Program Director

About the Knoxville Jewish Alliance
The Knoxville Jewish Alliance (KJA) serves as the central hub of Jewish life in Knoxville and East Tennessee, uniting Jewish community, culture, education, social services, Israel engagement, and community-building under one organization.

Position Summary
The Program Director will function as the lead professional for KJA/AJCC community programs and events, overseeing the planning, development, execution, and evaluation of a diverse calendar of Jewish, cultural, social, educational, and community-building experiences. This individual will collaborate closely with KJA leadership, lay leaders, volunteers, community partners, and staff to develop a vision for programs and ensure its successful implementation.

Additionally, the Program Director will act as the Shinshinim Supervisor, providing mentorship and professional supervision to KJA’s Israeli Shinshinim, coordinating their placements and schedules, supporting their host families, and serving as a key liaison with community partners and The Jewish Agency for Israel.

The Program Director will report directly to the CEO of the Knoxville Jewish Alliance.

Primary Responsibilities
Community Programs & Events
Serve as the lead professional responsible for the planning and execution of KJA/AJCC’s community-wide programming.
Develop, manage, and evaluate a diverse annual calendar of programs that reflects the interests and needs of the Knoxville Jewish community.
Lead planning for major signature events, including but not limited to:
Shabbat at the Pool
Sundown in the Sukkah
Annual Chanukah Program
Knoshville Jewish Food Festival
Yom HaShoah programming
Social and community galas
Fundraising events and future signature events
Develop and coordinate smaller and recurring programs throughout the year, including:
Challah baking
Mah Jongg lessons and tournaments
Summer pool parties
Israeli cultural and educational programming
Social gatherings
Adult and family programs
Community celebrations and holiday programming
Identify opportunities for new programs based on community interests, trends, feedback, and KJA’s strategic priorities.
Manage program logistics including timelines, vendors, facilities, registration, supplies, staffing, volunteers, budgets, communications, and day-of execution.
Work collaboratively with the Communications team to promote programs effectively and ensure timely communication with the community.
Establish systems for evaluating programs, measuring participation and engagement, and using feedback to improve future offerings.
Develop and maintain program budgets and operate programs responsibly within approved financial parameters.
Lay Leadership & Community Engagement
Partner closely with KJA lay leaders and volunteers to develop a shared vision for individual programs and events.
Serve as the lead professional voice in program development while ensuring that lay leaders feel meaningfully engaged and invested.
Recruit, coordinate, and support volunteers for programs and events.
Build strong relationships with community members and identify opportunities to bring new people into KJA programming.
Work across KJA’s agencies and programs to create opportunities for collaboration and cross-community engagement.
Develop relationships with local Jewish organizations, synagogues, schools, and community partners to strengthen KJA programming.
Shinshinim Program Supervision
Serve as KJA’s primary professional supervisor for the community’s Shinshinim.
Provide regular check-ins, mentorship, guidance, and support to Shinshinim throughout their year of service.
Assist Shinshinim in navigating cultural adjustment, professional expectations, schedules, relationships, and challenges that arise during their year.
Coordinate Shinshinim work placements and schedules across KJA, schools, synagogues, and other community partners.
Maintain regular communication with partner institutions regarding Shinshinim responsibilities, performance, and needs.
Recruit, coordinate, and support Shinshinim host families, including regular follow-up and relationship management.
Facilitate a positive and supportive host-family experience and organize appreciation or community-building opportunities as appropriate.
Coordinate training, professional development, team meetings, and other activities for Shinshinim.
Monitor Shinshinim performance and provide feedback and coaching when appropriate.
Serve as a primary local point of contact with The Jewish Agency for Israel and other relevant Shinshinim program partners.
Assist in integrating Shinshinim into the broader Knoxville Jewish community and maximizing their impact across the community.
General Organizational Responsibilities
Work closely with the CEO and other KJA staff to advance organizational priorities and strategic goals.
Participate in staff meetings, organizational planning, and community-wide initiatives.
Represent KJA professionally at community events and with external partners.
Maintain accurate program records, calendars, budgets, and other administrative information.
Support fundraising and development activities connected to programs and events when appropriate.
Perform other duties as assigned by the CEO.

Qualifications
The ideal candidate will possess:

2–4 years of professional experience in program management, event management, community engagement, Jewish communal work, nonprofit work, or a related field.
Experience working within a Jewish organization or a strong understanding of Jewish community life, culture, holidays, and traditions.
Demonstrated ability to plan and execute events and programs from concept through completion.
Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple projects, deadlines, and priorities simultaneously.
Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
Experience working effectively with volunteers and lay leadership.
The ability to balance competing perspectives while maintaining a clear professional vision and direction.
Strong attention to detail and follow-through.
Comfort working independently and taking initiative in a dynamic environment.
The ability to build authentic relationships with individuals of varying ages, backgrounds, and levels of Jewish involvement.
A collaborative, positive, and service-oriented approach.
Willingness to work some evenings, weekends, and holidays as required by the program calendar.

Preferred Qualifications
Experience working with Jewish youth, Israel programming, or Israeli emissary programs.
Experience supervising or mentoring young professionals, interns, fellows, or volunteers.
Experience managing budgets and working with vendors.
Experience with Jewish communal organizations, JCCs, federations, synagogues, Hillels, camps, or similar organizations.
Experience with event registration, CRM/database systems, or other nonprofit technology.