Executive Director

Organizational Structure & Reporting

The Executive Director reports to the Board President and has the following direct reports:

Administrative/office staff (1.0 FTE)
Program, membership and communications staff (3.0 FTEs)
Facilities personnel (2 FTEs plus hourlies)
Contracted service providers (e.g., security, bookkeeping, accounting, IT, vendors, etc.)
As stated above, the ED maintains key collaborative relationships with:

Clergy
Congregational members
Congregational leaders and volunteers
Board Committees (e.g. Finance, Governance)
Member Driven Committees (e.g. Hospitality, Hesed, Membership, social action)
External vendors and partners

Scope of Work & Key Responsibilities

Operational Leadership

Oversee day-to-day operations, including administration, communication, marketing and digital presence, facilities, and vendor management
Ensure continuity across core functions
Ensure alignment between congregational values and operational practice
Maintain a visible, steady, and collaborative presence within the community
Support communications, publications, and digital platforms (including website and social media)
Foster a culture of teamwork, accountability, and effective collaboration
Manage risk and ensure adequate insurance protection for the organization
Develop, maintain and ensure accuracy of CRM and membership portal
Ensure compliance with legal, regulatory and safety requirements
Working with clergy and staff, coordinate life cycle events, programming, and facility usage with member volunteers and member-driven committees

Staff & Human Resource Management

Supervise and evaluate direct report staff and contractors
Lead hiring and onboarding for key roles
Clarify/define roles, responsibilities, and workflows for all positions
Revise as needed and oversee the performance management system
Ensure effective HR practices, policies are implemented, complied with and updated
Collaborate with the Board’s Personnel Committee and any HR Consultants, as needed

Financial Oversight

Collaborate with the Treasurer and Finance Committee to oversee budget development and day-to-day financial operations
Ensure accurate financial reporting, internal controls, and compliance
Monitor budget performance and maintain budget discipline and transparency
Oversee membership-related financial policies and processes
Participate in and support fundraising efforts, including the Annual Appeal and endowment initiative
Serve as the operational and logistical foundation that enables relationship-based fundraising by the VP of Development and volunteer fundraising leadership

Facilities, Security & Vendor Management

Oversee facility management, maintenance, and security
Coordinate synagogue food service, ensuring health and kashrut compliance
Manage capital projects and contractor/vendor relationships
Coordinate scheduling, space use, and resource allocation
Support long-term facilities planning with Board leadership

Governance & Board Support

Support Board processes and governance practices
Prepare materials for and attend Board meetings
Maintain organizational records and ensure policy compliance
Serve as lead professional for many of the congregation’s lay-led committees, partnering with committee chairs and Board liaisons to ensure committees operate within their chartered scope, have what they need to do their work, and understand the distinction between lay voice and professional authority
Participate in committee charter development, annual planning, and budget processes, and ensure that committee activities are coordinated with relevant staff rather than substituting for professional functions
Support the ongoing governance modernization work of the Board, including the implementation of a new committee charter and professional boundary framework across the committee system

Membership & Community Experience

Work closely with the Board’s VP of Community Engagement, the Membership Committee, the Hospitality Committee and the Hesed Committee
Ensure responsive and welcoming engagement with members and prospective members
Facilitate member engagement and retention strategies
Support membership services, educational programming, and volunteer engagement
Serve as a key informational resource for the community
Foster a warm, inclusive and high performing culture to ensure the office and facilities are welcoming to staff, clergy, congregants and visitors

Professional Development

Engage in ongoing learning related to synagogue leadership and nonprofit management

Qualifications & Experience

Required and Preferred Technical Qualifications:

BA in a relevant field plus a minimum of seven years of senior administrative and supervisory experience
Experience in membership-based or nonprofit organizations
Cultural competence and familiarity with Jewish rituals, values and practices
Experience with community organizing and relational approaches
Strong financial management and budgeting expertise
Demonstrated success in staff supervision, hiring, performance management, and team development
Experience managing facilities and vendor relationships

Required Leadership Competencies:

Strong oral and written communication skills
Demonstrated interpersonal skills
Strong organizational and project management skills
Expertise in conflict management and strategic thinking
High level of discretion and ability to manage confidential information
Proficiency in business and information systems—office software, databases and digital communication tools
Comfortable working within a religious/congregational setting
Ability to lead effectively with diverse constituencies in a congregational setting
Demonstrated commitment and ability to work productively with volunteer-led committees — providing professional guidance and accountability while genuinely honoring lay voice and expertise
Clear understanding of the distinction between staff authority and committee advisory function, and the interpersonal skill to maintain that distinction without conflict