Wise Temple is pleased to partner with DRG to conduct this search.

BACKGROUND

The Organization

Founded in 1841, Wise Temple is Cincinnati’s largest synagogue and a leading institution in American Reform Judaism. Shaped by Rabbi Isaac Mayer Wise, founder of the American Reform Movement, the congregation has influenced Jewish life for more than 180 years and remains a vibrant center of worship, learning, and community engagement.

Wise Temple serves a diverse, multigenerational community across two campuses: the historic Plum Street Temple in downtown Cincinnati, a National Historic Landmark closely tied to the growth of American Reform Judaism, and the Isaac M. Wise Center in Amberley Village, the congregation’s hub for worship, education, programming, and administration. Together, they reflect Wise Temple’s historic legacy and commitment to a dynamic Jewish future.

At its core, Wise Temple's mission is to bring the traditions of Judaism into everyday life by strengthening relationships, creating belonging, and celebrating a Judaism that grows through learning, reflection, and action. The congregation offers meaningful worship experiences, a well-established religious school (Kehillah), lifelong learning opportunities for all ages, and robust programming that reflects the diverse interests of the community, including social justice, civic engagement, adult learning, and thoughtful dialogue on contemporary issues.

Rooted in enduring Jewish values and inspired by a spirit of lifelong learning, reflection, and joy, Wise Temple is a welcoming and inclusive community that embraces individuals, families, and interfaith households from diverse backgrounds. Grounded in a rich congregational legacy and a tradition of strong leadership, Wise Temple is led today by a vibrant and collaborative team that is advancing the congregation's vision through innovation, growth, and meaningful community engagement.

The Position

Wise Temple seeks a visionary, strategic, and relationship-driven educational leader to guide the next chapter of Kehillah, its religious school serving students from age three through eighth grade. This is not a maintenance role, but an opportunity to reimagine and strengthen a core congregational program with significant potential for growth and impact. Whether coming from congregational education, secular education, youth engagement, camp leadership, or another mission-driven educational setting, the successful candidate will partner with clergy, staff, educators, and families to evaluate current practices, implement innovative approaches to teaching and engagement, and create a compelling educational experience that meets the evolving needs of today's families. The Director will play a critical role in shaping a bold vision for Jewish learning that deepens Jewish identity, builds a strong knowledge base about Jewish life and Jewish people, fosters belonging, and inspires lifelong connection to Jewish life and community. High school students have opportunities for involvement in Kehillah and participate in Shelanu, a separate community teen program. Although Shelanu is led separately, the Director will partner closely with its leadership and work directly with madrichim in support of Kehillah's educational mission.

ROLE OVERVIEW

Learning, Student Success & Inclusion

• Provide visionary leadership for Jewish education by assessing the strengths of the current curriculum and educational model, identifying opportunities for growth, and developing a clear strategy to enhance student learning and engagement. Design, implement, and continuously evaluate curricular, instructional, and Hebrew learning initiatives to ensure meaningful educational outcomes and a dynamic, relevant Jewish learning experience.
• Design learning experiences that spark wonder, curiosity, and connection, ensuring that students of different interests, abilities, and learning styles feel engaged, successful, and eager to return each week.
• Design, coordinate, and schedule enrichment experiences that complement core learning and foster creativity, connection, and engagement, which may include Torah Play, Teva (nature), Team Building, Music, Art, Sefer (book) Safari, and other experiential learning opportunities.
• Oversee Hebrew instruction, including faculty supervision, tutoring coordination, and individualized student support, while evaluating and enhancing curriculum, instructional practices, and student outcomes.
• Cultivate meaningful connections to Jewish identity, values, traditions, Israel, and contemporary Jewish life through engaging and relevant educational experiences.
• Champion an inclusive, student-centered learning environment by strengthening systems that support positive behavior, belonging, and diverse learning needs.
• Evaluate program effectiveness, classroom experiences, and community needs, using feedback and assessment to drive continuous improvement and innovation.

Recruit, Support & Retain Effective Educators

• Recruit, hire, onboard, develop, evaluate, and retain a high-quality team of part-time teachers through effective hiring practices, clear performance expectations, ongoing feedback, coaching, and thoughtful performance management.
• Support and develop faculty through orientation and safety training, cohort meetings, lesson-planning guidance, classroom management support, professional development, and regular communication.
• Cultivate a positive, collaborative, and mission-driven faculty culture through meaningful teacher recognition, appreciation initiatives, and ongoing relationship-building.
• Assess staffing needs and organizational capacity, recommending, hiring, and supervising additional personnel as necessary to support program goals and growth.

