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 co-leading the Civic Life and Community Engagement program area in partnership with the Director of Administration and Community Building. 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.
• Plan and manage large-scale high holidays programs and prayer services.
• 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.

Civic Life and Community Engagement

JCC Harlem is committed to building strong, meaningful relationships between the Jewish community and the broader Harlem community; creating opportunities for people to share and deepen understanding of their distinct stories, cultures, values, and experiences; building strategic partnerships and coalitions that contribute to positive change in our neighborhood; and activating our community toward social responsibility, service, and civic participation.

This program area is intentionally co-led and co-designed by team members who bring different lived experiences, perspectives, and relationships to our community. Together, they model the intergroup collaboration, shared leadership, and exchange that we seek to cultivate across JCC Harlem, ensuring that the work is shaped by the same diversity, curiosity, and sense of belonging that we hope to foster in the broader community.

In partnership with the Director of Administration and Community-Building, and through a pod-style collaborative implementation model, this role will:

• Build and deepen strategic relationships across Harlem, including with religious institutions and leaders, community-based organizations, businesses, civic leaders, and other neighborhood partners.
• Lead community service and volunteer engagement, in partnership with community-based organizations and Repair the World, including the MLK Community-Wide Weekend of Service and ongoing volunteer opportunities.
• Develop and produce neighborhood-wide events and pop-ups that create opportunities for joyful participation, cross-cultural exchange, and relationship-building.
• Develop and lead intergroup relationship-building and dialogue efforts, creating meaningful opportunities for people across lines of difference to connect, learn from one another, and build relationships.
• Oversee program implementation and operations, including logistics, run-of-show planning, vendor coordination, staffing, and budget management.
• Develop and implement community engagement and recruitment strategies to meet participation, relationship-building, and growth goals.
• Set and manage annual and seasonal program calendars, participation goals, and registration benchmarks.
• Manage the program area budget, ensuring resources are aligned with strategic priorities and program goals.

Additional Responsibilities:

• Lead select cross-departmental arts, culture, family, and community programs, e.g. pop-up events and seasonal festivals.
• Staff JCC Harlem Advisory Council Working Groups as relevant to program responsibilities.
• Contribute to organization-wide program planning, innovation, fundraising, and strategic growth.
• Assist with grant reporting, program evaluation, and impact documentation.
• Support the Executive Director on special projects, initiatives, and community engagement priorities.

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.

WHO YOU ARE

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.

WHO YOU ARE

• Joyful convener who brings people together across differences and fosters belonging.
• Thoughtful builder of inclusive Jewish life and vibrant community experiences.
• Creative producer who translates ideas into meaningful programs and celebrations.
• Passion for serving Harlem's diverse community.
• Strong understanding of the North American Jewish landscape, including culture, ritual, and tradition.
• Skilled at establishing, cultivating, and stewarding relationships with community members, partners, and stakeholders.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; meticulous attention to detail.
• Collaborative problem solver and strategic thinker with an entrepreneurial approach to engagement and programming.
• Innovative, self-motivated, and able to manage multiple projects simultaneously, independently and as part of a team.
• Familiarity with metrics, evaluation, and community impact measurement is a plus.

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.