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

The Executive Assistant to the Chief Strategy Officer provides dedicated executive support for the Chief Strategy Officer (CSO) with broader administrative responsibilities across the organization. This role serves as the CSO’s primary point of contact for scheduling and administrative matters. The role also supports VP-level staff on an as-needed basis for similar administrative functions and special projects, as well as maintaining organization-wide infrastructure and systems. This role is fully remote and reports to the Chief Strategy Officer.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Executive Administrative Support

• Provide administrative support to the Chief Strategy Officer (CSO), including complex calendar management, meeting coordination and travel arrangements

• Serve as primary point of contact for CSO scheduling and administrative matters

• Coordinate logistics for internal and external meetings involving the CSO, including scheduling, virtual setup and distribution of meeting invites

• Draft communications for internal audiences on behalf of the CSO

• Manage expense reports, reimbursements, and vendor relationships for the CSO

• Serve as backup support to the Executive Operations Coordinator as needed

• Support special projects and initiatives as assigned by the CSO or VPs

General Organizational Administration

• Maintain shared calendars and schedule all-staff meetings

• Maintain primary inventory of organizational subscriptions, memberships and software licenses

• Serve as primary administrator for adding, removing and updating user accounts across organizational systems and platforms

• Troubleshoot basic software/system issues for staff

Vice President Level Support 

• Provide limited, ad hoc administrative support to the VP-level contained to meeting coordination and travel arrangements as needed

TRAVEL EXPECTATIONS

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 strong 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 daily Zoom meetings with both internal teams and external stakeholders.

• You can 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, Slack, Salesforce and Google Drive, and are comfortable learning new systems

• 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.

PREFERRED EXPERIENCE

• Experience in an executive assistant or senior administrative support role, ideally supporting C-suite or VP-level executives

• Experience managing complex, multi-stakeholder calendars, travel logistics and expense reports

• Non-profit and/or Jewish organization experience a plus

• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail

• Strong interpersonal skills and professionalism in interactions with staff, board members and external partners

SALARY & BENEFITS

Compensation:  The salary for this role is $65,000. 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 put “Executive Assistant to the CSO” 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.