Director of Jewish Life

  • Part-time

Company Description

JEWISH LIFE AT QUEENS

In 2013, Queens President Pamela Davies convened a special Jewish Life Task Force to develop a long-term plan to support a more vibrant Jewish Life on campus. Co-chaired by our VP for Academic Affairs and VP for Marketing and Communications, the Task Force includes faculty, staff, alumni, students and trustees. The group views enhancing Jewish Life as a critical means for advancing the University’s strategic goals around diversity, inclusiveness and inter-faith engagement.

The Task Force identified several areas of focus, including:

  • Increasing multi-cultural awareness and dialog among faith traditions

  • Developing an inter-disciplinary minor in Jewish Studies

  • Securing professional leadership for Jewish Life at Queens

  • Building a Hillel chapter and broadening Hillel-related programming

  • Strengthening connections with Charlotte’s Jewish Community

  • Recruiting Jewish students

 

With passionate and involved Jewish faculty and staff in key positions across the University—including professors and deans as well as staff leaders in academic affairs, student life, marketing, athletics and career services—and with Jewish students from a range of backgrounds, Queens offers a warm and inclusive community that's committed to pluralism and multi-cultural understanding.

Job Description

JOB DESCRIPTION

Queens seeks an energetic, creative, adaptable and highly-organized leader to serve in a newly-created, 30-hour position as Director of Jewish Life. This role will play a critical part in helping Queens to build a more dynamic and vital Jewish community by nurturing meaningful relationships with students, faculty, staff and other stakeholders. As part of the University’s ongoing commitment to diversity, multiculturalism and multi-faith dialog, s/he will work to promote an inclusive environment for all students. The most qualified candidate will have an entrepreneurial DNA and possess excellent interpersonal, communication, and strategic thinking skills.

 

RESPONSIBILITIES

 

Student Engagement and Programming:

  • Coordinate student engagement efforts, focusing primarily on our traditional undergraduates, to build a more vital Jewish community on campus;

  • Work with students to plan and execute compelling student-focused programs and activities;

  • Help launch and nurture a strong and thriving Hillel chapter at Queens;

  • Organize student participation in immersion experiences such as Taglit-Birthright Israel and/or Alternative Spring Break;

  • Mentor and inspire students towards academic, social, professional, and spiritual growth.

 

Campus Relations:

  • Build strong relationships with critical campus partners including the Chaplain’s Office, Office of Diversity and Inclusion, Admissions, Athletics, Student Life, Academic Affairs, Center for Ethics and Religion, Student Government Association, Dining Services and University Advancement;

  • Promote awareness and understanding of Jewish pluralism with stakeholders across campus;

  • Participate in multi-cultural and inter-faith programs and dialog;

  • Serve on campus committees relevant to diversity, interfaith dialogue and Jewish Life interests.

 

Marketing and Recruitment:

  • Share compelling stories about the growth of Jewish Life at Queens through various marketing and communication channels, including social media, Queens.edu, and presentations to key audiences;

  • Serve as a resource to the Admissions team by providing information to prospective families about Jewish Life at Queens, welcoming prospective students at various Admissions events, connecting prospective Jewish students with current ones, helping identify key markets and unique opportunities (such as BBYO International Conference) for outreach to Jewish students, and offering staff support (including recruitment travel) as appropriate.

 

Community Relations:

  • Connect Jewish students with area synagogues to serve their spiritual needs for Shabbat, Jewish holidays and life-cycle events as appropriate;

  • Continue to strengthen relationships with Charlotte’s vibrant Jewish Community, including synagogues, lay leaders, Jewish Federation of Greater Charlotte, Levine JCC, Moishe House, etc.;

  • Maintain strong connections with donors to Jewish Life initiative, ensuring they are informed and excited about our progress and results.

Qualifications

Experience, Knowledge, and Skills Required:

 

  • Bachelor’s degree minimum (graduate degree preferred) with demonstrated capacity for leadership or equivalent combination of education and experience;

  • At least 3-5 years professional experience, preferably within the context of the Jewish community;

  • Evident passion for Judaism and Jewish life with a pluralistic world view;

  • Knowledge and understanding of emerging adults coupled with the ability to mentor students and develop Jewish leaders;

  • Ability to engage and inspire different audiences, from students to faculty to alumni to community leaders;

  • Team-oriented approach with a bias for cooperation and partnership as the model for accomplishing goals;

  • Strong administrative skills, including basic knowledge of budgeting, program planning and promotion, student recruiting, fundraising, donor relations, and strategic planning;

  • Entrepreneurial spirit that shows resilience and creativity in exploring opportunities and presenting solutions.

  • Excellent communication skills (verbal, written, presentation, interpersonal) and the ability to quickly establish and maintain strong rapport with multiple constituencies in order to effectively collaborate and build partnerships inside and outside of the University;

    • Demonstrated organizational and planning skills, including proven expertise in follow-up and follow-through to completion within established time frames;

 

Physical Requirements (with or without reasonable accommodation)

  • Visual Abilities:  Read reports, create presentations and use a computer system – 75-100% of the time

  • Hearing:   Hear well enough to communicate with co-workers, vendors, and students – 75-100% of the time.

  • Dexterity, Grasping, Feeling: Write, type and use the telephone, copier, and computer systems – 75-100% of the time.

  • Mobility:  Open files and operate office machines; move between departments and attend meetings across campus – 75-100% of the time.

  • Talking:  Frequently convey detailed or important instructions and ideas accurately, loudly, or quickly – 75-100% of the time.

  • Lifting, Pulling, Pushing: Exert up to 50 pounds for force occasionally, and/or up to 20 pounds of force frequently, and/or up to 10 pounds of force constantly to move objects – 75-100% of the time.

Additional Information


Work Conditions

  • Work in office environment, involving contact with faculty, staff, students, parents, service providers and vendors.
  • Work has deadlines, multiple interruptions, high volume and may be stressful at times.

Queens University of Charlotte is a private, co-educational, Presbyterian-affiliated comprehensive university located in Charlotte, North Carolina, and is consistently ranked in the top tier of Southern Regional Masters Universities. The university has more than 2,400 undergraduate and graduate students in programs offered by the College of Arts and Sciences, the McColl School of Business, the James L. Knight School of Communication, the Wayland H. Cato Jr. School of Education, the Andrew Blair College of Health and the Presbyterian School of Nursing, and Hayworth School of Graduate and Continuing Education. Additional information about Queens University of Charlotte may be found at www.queens.edu/Queens-Overview.


Queens offers medical (PPO or a high deductible option with Health Savings Account), dental and vision insurance, domestic partner benefits, defined contribution retirement plan and supplemental retirement plan, paid holidays, tuition remission, Queens-paid life insurance, supplemental life insurance, dependent life insurance, accidental death and dismemberment insurance, flexible spending accounts (medical, dependent care), long-term disability leave, FMLA leave, reduced cost meals at Morrison Dining Hall, and employee assistance program (EAP).


If this sounds like the right job for you, then use the button below to submit your application.  Be prepared to upload a cover letter, resume or CV, and contact information on three professional references. We look forward to reviewing your submission.