TEMPLE ISRAEL OF HOLLYWOOD BAY-NIMOY EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTER DIRECTOR
ABOUT THE BNECC DIRECTOR ROLE
Temple Israel of Hollywood (TIOH) is seeking an experienced, visionary and highly collaborative individual for the position of Director of TIOH’s Bay-Nimoy Early Childhood Center (BNECC). The Director will maintain excellence and joy in our play-based curriculum and actively recruit new families to the BNECC and TIOH. The Director is expected to maintain strong relationships with enrolled and prospective families and lead a team of nearly 30 educators and administrative staff. The Director will guide families through the admissions process beyond the BNECC to the schools of TIOH - Briskin Elementary School and TIOH’s Religious School - as well as other independent and public schools. Part of our senior leadership, this role involves collaborating across the institution, as we believe our team is greater than the sum of its parts. Supervised by the Senior Rabbi, and reporting out to the Board of Trustees on a periodic basis, the Director is an integral member of our larger synagogue community and should embody TIOH’s values of learning, inclusivity, and warmth.
ABOUT THE BAY-NIMOY EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTER
The BNECC is a full-time early childhood center with approximately 150 students, ages two - five. Our school includes robust infant and toddler programs and transitional kindergarten. The BNECC is committed to providing a meaningful, inclusive, and developmentally based program that embraces play-based, emergent, and outdoor curricula in a warm and nurturing Jewish environment. Our developmental curriculum is founded on the best practices of “whole child” philosophies and schools of thought. Play-based, purposeful activity with natural objects and real-life tasks creates a positive environment where children learn to enjoy the process of learning rather than focusing on the result. What happens in the classroom is supported by parent education workshops, holiday celebrations, spiritual activities and a working partnership with staff, parents, clergy and the close-knit TIOH community. The BNECC is designed to be the start of a long, meaningful Jewish journey for families through a range of other offerings at TIOH.
ABOUT TEMPLE ISRAEL OF HOLLYWOOD
TIOH is a Reform synagogue, founded in 1926, with more than 800 family members. We have a Religious School and teen program with over 260 students, the Bay-Nimoy Early Childhood Center with 150 students and the Briskin Elementary School (Kindergarten through 6th grade) with nearly 200 students. TIOH offers engaging religious services, opportunities for lifelong learning, social action and social justice programs, an arts program, as well as many other religious, social, and volunteer opportunities for congregants, their families, and the greater Los Angeles community. TIOH also owns Hillside Memorial Park and Mortuary, which has been serving members of the greater Los Angeles Jewish community for over 75 years.
At TIOH, we create a welcoming, warm, diverse, and inclusive community that honors the traditions of Judaism while embracing the innovative principles of the Reform Movement so that every member can engage in Jewish life in an environment that prioritizes Torah (learning), Avodah (spiritual growth), G’milut Chasidim (acts of loving kindness), Tikkun Olam (social action), the arts, and meaningful opportunities for personal connection to our Jewish community and the State of Israel.
RESPONSIBILITIES – the BNECC Director will:
- Establish and supervise the overall cultural, educational philosophy and content of developmental curricula in accordance with the stated TIOH mission, state licensing standards/requirements and Reform Judaic practices
- Participate in the planning and strategic vision of the BNECC with clergy, senior staff and the Board of Trustees
- Recruit, hire, train, mentor and supervise all BNECC faculty and staff
- Cultivate and sustain an employment climate that attracts, retains and motivates a high quality team
- Remain current and creative with professional development for all faculty and staff
- Oversee the entirety of the admission process to consistently achieve full BNECC enrollment
- Maintain consistent communications with parents of enrolled and prospective students
- Understand, identify and evaluate all children's social, emotional, behavioral and medical needs; be able to make recommendations and coordinate services as needed
- Partner with clergy to infuse Jewish values, holidays and cultural experiences into curricula
- Set and adhere to a budget, HR protocols, communications strategies, and operational procedures, working closely with TIOH’s Executive Director, senior staff and lay leadership
- Attend and participate in all senior staff, Board of Trustees, Finance Committee, Education Committee and Parent Association meetings
- Work closely with the Head of School of Briskin Elementary and the Director of the Religious School to develop, promote, and execute strategies ensuring the continuation of BNECC students in TIOH schools
- Collaborate with TIOH’s Director of Development and lay leadership to assist in fundraising activities for the BNECC and wider TIOH community
- Participate in synagogue events serving as an ambassador for BNECC within TIOH’s larger community
- Actively participate in relevant professional networks including but not limited to ECE-RJ, BJE Early Childhood Directors network, upholding the reputation and presence of the BNECC on the local and national landscapes, and sharing ideas across institutions.
SKILLS – the right individual will demonstrate the following:
- Model forward-facing leadership and the ability to connect with diverse constituencies within TIOH’s community, including but not limited to TIOH’s youngest children and their parents
- An organized approach to the administrative demands of the role
- The ability to successfully build trusted relationships with a variety of constituencies and stakeholders; and to see this role as connected to the overall health of the synagogue community
- Creativity and enthusiasm to ensure that TIOH’s and the BNECC’s content, format, and techniques are relevant and cutting-edge
- Demonstrated commitment to the physical, social, educational, and emotional health of students of all ages
- Familiarity with a diverse family population (socio-economic, mixed heritage, single parent, LGBTQIA+, etc) and ability to create an inclusive environment for all
- A strong Jewish sensibility, knowledge and appreciation of traditions, customs and values
- A practical and creative growth mindset
- Deep respect for children and their families
- Collaborative leadership skills
- The ability to communicate transparently, thoughtfully and directly
QUALIFICATIONS AND JOB REQUIREMENTS
- Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Education or related field required; Master’s Degree preferred
- Minimum of 5 years of professional experience leading a school or educational program
- Experience collaborating on a leadership team and working with a board of directors
- Strong communication skills, both verbal and written
- Availability to be physically present while BNECC is in session, and at temple-wide and special events (including some nights and weekends)
- Strong ties to the Southern California Jewish community preferred
COMPENSATION/BENEFITS
TIOH offers a competitive salary and benefits package. More specific information on salary and benefits will be provided to candidates invited to interview.
Salary is commensurate with experience.
Salary range: $130,000 - $170,000
APPLICATION PROCESS
Expected start date: July 1, 2023
Interested applicants should send a resume and cover letter to
[email protected]
Please address any questions about the position to [email protected]
The position will remain open until filled.
Duration: Full-time
Location: Temple Israel of Hollywood, 7300 Hollywood Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90046