Clergy Assistant

POSITION OVERVIEW

Ahavath Achim is a synagogue located in the Buckhead neighborhood of Atlanta, affiliated with the Conservative movement. Our synagogue cultivates a Jewish community of purposeful belonging that is both warm and inclusive. The Assistant to the Clergy is the primary link between Ahavath Achim and its clergy team (two rabbis) and the congregation, staff, and broader community. This role requires someone who brings professionalism, warmth, and discretion to every interaction — an ambassador who reflects the values of our sacred community. The ideal candidate is organized, tech-savvy, proactive, and deeply committed to the mission of the synagogue. They will partner closely with the rabbis to actively manage the clergy office, ensuring that the spiritual leadership of the congregation is supported, organized, and equipped to do their best work.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Administrative Support

• Proactively manage and maintain the clergy calendars, coordinate appointments, and reconfirm meetings.
• Schedule meetings with adept intentionality — building in time for preparation, follow-up, reflection, note-keeping, and appropriate transition time. Organize the clergy’s complex daily schedules and share regular updates about tasks and appointments for the day and week
• Prepare and disseminate clergy correspondences, letters, and communications.
• Coordinate and prepare Shabbat and holiday service materials.
• Ensure that materials are ready and reproduced for upcoming classes, learning opportunities, and other scheduled sessions.
• Ensure that synagogue marketing is edited and accurate for weekly communication with the congregation – service times, updated marketing descriptions regarding clergy classes, etc.
• Maintain and update the CRM database (ShulCloud) with current congregant and lifecycle records.
• Coordinate minyan leadership schedule each week, including substitutes as needed.

Lifecycle and Pastoral Support

• Process congregational records and paperwork for births, engagements, weddings, and deaths of member families.
• Prepare and send bereavement follow-up letters; flag notices for the rabbis for 1-month, 6-month and 1-year bereavement follow-ups.
• Procure gifts, books, and materials given to congregants and groups (e.g., Torah study participants, session facilitators, scholar-in-residents, B’nai Mitzvah gifts.
• Prepare service booklets as needed (e.g., High Holiday inserts, special service booklets, etc.).
• Prepare booklets for special occasions, such as unveilings and annual cemetery memorial services.
• Support the conversion program: schedule meetings, prepare materials for initial meetings, maintain candidate files, arrange witnesses for conversion ceremonies, and prepare relevant certificates.
• Arrange home and assisted living facility visits to congregants. Work with assisted living facilities to schedule group visits, communicate with the residents on upcoming visits, and ensure clergy has resident information (apartment #, phone, etc.). Confirm appointments prior to clergy visit.

Program and Event Coordination

• Coordinate marketing, facility arrangements, and logistics for clergy’s classes, , lectures, lifecycle events and other special programs occurring at the synagogue.
• Coordinate RSVP management and direct marketing for Lunch & Learn and other hosted events outside the synagogue.
• Provide holiday and service timing information for the synagogue calendar; assist with setting service times.
• Make calls on behalf of clergy as requested (e.g., RSVPs, scheduling coordination).

Systems, Workflow and Team Collaboration

• Keep up with email and request for appointments. Discuss requests with clergy and keep track of hard-to-schedule appointments so things don’t fall off the radar. Follow up after appointments to manage any action steps or follow-up from clergy.
• Organize and maintain systems for tracking and completing work with the clergy team. Continuously evaluate, improve, and adapt processes to enable clergy team efficiency and with the broader synagogue staff.
• Work as a collaborative team player, managing workflow in a way that allows for occasional support of other departments and synagogue-wide projects as needs arise.
• Serve as a gracious and knowledgeable ambassador in all clergy interactions — with congregants, community members, and guests. Every encounter should reflect the warmth, professionalism, and integrity that define Ahavath Achim.

SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS

Required

• Excellent oral and written communication skills with a professional and warm demeanor in person and by phone.
• Familiarity with Jewish terms, holidays, traditions, and Hebrew is essential.
• Proven organizational skills and ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously.
• Demonstrated judgment in resolving problems and making sound, independent recommendations.
• Ability to take direction from and support more than one individual effectively.
• Proficiency in standard desktop applications: Microsoft Word, Excel, and Outlook. Knowledge of CMR databases (ShulCloud) is highly desirable.
• Resourcefulness and efficiency — a self-starter who identifies what needs to be done and does it.
• College degree required or equivalent professional experience; minimum 3 years of relevant experience preferred.
• Nonprofit or religious/community organization experience is a plus.

Qualities We’re Looking For

• Loyalty and commitment to the mission of the organization.
• Superior work ethic, reliability, and follow-through.
• Proactive problem solver who creates systems for managing workflow
• Tech-savvy and comfortable learning new systems and platforms.
• A strong multi-tasker and creative problem-solver who thrives in a dynamic environment.
• Honest, humble, and trustworthy.
• A true team player who works equally well independently and collaboratively.
• A natural ambassador — kind, polite, perceptive, and savvy — who represents the clergy and synagogue with distinction.

***To apply, please email resume and brief cover letter to [email protected]***