Director of Jewish Life & Community Engagement

JCC Harlem is looking for a Director of Jewish Life and Community Engagement to join their team! The Director of Jewish Life and Community Engagement is responsible for designing and stewarding vibrant, relationship-centered programming that builds belonging and participation across JCC Harlem's community.

JCC Harlem is an initiative of the Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan, in collaboration with UJA-Federation of NY. We operate out of a 6,000-square-foot community center with an adjacent outdoor space on West 118th Street, providing a home base for residents of this richly diverse neighborhood renowned for its unique history and devotion to celebrating its culture and traditions. We are both intentionally Jewish and committed to facilitating experiences between those who identify Jewishly and those who identify otherwise-in service of connecting, growing, and learning within an ever-changing Jewish landscape.

This role dedicates 50% of time to leading the Jewish Life program area and 50% to Community Outreach, Social Responsibility, and Intergroup Relations. The ideal candidate is a creative programmer and community-builder who brings people together through meaningful experiences, cultivates participant leadership and partnerships, and ensures programs are welcoming, inclusive, and responsive to community needs.

The Marlene Meyerson Jewish Community Center in Manhattan

Together with our community, the Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan creates a welcoming and vibrant environment where individuals from all walks of life come together to connect, grow, and learn. Rooted in Jewish values, it is a cornerstone of the Upper West Side that provides something for every stage of life through a multifaceted array of offerings, spanning comprehensive children's and family programs, cutting-edge health and wellness, thought-provoking arts and culture, and vital social services. It imagines Jewish life that is inclusive and diverse, creating a supportive space for people of all backgrounds to engage, nurture their well-being, and find a deep sense of belonging.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Jewish Life:

JCC Harlem is proud to be a hub of Jewish life in Harlem, and is committed to fostering an open, inclusive, diverse Jewish community. We curate avenues to celebrate Shabbat and Jewish holidays along with a unique platform of Jewish education and enrichment options for children that reflect the cultural heterogeneity of Harlem, especially for the many Jewish families who are multi-racial and interfaith. Key responsibilities in this area include:

• Plan and executive robust Jewish Life platform, including Shabbat gatherings; Jewish holiday festivals and neighborhood-based celebrations; participatory arts, culture, and ritual experiences; and experiential Jewish learning for children and families.
• Design welcoming, accessible experiences that center joy, belonging, and authentic community voice.
• Build meaningful relationships with community members, accompanying them on personalized pathways into Jewish life, learning, and deeper engagement.
• Ensure all programming reflects and honors the racial, cultural, and spiritual diversity of Harlem's Jewish community.
• Develop and steward strategic partnerships that strengthen and expand the Jewish Life platform.
• Partner with the Children's Enrichment team, ensuring that all Jewish Life programming aligns with JCC Harlem's institution-wide children's enrichment philosophy and that Jewish content is thoughtfully woven into the fabric of children's and family offerings across the organization.
• Cultivate leadership pipelines that empower participants to serve as creators, hosts, educators, and community leaders.
• Create Jewish learning and engagement curricula and program frameworks.
• Teach select Jewish children's experiential education offerings.
• Oversee program operations for this area, including logistics, run-of-show planning, vendor coordination, staffing, and budget management.
• Develop and implement recruitment strategies to meet participation and growth goals.
• Set annual and seasonal program area calendars, participation targets, and registration benchmarks.
• Manage the program area budget; track expenses and income to meet benchmarks.
• Supervise Jewish Life staff and leaders, including the Rabbi-in-Residence and Junior Shaliach.

Community Outreach, Social Responsibility, and Intergroup Relations:

JCC Harlem prioritizes building bridges between the Jewish community and others within Harlem, deepening understanding of our unique stories, culture, values, and shared experiences; developing strategic partnerships and coalitions toward influencing positive change within our neighborhood; and activating our constituents toward social responsibility and community engagement.

• Identify & deepen strategic relationships within Harlem, including religious institutions and leaders, community-based organizations, businesses, and others.
• Plan and manage community service programs in partnership with Harlem-based CBOs and Repair the World, including MLK community-wide weekend of service and regularly-occurring volunteer programming.
• Plan and manage neighborhood-wide community events and pop-ups, including The Longest Table and regularly-occurring cross-cultural pop-ups in partnership with diverse community partners.
• Plan and manage a growing platform of intergroup relationship-building and dialogue efforts.
• Oversee program operations for this area, including logistics, run-of-show planning, vendor coordination, staffing, and budget management.
• Develop and implement recruitment strategies to meet participation and growth goals.
• Set annual and seasonal program area calendars, participation targets, and registration benchmarks.
• Manage budget for this area.

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

REQUIREMENTS

• Bachelor's degree.
• 5+ years of experience in community programming, Jewish communal work, Jewish children's enrichment, or related fields.
• Demonstrated experience designing, producing, and leading participatory programs.
• Strong community-building orientation with relational leadership style.
• Knowledge of Jewish traditions, culture, and communal life.
• Jewish summer camp and/or experiential children's Jewish learning background a plus.
• Experience engaging diverse, multiracial, and interfaith communities.
• Excellent organizational and project management skills.
• Experience with Daxko, Salesforce, or other CRM systems is desirable.
• Flexible to work evenings and weekends as program needs require.

If this role sounds like a good fit for you, please upload a cover letter with your resume indicating your interest.

WHAT WE OFFER

• Supportive, mission-driven work environment
• Health Benefits such as Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance + more
• Paid Vacation Time + a generous offering of Federal and Jewish/Secular Holidays
• 403(b) Retirement Savings Account
• Opportunities for professional development, mentorship, and leadership investment
• Access to all the JCC's cultural, learning, arts, and film programs
• Free fitness membership for the pool and health club
• Discounts on other JCC programs

COMPENSATION

This position offers an annual salary range of $75,000-$80,000, commensurate with experience.

The Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants without regard to race, ethnicity, color, religion, sex, marital status and civil partnership/union status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, religion, national origin, age, disability, military or veteran status, genetic predisposition or carrier status, or any other characteristic as established and protected by applicable federal, state or local law.