Executive Director

Ohio University Hillel

Role Overview

Join Ohio University Hillel as the next Executive Director and help create the vision, develop the resources, and manage the operations for an organization that is the  center of a pluralistic and inclusive Jewish community on campus  and in southeastern Ohio.  As the next visionary leader, you will serve as a strong supervisor  for the staff and an inspiring Jewish role model for students.  In partnership with staff and student leaders, you will work to ensure  that the  campus community has a large variety of opportunities to celebrate, learn, and create vibrant Jewish experiences as part of their college years.

The next Executive Director will be tasked with continuing our legacy of being an inclusive community, as well as reinvigorating meaningful connections to Jewish life for the current generation of students on campus.  You will chart new educational opportunities for students to connect to Judaism and foster an environment and culture that allows students to feel safe and find community at our Hillel.  The next Executive Director will build on the successful post-COVID student engagement growth and continue to strategize and provide a plan for its upward trajectory.  

In partnership with all its key stakeholders, you will develop financial resources to help the organization grow and thrive, as well as work towards long-term financial sustainability.  The next Executive Director is a strong fundraiser and master relationship builder, both within the larger Athens community and throughout the Jewish communities of greater Ohio.  You’ll be excellent in this role if you: possess a deep love for the Jewish people,  are passionate about supporting students, enjoy being part of a university environment, have strength to lead a team, are able to set  strategic vision, , can secure  financial resources, and build community.

What You’ll Do

Drive long-term success for Ohio University Hillel in:

Strategy & Vision: 

• Inspire and organize pluralistic, inclusive  Jewish life on campus. Create strategies to expand the base of the Jewish student community to include a multiplicity of Jewish backgrounds and interests. 
• Create an annual engagement strategy that centers students’ relationships and interests, in partnership with staff.
• Manage all the financials responsibly, operating within the approved budget, ensuring maximum resource utilization, and keeping the organization in a positive financial position.
• Work in partnership with the Board and other stakeholders to build a long-term vision for the organization and the building that allows flexibility and sustainability for future generations.
• Embrace Ohio University Hillel’s role as the center for Jewish life in the Athens community and serves to engage families and individuals in Hillel as a conduit to Jewish community building.

Fundraising: 

• Exhibit leadership around financial resource development and cultivate the stakeholders that will help you get there, including lay leaders and local community members and agencies.
• Develop Ohio University Hillel’s financial resources to be on par with the caliber of the institution, the size of the Jewish community and the needs of the strategic plan.
• Develop and implement a robust multi-faceted annual development plan including, stewardship of gifts and donor relations.
• Personally engage in fundraising with major donors and grant organizations as well as develop additional revenue sources.

Staff Supervision & Development:

• Supervise the full-time Jewish Student Life Coordinator, part-time office administrator and part-time rabbinic fellow; work closely with the team to ensure success at every level of the organization.
• Inspire, develop, supervise, and mentor a professional staff team that delivers on a vision of pluralism, inclusivity, and student leadership development in order to deepen students’ relationships to Jewish life, Jewish learning and Israel. 
• Establish a culture of professional development and growth.

Stakeholder and External Relations:

• Serve as Ohio University Hillel’s primary ambassador spokesperson to the organization’s constituents, the media and the general public, engaging the community in the importance of Hillel’s mission and purpose.
• Exhibit organizational and communal leadership by cultivating relationships with all stakeholders, including student and university leaders, Jewish community leaders, as well as alumni and parents across the country.
• Understand Hillel’s unique culture at Ohio University and in the local Athens community; find opportunities for partnership and connection both locally and nationally, where these opportunities intersect with Hillel’s priorities.
• Build relationships with students from diverse backgrounds through meaningful conversations and by creating connections to opportunities to participate in Jewish life on campus.
• Create a culture of shared responsibility and engagement among members of the board of directors and cultivate relationships with prospective board members who can provide generative and strategic leadership.
• Have your pulse on the changing needs of Jewish college students, Jewish identity development and campus climate.

What You’ve Accomplished

• 5–8 years of professional work experience. Experience in management roles in the Jewish or secular nonprofit, higher education, or mission-driven organization world is a plus. Past Hillel experience is a plus as well.
• Led organizations or programs with a proven and measurable track record of innovation and sustainable growth. 
• Managed and supervised a team of professionals in an exemplary manner to accomplish their best work and develop their potential.
• Demonstrated fundraising experience including executing annual fundraising campaigns, cultivation, stewardship, and major gift solicitation
• Successfully partnered with a non-profit board of directors, granting foundations and grant issuing organizations. 
• Ensured sound financial management practices including budgeting and cost controls.
• Bachelor’s degree required, Master’s degree preferred. We will consider a range of candidates’ experiences and credentials.

What You’ll Bring to the Job

• Visionary leader, who inspires students, staff and other key stakeholders. 
• Strong entrepreneurial spirit. Things may not always go according to plan, but you are willing to take risks and learn from your wins as well as your losses.
• An attitude of proactive communication and collaboration across offices and agencies.
• Strong relationship building skills and comfort working with diverse populations different from your own, including inter-religious populations.
• Solid organizational skills, including planning, attention to detail, multitasking, and prioritization.
• An inspiring presence which will help others to deepen their interest in Jewish life and the ability to listen to and build relationships with college students.
• Expertise in leading complex conversations about Judaism and Israel in a way that is approachable and meets students at various points in their personal Jewish journey.

What You’ll Receive

• Competitive salary in the non-profit marketplace. The salary range for this role is $85,000- $100,000 depending upon skills, qualifications, and experience.
• Comprehensive benefits package, including health insurance, 401(k) employer match, life insurance, Long Term Disability (LTD), Flexible Spending Plan, paid parental leave
• Generous vacation and sick time. 
• Professional development, mentoring, and skill building opportunities.
• Opportunities for travel throughout the U.S. and to Israel.
• A supportive and committed board of lay leaders.

About Ohio University Hillel

Hillel at Ohio University was first established in the late 1930s and has a rich history of serving the approximate 600 Jewish students on campus and the Athens Jewish community. Ohio University is in Athens, Ohio, approximately 75 miles from Columbus, OH. Ohio University draws students from across Ohio and the eastern seaboard seeking a high-quality education in a beautiful rural campus setting. Located in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, Athens is a quintessential college town with a vibrant music and art scene and many opportunities for outdoor activities.

You’ll enjoy small town living where you can meet and interact with students and community members at local quaint coffee shops or “schmooze” with them amidst the pretty campus greenery that is just steps from Hillel. Although our Hillel sponsors a variety of social, cultural, and academic activities, it is especially proud of a program it founded many years ago that strives to swab as many student volunteers as possible to identify individuals who might be potential bone marrow donors. It is a program that has garnered us recognition around the country as a leader in this effort.

Hillel at Ohio University is affiliated with Hillel International. Hillel International enriches the lives of Jewish students so they may enrich the Jewish people and the world, and envisions a world where every student is inspired to make an enduring commitment to Jewish life, learning and Israel.

About Life in Athens, Ohio

Athens is a quintessential college town with a vibrant music and art and “foodie” scene. The University provides a Performing Arts Series as well as a myriad of cultural programs and activities. In addition, it offers a Division One intercollegiate athletic program. If outdoor pursuits is your thing, there is a nine mile long bike path along the river that runs through the campus as well as numerous trails for hiking and biking. Athens has one of the ten best rated Farmers Markets in the Midwest where five minutes of shopping easily turns into three hours of "hanging out" every week, regardless of the weather.