ABOUT PROJECT SHEMA

The word shema comes from the Hebrew word “to hear,” and it’s this concept that guides everything we do. We are a team with diverse identities who have invested our lives in uplifting vulnerable communities. Listening with curiosity and compassion is at the center of our relational engagement approach. Our goal is to help others understand Jews’ stories, identities and lived experiences. Since its founding, Project Shema has supported Jewish institutions and major corporations, locally and globally, to explore these complex issues.

OUR WORK

Project Shema is an independent nonprofit organization that trains and supports the Jewish community and allies to understand and address contemporary antisemitism, with an emphasis on how anti-Jewish ideas can emerge in progressive spaces and in discourse around Israel and Palestine. Founded by Jewish leaders with deep ties in social justice movements, Project Shema brings a fresh and humanizing approach to these challenging issues.

OUR TEAM VALUES

• The Collective (Ha-Klal): Our approach is grounded in consideration for the best interest of the collective.

• Continuous Learning (Hitpatkhut): Being a great training and support organization requires a humble team dedicated to continuous listening, learning, and growth.

• Pursuit of Excellence (Shaifa L’metzuyanut): We are committed to high standards and we understand excellence as the byproduct of clear objectives, shared planning, continuous refinement, and preparation for what is within our control.

• Wellness (Briyut): The intensity of this issue will test us emotionally, so our team will place a priority on well being and sustainability.

• Joy (Simcha): We believe in the power of joy and humor to nurture resilience and a healthy work environment.

JOB OVERVIEW

This role serves as a key operational partner to the Partnership & Engagement team, providing high-level coordination, administrative support, and systems management to drive effective partner and client outreach and engagement. The position supports the Vice President of Partnerships & Engagement by managing complex calendars, maintaining CRM and tracking systems, coordinating communications, and ensuring accurate data and workflow organization. In addition, the role contributes to cross-functional special projects by conducting research, managing timelines, and supporting senior leadership with actionable insights and seamless execution. This role’s Partnership and Engagement portfolio is focused on the education vertical, specifically K-12 school campuses and universities, supporting outreach, relationship management and program coordination with school administrators, campus organizations and other higher education stakeholders nationwide. This role is fully remote, required to primarily work Pacific time zone hours and reports to the Vice President of Partnerships & Engagement. 

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Partnerships Engagement Team Coordination & Operations (70%)

• Support the VP of Partnerships & Engagement on intake and exploratory calls with prospective partners (K-12 school campuses and universities); ensure accurate note-taking and timely updates to internal calendars and tracking systems

• Own the management and optimization of engagement tracking systems (CRM, calendars, internal tools), ensuring data integrity, consistent reporting and ability to track progress against goals 

• Maintain and update lead databases with high accuracy, ensuring data integrity and timely entry of new prospects and activity logs

• Support the VP of Partnerships & Engagement and Partnerships Manager to coordinate complex calendars for team members, scheduling internal and external meetings across multiple time zones

• Draft, proofread, and send external email communications on behalf of VP of Partnerships & Engagement, ensuring consistency in organizational tone and branding

• Assist VP of Partnerships & Engagement in organizing team workflow by tracking deadlines, meeting follow-ups, and action items

• Exercise discretion and independent judgment in handling sensitive information, partner communications, and internal decision-making processes

• Ad hoc administrative support for VP of Partnerships & Engagement

Special Projects Administration (30%)

• Support and/or execute special projects as requested outside of the Partnerships & Engagement team in partnership with the VP of Partnerships, Chief Strategy Officer, and/or Chief Executive Officer

• Conduct research and synthesize findings into clear, actionable recommendations for senior leadership decision-making

• Manage team calendars and organize meetings across departments, prioritizing shifting demands and time zones

TRAVEL EXPECTATIONS

This role may require occasional travel to support in-person relationship building. Project Shema’s full staff gathers in person twice per year for in-person staff retreats. Travel is planned well in advance and all expenses are covered by the organization.  

GENERAL EXPECTATIONS

• You have a deep commitment to the wellbeing of the Jewish people.

