Managing Director, Think-Action Lab

The Jewish Education Project

New York, NY

Opportunity for Impact

The Jewish Education Project is devoted to ensuring that Jewish education is in tune with the forces that impact our world and our communities in a changing environment. We believe that in a rapidly changing world, Jewish education must continually evolve to meet the needs of the Jewish community. The power of harnessing knowledge and curating ideas to inspire the various stakeholders who influence Jewish education is a vital component of this work.

In this time of rising antisemitism, Jewish learning should support identity-building, creating confident, proud Jews who are well-equipped to respond to the challenges they will face. In this complex and challenging world, the work of Jewish education is more urgent than ever.

We are committed to bringing the most creative solutions to a field that must remain relevant and meaningful in the lives of Jewish youth and their families today and tomorrow. For more information about The Jewish Education Project, please visit www.jewishedproject.org

Position Overview

The Jewish Education Project seeks a full-time Managing Director as an integral member of the Jewish Education team, leading our work on experimentation that supports innovation in the structure, pedagogy, and content of Jewish educational environments across North America. The Managing Director will, together with other team members, shape the newly-formed Think-Action Lab into a generative, creative, experimental laboratory with a growth-oriented, fail-forward mindset. S/he/they will be a voice for innovation, change, and new approaches in Jewish education. The Managing Director will focus on evolving ideas and trends in both the Jewish and secular world and will enable educators to understand how these changes apply to and can impact Jewish learning. S/he/they will create professional development, tools, and resources that support educators in experimenting with new ideas and approaches. S/he/they will also lead our work in designing new approaches and models of Jewish education that meet these changing needs. When appropriate, s/he/they serve as a consultant to educational leaders to help them adapt and implement these new models. S/he/they will embrace new thinking and inspire others to do so as well.

Reporting to the Chief Jewish Education Officer, s/he/they will play a key role in The Jewish Education Project’s work to reorient Jewish education toward contemporary educational philosophies (broadly encompassed in a thriving orientation) using our aspirations framework as a guide. S/he/they will focus, in particular, on partnering with entrepreneurs, camps, JCCs, and families to create new access points for Jewish education to address the urgent issues of Jewish education today.

Key Responsibilities

• Serving as an integral member of the education team at The Jewish Education Project, using the collective work and experience to think through and develop innovative strategies.
• Being a spokesperson and advocate for new approaches and models of engagement locally, regionally, and nationally.
• In collaboration with the Chief Jewish Education Officer and other team members, crafting a vision for the Think-Action Lab that creates a culture of experimentation and failing forward.
• Serving as a team leader by coordinating activities of fellow team members and providing accountability.
• Supervising team members who help to implement innovation initiatives.
• Designing, implementing, and teaching/facilitating cohorts and initiatives that help others learn and use new educational approaches.
• Serving as a consultant to help educators change their practice.
• Building community, providing support and resources through educator networks.
• Working collaboratively with the team to develop resources, document work, collect data, and participate in strategic planning and visioning.
• Teaching/Leading content-rich sessions on behalf of The Jewish Education Project at national and regional conferences.
• Contributing to The Jewish Education Project social media platforms.
• Leading or collaborating on other education initiatives as needed.
• Travelling to other communities to teach/lead/consult approximately 4-6 times per year.

Experience, Qualifications, and Competencies

• Candidates with diverse cultural, educational, and experiential backgrounds are urged to apply.
• Experience in innovation, preferably in creating or working within a start-up organization or an organization with a track record of innovating.
• 10+ years of experience in pluralistic and progressive Jewish educational environments that demonstrate his/her/their track record of educational success.
• At least 5 years’ experience as the leader of a program, initiative, or organization strongly preferred.
• Experience with supervision and team leadership strongly preferred.
• Extremely strong interpersonal skills and the ability to develop strong relationships with a wide variety of people.
• The ideal candidate will have a creative disposition and be motivated by experimentation and therefore comfortable with succeeding, failing, and pivoting.
• The Ideal Candidate will have multiple of the following:

• Experience facilitating cohorts in a professional setting
• Experience facilitating professional development to various constituencies
• Experience leading or teaching in a year-round part-time Jewish educational environment
• Experience with educational innovation or experimentation.

• Coaching and/or consulting experience/certification.
• Master’s Degree in Jewish education, Social Work, Jewish communal service, or related degree preferred.
• Ability to lead and partner with integrity and inspiration; flexibility and openness to working with professional and volunteer community leaders.
• Capable of teaching others to expand the circle of skill; creativity and ability to push and inspire others to think beyond the traditional educational landscape to use new concepts and strategies.
• Entrepreneurial self-starter; a problem solver with top notch planning and prioritizing skills.
• A persuasive and passionate communicator, both written and oral

What We Offer

• Competitive salary in the range of $145,000 - $165,000 depending on experience.
• Three weeks paid time off in year 1; increasing incrementally on a set schedule.
• Comprehensive health insurance.
• 401k plan.
• Paid family leave.
• Commuter benefits.
• Early close on Fridays for Shabbat and closed for most Jewish holidays.
• Shortened summer hours.
• A positive work environment with exposure to great learning opportunities and the chance to work with some of the top professionals in the field of Jewish Education.

How to Apply

• Please submit resume and cover letter to careers@JewishEdProject.org. Please include the job title in the email subject line.
• The Jewish Education Project is an equal opportunity employer.
• Applications accepted immediately. Interviews expected to begin mid-July 2024.

Location

Hybrid work environment with Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays at 1675 Broadway, New York, NY 10019.

The Jewish Education Project aims to select, place and train the best qualified individuals based upon relevant factors such as work quality, attitude and experience, so as to provide equal employment opportunity for all our employees in compliance with applicable local, state, and federal laws and without regard to non- work related factors such as race, color, religion/creed, gender, national origin, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, veteran status, or any other protected class. We encourage and support diversity and tolerance in our workplace.