Congregation Beth Jacob (CBJ), in Redwood City, CA, is a vibrant community of 500 members rooted in celebrating Jewish life and fostering meaningful relationships. Our Religious School, home to 110 students, embodies this ethos by serving as a lively center for learning, joy, and communal engagement. We are seeking a dedicated Religious School Director to join our community. This role places a premium on community building, emphasizing warm connections with students, parents, and the broader CBJ community. We are committed to meeting each student where they are with flexibility and community support. If you're passionate about nurturing educational excellence within a supportive, relationship-driven environment, we invite you to join us at CBJ.
This is a 25-hour/week position. While there is flexibility in the work schedule, the Director must be on-site at CBJ for the following times and responsibilities:
· School hours (3:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m., Mondays and Wednesdays)
· Supporting Junior Congregation (9:45 a.m.– noon, Shabbat mornings – 1-2 times/month)
· Sunday Family Education programs (some Sundays)
· Individual weekly meetings with the Senior Rabbi, Associate Rabbi, and the Youth Coordinator. (The Associate Rabbi also serves as the Mashgicha Ruchanit – the school’s spiritual director and will work closely with the Religious School Director.)
Responsibilities:
· Leadership of Religious School:
o Manage and oversee all aspects of the Religious School.
o Foster strong connections with students and parents to create a positive Jewish experience for all.
o Implement an integrated curriculum focusing on mitzvah, prayer, Torah, Israel, sacred text, and holidays in close collaboration with the Mashgicha Ruchanit.
o Recruit, hire, train, and manage Religious School staff, including teachers, aides, and special program leaders. Foster professional development of each teacher.
o Promote enrollment growth and strengthen ties between the school and the broader synagogue community.
o Collaborate with all four of our clergy (Senior Rabbi, Associate Rabbi, Cantor and Ritual Director), each of whom teaches in the school.
· Inclusion and Support for Different Educational Needs:
o Ensure inclusion of children with special and unique needs and their families in all aspects of synagogue life.
o Meet with parents to discuss individual needs and develop tailored plans for support, based on empathy and a commitment to each child as an individual.
· Supervision of Family Education Programming:
o Oversee and develop family education programs and foster intergenerational connections.
· Administrative Oversight:
o Manage fiscal affairs, including budgeting, fundraising, payroll, and maintenance.
o Coordinate registration and engagement tracking using the CBJ ShulCloud system.
o Hire and manage administrative support staff and administer occupational safety procedures.
o Coordinate and oversee a parental advisory committee and other volunteers.
· Communication Strategy:
o Develop and implement a communications strategy to inform parents, recruit volunteers, update the Board of Directors, and promote the school to the larger CBJ community.
· Program Evaluation and Improvement:
o Systematically evaluate and improve programs.
o Oversee High Holiday programming for youth and the school's role in holiday celebrations.
Oversight:
The Religious School Director will report to the Senior Rabbi for educational matters and to the Executive Director for administrative matters.
Desired Skills and Experience:
· 5-plus years of relevant work experience
· Strong leadership, team management, and interpersonal skills.
· Experience in program development, project management, and instructional content development.
· Exceptional organizational skills with the ability to prioritize tasks and create accountability.
· Ability to listen, inspire, adapt, and collaborate effectively within a team-oriented environment.
Please submit resume and cover letter to: [email protected]