Build Strong Relationships with Students, Families & Staff

• Serve as a visible and trusted leader who builds strong relationships with students, families, educators, clergy, congregational leadership, and Temple staff while ensuring stakeholders remain informed, engaged, and connected through clear, consistent, and transparent communication.
• Work in partnership with Wise clergy and fellow educational leaders to build a cohesive educational community, ensuring that all Wise Temple students are supported through a coordinated and relational approach.
• Lead key educational milestones and community experiences, including Consecration by partnering with families, supporting students, and coordinating logistics that create meaningful and memorable moments.
• Leverage the educational experience as a powerful entry point into congregational life, creating opportunities for connection across grades and generations while helping students and their families develop a deep sense of belonging and see Wise as their Jewish home.
• Represent Wise Temple within the broader Jewish educational community through active participation in professional networks, including the Cincinnati Jewish Education Council.

Lead Program Operations & Administration

• Provide effective operational leadership for Kehillah, including creation of the annual academic calendar, scheduling, registration and enrollment processes, classroom and facility planning, and coordination of clergy participation.
• Oversee the department budget and steward resources to ensure programs are well-supported, effectively managed, and aligned with institutional priorities.
• Plan and manage key programs and special events, including the annual Purim Carnival, Youth Leadership Day participation, and other community-building initiatives that enhance the student and family experience.

Additional Qualifications

• Experience working with children and families, with a strong understanding of age-appropriate learning and student development.
• Experience leading educational programs, including curriculum development, learning outcomes, program administration, and lesson design.
• Demonstrated ability to recruit, support, coach, and develop educators while fostering a positive and collaborative team culture.
• Deep knowledge of Jewish traditions, values, history, and practice, along with the ability to inspire and guide meaningful Jewish learning. Familiarity with Reform Jewish life, culture, and values and/or experience in Jewish education is valued.
• Experience supporting Hebrew language learning and Hebrew education is highly valued.
• Commitment to inclusive education and supporting students with diverse learning styles and needs.
• Demonstrated success leading organizational or educational change, building trust among stakeholders, and translating vision into sustainable implementation and measurable impact.
• Strong organizational and project management skills, with the ability to balance multiple priorities in a dynamic environment.
• Wise Temple welcomes candidates from a variety of educational backgrounds, including synagogue, congregational, camp, experiential, and informal Jewish education. Those with strong Jewish knowledge and transferable leadership and educational skills gained in other settings, including but not limited to secular educational environments, are also encouraged to apply.

Who You Are

You are a relationship-centered Jewish educator whose warmth, emotional intelligence, and authentic presence enable you to connect meaningfully with people across generations and roles. Grounded in Jewish values and inspired by the possibilities of Jewish learning, you bring creativity, vision, and collaborative leadership to your work. You are energetic, approachable, and highly collaborative, with a natural ability to build trust, foster belonging, and navigate relationships thoughtfully with children, parents, educators, clergy, staff, and lay leaders. Through engaging Jewish learning and community-building, you help create a culture of connection, belonging, and lifelong Jewish engagement, strengthening the fabric of Jewish life across Wise.

Who We Are

Wise Temple is a collaborative, mission-driven organization where clergy, staff, and lay leaders work in close partnership to advance a shared vision for Jewish life. Supported by a stable membership base, strong financial resources, and an engaged leadership community, we offer an environment where talented professionals can do meaningful work with confidence and support. Ours is a culture marked by collegiality, creativity, and a genuine sense of joy. Team members are encouraged to bring new ideas forward, build strong relationships across the organization, and contribute to a workplace that values excellence, innovation, and continuous growth.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

Salary

$115,000-$150,000 commensurate with experience, training, and education.

Benefits

Wise Temple offers a comprehensive benefits package designed to support employees' health, financial well-being, and work-life balance, including:

• Medical benefits and other comprehensive employee benefits coverage.
• Generous paid time off (PTO) to support work-life balance and employee well-being.
• Congregation membership to support your Jewish life and engagement in the community.
• Relocation assistance for candidates moving from outside the Cincinnati area.
• An annual retirement contribution equal to 10% of salary through the Temple's pension plan.

TIMELINE AND NEXT STEPS

If you are interested in this position, please click apply. All applicants will receive an email confirming receipt of their application.

We encourage candidates of all backgrounds to apply even if you do not meet all the qualifications outlined above. If you are selected to move forward for an initial screening call, we expect you to hear from us by November.