• You are aligned with the organization’s core principles as listed here.

• You have a strong work ethic, are a self-starter, and can be productive with minimal supervision in a fast paced environment.

• You are detail oriented, well-organized, and proactive.

• You have exceptional verbal and written communication skills, with a polished and professional demeanor.

• You can uphold confidentiality standards and practice empathetic listening to support thoughtful, respectful, and effective communication with both internal and external partners.

• You are comfortable and professional on camera for multiple daily Zoom meetings with both internal teams and external stakeholders.

• You can build and learn processes and systems as we go and can be relied upon to follow up and follow through.

• You are skilled in working with a wide range of people, adapting to different communication styles, and building strong partnerships to achieve common goals.

• You are highly adaptable and thrive in a dynamic workplace setting while demonstrating the ability to adjust to new challenges or projects quickly. 

• You are proficient with Microsoft Office, especially Excel and PowerPoint, along with Slack, SalesForce, Google Drive including Forms, Airtable, and Mailchimp (or similar technology).

• We believe in a flexible approach to work and trust our team members to deliver the objectives of their roles within the deadlines we set collaboratively.

• This role has an expectation of responsiveness within 24 hours on workdays to the stakeholders being supported by this work.

• Occasional flexibility in working hours may be required to accommodate scheduling needs across time zones.

REQUIRED EXPERIENCE

• Demonstrated ability to communicate confidently and credibly with executives and senior leadership

• Strong attention to detail, with the ability to track and recall granular information while keeping sight of the bigger picture

• Collaborative, resourceful working style, including comfort looping in others, even those more senior, to get things done

• A creative, outside-the-box problem-solving approach that doesn't default to rigid process when flexibility is needed

• Experience managing up effectively- proactively flagging issues, seeking input, and keeping leadership informed without prompting

PREFERRED EXPERIENCE

• Experience working with K-12 schools, college/university campuses, or similar education-sector institutions

• Experience providing high-level support to a senior executive- keeping them on task, anticipating next steps, and keeping projects and timelines moving

• Salesforce experience strongly preferred; comfortable picking up new tech tools and systems quickly

• Demonstrated project management experience, managing multiple concurrent workstreams and deadlines

• Track record of operating independently in fast-paced environments, without requiring close oversight or hand-holding

• Experience holding space for difficult or emotionally heavy conversations — including accounts of racism, antisemitism, or other trauma shared by partners — with composure, empathy, and professionalism

• Demonstrated ability to maintain an extremely high level of confidentiality, particularly when handling sensitive, personal information and stories

SALARY & BENEFITS

Compensation:  The salary for this role is $72,100. To ensure internal equity and consistency across the organization, compensation for this position is set and not subject to negotiation.

Benefits

• $1,000 monthly contribution to a Health Reimbursement Account (HRA)

• $200 monthly wellness reimbursement stipend

• Annual company contribution to 401k

• $1,500 annual Professional Development fund

• Annual Remote Work Stipend

• 16 weeks of paid leave for new parents

• 3 month sabbatical after 4 years full-time tenure

• Flexible work structure

Paid Time Away from Work

At Project Shema, we value the importance of time off to recharge, connect with family and community, and maintain overall well-being. Our generous PTO policy is designed to offer autonomy and flexibility as part of our broader compensation package.

The organization observes three annual full-team closures (The days between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, known as Ten Days of Teshuvah; Thanksgiving week; and the last two weeks of December). In addition, employees receive two weeks of personal vacation, unlimited sick time, three flexible holidays, ten federal holidays, and paid time off for select Jewish holidays.

HOW TO APPLY

Email 1–2 paragraphs outlining how your unique skill set fits within the responsibilities below along with your resume to apply@projectshema.org. Please include “Partnerships & Engagement Coordinator, Education” in the subject line.

Project Shema seeks to build an inclusive organization. We welcome all applicants who align with our values, regardless of identity, and incorporate equity-based considerations into our selection and compensation process. We also want to explicitly encourage people to apply even if they don’t feel like they meet all the qualifications below. We don’t want any passionate person to hold back from pursuing a role due to doubts about qualifications.