Program Coordinator

The Jewish Agency for Israel is looking to hire:

Jewish Agency program coordinator – San Francisco Bay Area

If you love Israel, if you feel that you want to do a meaningful job, if you want to change lives, and if you can move mountains and develop programs from the ground up, you should apply!

Local program coordinator will work directly with 14 Shinshinim (Israelis volunteering on a gap year) on a day-to-day basis, managing the specific implementation of the program in each local institution in their assigned area; providing professional and emotional support. Most critically, the supervisors will have local responsibility over the implementation of the program- creating a hub of 8-12 Shinshinsim,  working with local Jewish institutions, etc.

The responsibilities of the coordinator include:

• Introducing the program to local organizations- Schools, Synagogues, Community Centers, and Jewish organizations.
• Supervisor will match the Shinshinim to the institutions.
• Advertise, market and place Shinshinim in the relevant organizations – Synagogues, Jewish day schools, JCCs, after school programs, Youth movements.
• Identify, arrange, prepare and work with host families for the Shinshinim, with the goal of creating a community of host families.
• Facilitate the job description and ongoing job with the site supervisors in the organizations.
• Arrange a comprehensive orientation for the Shinshinim, including meetings with Site supervisors, as well as an orientation to the community and the local hot spots.
• Plan a full calendar of group activities, and holding a weekly supervision meeting to assess work, goals, personal well-being and progress.
• Provide guidance in understanding local work culture, time management, and administrative skills. Shinshinim have not had a similar job, and may need extra guidance in this area
• Help ease their transition into American culture - keep an eye out for homesickness and withdrawing, especially in the first months
• Determining the needs and requests of the local organizations.
• Safety and security of Shinshinim together with the Jewish Agency West Coast security officer.
• Manage all administrative aspects- transportation, travel. Program budget.
• Take part in Jewish Agency orientation and conferences, sharing best practices with over 15 supervisors across North America.
• Manage a part time employee in the Bay Area.
• Reports to Western US Regional Director, as well as the Director of the program in Israel.

• Necessary Skills:
  • Writing and speaking in both Hebrew and English – fluent
  • College graduate
  • Able to work flexible hours, availability for addressing the shinshinim needs outside of working hours, sometimes also during the night and the weekend.
  • Experienced in providing formal and informal education – help Shinshinim come up with activities.
  • Knowledge and familiarity with the SF Bay Area community.
  • Able to work with multiple partnerships, create positive ongoing working relationships with host families, institutions, foundations, and federations.