PART-TIME EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

COMMUNITY HEVRA KADISHA OF GREATER BOSTON

Location: Boston, MA (working from home, available for in-person meetings)

Title: Executive Director

Who We Are

Founded thirteen years ago, the Community Hevra Kadisha of Greater Boston (CHK) is an independent, non-profit, non-denominational, gender-inclusive organization. We are committed to making the full range of traditional Jewish burial rituals accessible to the entire Jewish community. The Hevra Kadisha has performed over eleven hundred Taharot. For a detailed overview of this practice, click here.

Our mission is twofold:

1. To provide the Greater Boston Jewish community one of the most significant and respected mitzvot in our tradition-the ritual of Tahara (ritual washing and preparation of the deceased prior to burial). We accomplish this by training a cadre of caring volunteers (haverim) to perform this mitzvah in a ritually prescribed manner when called upon to do so; and
2. To educate Greater Boston’s Jewish community about traditional Jewish death practices.

Who You Are:

• You are highly organized, detail-oriented, discreet, and compassionate.
• You thrive in a small and growing entrepreneurial environment where there is a balance of independent and collaborative work.
• You have some familiarity with Jewish ritual and burial customs but do not need to be an expert.
• You can effectively manage and collaborate with volunteer leaders and our partner funeral home staff, and have a commitment to thoughtful follow-through.
• You inspire confidence with your vision and communication skills, you seek out moments for relationship building with existing and new partners, and navigate a complex organizational landscape with grace and ease.
• You are comfortable representing and honoring the full breadth of what it means to be a pluralistic and gender-inclusive hevra kadisha, working with our volunteers and member communities across the spectrum of Jewish life and belonging. You have a commitment to constructive conversation around differing views–you are able to meet people where they are across a wide range of starting places.
• Importantly, you are a strategic thinker who can help the organization define and move into our next phase.
• You are interested, comfortable, and willing to do fundraising work for the Hevra, from institutional donors, partner synagogues, and individuals.

The Opportunity

Community Hevra Kadisha is an established leader in bringing pluralism and gender inclusivity to our sacred work. We are seeking an innovative and resourceful leader, who will collaborate with the Board of Directors and volunteers to expand both the reach of our current services and implement existing and new offerings. We see this role as critical to lead CHK into the next phase of organizational development.

Core areas of work include:

1. Organizational Infrastructure Development: continuing to develop effective technological systems available to support the mission. This includes database development and maintenance, communications, and website maintenance.
2. Fundraising: working with the board to ensure the financial viability of the organization by seeking out funds from individuals, member organizations, and foundations/grant makers. Creation and implementation of a fund development plan in partnership with the Board of Directors and in consultation with community organizations.
3. Collaboration with and support of Board leadership:
   1. Partnerships: Building and developing organizational partnerships (ex: funeral homes, Jewish organizations focused on end-of-life)
   2. Community Education: Developing and offering community programs and tahara trainings
   3. Volunteer Experience: Support volunteer involvement both around tahara volunteer experience and other ways volunteers support the Hevra’s work
   4. Community engagement and outreach: Connect with synagogues, community organizations, the rabbinic community and other stakeholders to forward our mission to educate and engage the community at large around Jewish death rituals.

Hours + Remote options:

Due to the sensitivity of this work, it is crucial that the individual is Boston-area-based and available for in-person meetings. That said, much of the work can be done remotely. This is a part-time, 20 hours/week position. Weekend work is rare.

Salary Range:$40,000/yr or higher, commensurate with experience (20 hrs/week) with generous vacation and holiday schedule.

Organizational Culture:

Our core principles are chesed and rachamim, kindness and compassion. We are a group of compassionate, progressive-minded individuals who believe that pluralism is possible. Our organization reflects these beliefs by the diversity and inclusivity of our membership. Communication is collaborative and respectful.

More information is available at: https://www.hevrakadisha.org/

How to Apply

If you’ve read this far, please know we are looking for someone interested passionately in this work. Frequently cited statistics show that women/underrepresented groups apply to jobs only if they meet 100% of the criteria. CHK encourages you to break that statistic and apply.

Please submit a meaningful cover letter and resume to Barbara Neustadt [email hidden] with your name and “CHK Executive Director” in the subject line. No phone calls, please. Receipt of cover letter and resume will be acknowledged and candidates will be contacted if there is an opportunity to be interviewed.

Statement of Equal Opportunity

CHK provides equal opportunity to all people regardless of race, color, ethnicity, religion, national origin, sex, gender (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, body configuration, age, disability, marital status, height, weight, or political belief. This policy applies to all employees and applicants for employment.