and Board liaisons to ensure committees operate within their chartered scope, have what they need to do their work, and understand the distinction between lay voice and professional authority
• Participate in committee charter development, annual planning, and budget processes, and ensure that committee activities are coordinated with relevant staff rather than substituting for professional functions
• Support the ongoing governance modernization work of the Board, including the implementation of a new committee charter and professional boundary framework across the committee system

Membership & Community Experience

• Work closely with the Board’s VP of Community Engagement, the Membership Committee, the Hospitality Committee and the Hesed Committee
• Ensure responsive and welcoming engagement with members and prospective members
• Facilitate member engagement and retention strategies
• Support membership services, educational programming, and volunteer engagement
• Serve as a key informational resource for the community
• Foster a warm, inclusive and high performing culture to ensure the office and facilities are welcoming to staff, clergy, congregants and visitors

Professional Development

• Engage in ongoing learning related to synagogue leadership and nonprofit management

Qualifications & Experience

Required and Preferred Technical Qualifications:

• BA in a relevant field plus a minimum of seven years of senior administrative and supervisory experience
• Experience in membership-based or nonprofit organizations
• Cultural competence and familiarity with Jewish rituals, values and practices
• Experience with community organizing and relational approaches
• Strong financial management and budgeting expertise
• Demonstrated success in staff supervision, hiring, performance management, and team development
• Experience managing facilities and vendor relationships

Required Leadership Competencies:

• Strong oral and written communication skills
• Demonstrated interpersonal skills
• Strong organizational and project management skills
• Expertise in conflict management and strategic thinking
• High level of discretion and ability to manage confidential information
• Proficiency in business and information systems—office software, databases and digital communication tools
• Comfortable working within a religious/congregational setting
• Ability to lead effectively with diverse constituencies in a congregational setting
• Demonstrated commitment and ability to work productively with volunteer-led committees — providing professional guidance and accountability while genuinely honoring lay voice and expertise

· Clear understanding of the distinction between staff authority and committee advisory function, and the interpersonal skill to maintain that distinction without conflict

Engagement Details

• Start Date: October 1, 2026
• Schedule: Full-time
• Location: Bethesda, Maryland
• Work Requirements: Regular in-person presence, including Saturdays and evenings

Compensation & Benefits

· Competitive compensation, commensurate with experience. Salary range $130,000-$150,000.

· Comprehensive benefits package

· Professional development opportunities

· Vacation and holiday schedule

Working Environment

This position requires evening and weekend work for events and programs that support congregational life. The role involves collaboration with diverse stakeholders including clergy, lay leaders, members, and community partners. Must be comfortable working in a religious environment while respecting diversity and different levels of observance within the congregation.

Application Process

To apply, please submit:

• Cover letter addressing relevant leadership experience and salary expectations
• Resume or professional profile
• Start date availability
• Compensation expectations

Submission:

Send materials to: Search Committee at search@adatshalom.net

Priority consideration will be given to applicants submitting their resume prior to July 31. An Interim Executive Director is currently in place. All final candidates will be asked to furnish professional references at time of final interviews and will be subject to a criminal background check.Top of Form

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