Temple Beth El, Aptos CA Executive Director Job Posting

Temple Beth El (TBE), affiliated with the Union for Reform Judaism (URJ), is located in Aptos, CA, with over 570 member families. Situated in Santa Cruz County on the beautiful Central Coast, we’re less than an hour from San Jose/Silicon Valley, and 90 minutes from San Francisco. We have redwoods and the beach within 5 minutes of our beautiful campus! In addition to the services, events, school and educational programs at the main campus in Aptos, we own and operate two cemeteries in Santa Cruz and Soquel and regularly host events throughout the county. We own our campus with no debt obligation and have an endowment at the local community foundation.

TBE has a strong reputation for welcoming and including interfaith families, LGBTQ+ community members, and interfaith action, and TBE respects Jewish pluralism as a “big-tent” congregation in a community with a major university. We have an award winning pre-school, Temple School, summer camp, and other pathways to maintain a strong pipeline for new members.

Our Executive Director is retiring, and we are seeking a collaborative, relationship-driven leader to fill the role. Reporting to the Board of Directors and in close collaboration with the Senior Rabbi and as part of the Senior Management Team (SMT), day-to-day responsibilities fall into the following five categories, as described by the URJ:

1. Development

   1. Budget management: Drafting, implementing, and monitoring the annual operating budget in collaboration with the Treasurer and Finance Committee, and for approval by the Board of Directors

   2. Revenue oversight: Managing dues collection, tuition billing, vendor payment tracking, and bidding and execution of contracts.

   3. Fundraising support: Overseeing the administrative execution of annual campaigns, endowments, grants, and fundraising events.

2. Facilities Management, Safety, & Security

   1. Building maintenance: Supervises and supports staff to manage day-to-day operations, repairs, and capital improvement projects for the physical campus.

   2. Security protocols: Developing emergency preparedness procedures and serving as the liaison to local law enforcement and security vendors.

   3. Space utilization: Supervises and supports staff to coordinate room rentals, event setups, and master calendar scheduling for both internal programming and outside functions.

   4. Technology: Manages software and hardware needs including but not limited to network infrastructure, ShulCloud, Quickbooks, Microsoft or Google Suite, Zoom, and goals and guardrails around new media including AI.

   5. Cemeteries, schools and camp: TBE operates two cemeteries whose business and facilities need guidance and oversight. We also run a strong pre-school (Simcha), religious school, and summer camp which are semi-autonomous but need fiscal leadership and are reflected in the overall TBE budget.

3. Human Resources & Staff Leadership

   1. Personnel supervision: Hiring, training, mentoring, scheduling, and evaluating non-rabbinic staff, including administrative, facilities, and financial members.

   2. HR compliance: Oversees HR administration, including personnel policies, benefits, managing payroll, maintaining the employee handbook and ensuring workplace standards with employment laws.

   3. Team culture: Fostering a collaborative and positive work environment that supports the spiritual goals set by the clergy.

4. Membership Engagement & Communication

   1. Community interface: Providing operational leadership and oversight for membership efforts, in consultation with the staff and Senior Management Team.

   2. Marketing & PR: Providing strategic oversight of the synagogue's digital presence (including website at tbeaptos.org, social media, newsletters) whale supporting staff and volunteers responsible for day to day implementation. Maintaining relationships with local law enforcement and other agencies.

   3. Life-cycle assistance: Collaborating with clergy and staff to ensure logistical details for weddings, b'nai mitzvah, funerals, and other life cycle rituals run smoothly.

5. Governance & Lay Leadership Partnership

   1. Board relations: Providing strategic insight, operational data including budgets, and regular reports directly to the Board of Directors and SMT.

   2. Policy implementation: Translating the board's high-level vision and legislative policies into actionable administrative practices.

   3. Committee support: Advising and supporting lay-led committees (including but not limited to Finance, Membership, Buildings and Grounds, Fund Development, Cemetery) to bridge the gap between volunteer initiatives and practical execution.

   4. Collaboration: partners closely with the Senior Rabbi on matters for the benefit of the congregation.

The expected starting salary range for this position is $120K to $140K, plus a comprehensive package of benefits; actual salary will be negotiated based on relevant experience and ability. TBE is an Equal Opportunity employer and welcomes applicants from all backgrounds and lived experience.

Got questions? Interested candidates should send their cover letter and resum, or address questions, to treasurer@tbeaptos.org. Thanks for your interest!