Youth and Family Engagement Coordinator

About Temple Sinai:

Temple Sinai of Bergen County is a thriving Reform congregation located in Tenafly, NJ, only seven miles from Manhattan. Our diverse membership comes from all across Bergen County. We welcome individuals and families from all backgrounds who seek an invigorating Jewish experience. Temple Sinai’s vibrant Early Childhood Center, Religious School, and Teen Programs engage more than 200 students ages 0-18 and their families in year-round learning. We are seeking a full-time Youth and Family Engagement Coordinator to join our team.

Please note: We will also accept applications for a part-time (20 hours per week) version of this role with adjusted responsibilities and compensation.

Position Overview:
This is a shared position as part of the URJ’s CLASP Fellowship, in partnership with a URJ camp. The Youth and Family Engagement Coordinator will spend 10 months of the year working full-time at Temple Sinai and the other two months in residence at a URJ camp in a leadership position. CLASP fellows receive additional support and training from their camp supervisor and fellowship cohort throughout the year. For more information, visit urj.org/who-we-are/careers/clasp-fellowship.

The Youth and Family Engagement Coordinator works under the supervision of the Senior Rabbi and Director of Education, and will have a hand in developing and running meaningful, relationship-centered programming for youth and teens, as well as families with children of all ages.

The ideal candidate for this role is a strong team player and collaborator, an enthusiastic, outgoing, and warm individual who exhibits a growth mindset and embraces creative thinking. S/he/they should be self-directed and able to take initiative, have strong organizational skills and the ability to do the detail-oriented work involved in preparing for and actualizing creative programming. Prior experience working with adolescents and teens in a school, congregation, Hillel, and/or camp setting is highly preferred.

This is an at-will, full-time, non-FLSA exempt position. Specific responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

Youth & Teen Engagement (50%)

• In partnership with Director of Education and Senior Rabbi, develop and implement a new vision for youth engagement and teen education at Temple Sinai;
• Build a calendar of events for 8^th-12^th graders, oversee planning and logistics, and serve as primary on-site staff for all Teen programs and trips;
• Build one-on-one relationships with teens during and outside of formal programming;
• Communicate regularly with teens and parents about upcoming programming;
• Communicate and coordinate with rabbis, parents, and teens from two other local Reform Temples whose teens participate in Temple Sinai’s programs;
• Serve as a supervisor, teacher, and mentor to participants in the Religious School Madrichim (Classroom Assistant) program;
• Serve as liaison between Temple Sinai and local (Kaplen JCC/Jewish Federation of Northern New Jersey), regional, and national Jewish youth-serving organizations to connect teens with opportunities beyond the congregation.

Religious School (20%)

• Teach in Religious School (7^th/8^th Grade on Tuesdays);
• Co-lead High School/Confirmation class with Senior Rabbi (time and frequency TBD);
• Supervise Religious School Madrichim on Sundays;
• Serve as the “face” of URJ Camps for Religious School families and act as liaison between URJ Camps and Temple Sinai to energize the community around URJ Camping;
• Support planning and execution of extra-curricular “camp-style” programming for Religious School students and families (elective classes, all-school programs, holiday celebrations, etc).

 Family Engagement (10%)

• Support the Director of Education in planning, executing, and staffing family engagement programs outside of Religious School and/or Early Childhood Center hours (Shabbat and holidays, interest groups for ages/stages, volunteering, etc).

College Student & Young Adult Engagement (5%)

• Work with Rabbi and Director of Education to identify ways to engage with Temple Sinai college students, build relationships with them and learn how the Temple Sinai staff and community can support them on their Jewish journeys;
• Support the Assistant Director of Engagement in building relationships with and creating meaningful Jewish engagement opportunities for Temple Sinai members who are recent college grads and living in the New York area.

On-site Summer Responsibilities at a URJ Camp (20%)

• The specific camp and the CLASP Fellow’s role will be determined with camp’s senior leadership based on staffing needs and an individual’s skills and interests.

Core Competencies/Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree required; degree in Education, Jewish Studies, or a related field desired;
• Experience working with youth, preferably in a school, congregation, Hillel and/or camp setting preferred;
• Ability to create and implement meaningful learning environments and spaces of belonging;
• Strong work ethic, time management, and organizational skills;
• Available for flexible scheduling including evenings, weekends, and Jewish holidays;
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, including facility with Microsoft Office, Google Suite, and social media apps/platforms (Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, WhatsApp, etc); experience using ShulCloud or comparable CRM platforms and Canva design apps a plus;
• Commitment to the values and ideals of Reform Judaism and to proactively embracing those of all races, cultures, religious backgrounds, family structures, and gender or sexual identities.

Work Hours:

• September-May: Sunday-Friday work hours with one additional regular weekday off.
• Additional evening/weekend hours as needed for programming (with comp time given when appropriate).
• During the summer, live in-residence at a URJ camp.

Salary & Benefits:

• $45,000-$50,000 based on experience
• Up to 30% of monthly health insurance premium
• 2 weeks / 10 days’ paid vacation (annually)
• 6 weeks new parent leave (birth or adoption) fully paid
• 8 paid sick days (annually)

Please note: Temple Sinai members will not be considered for this position. This position is required to work on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.

Estimated Timeline

• June 2025: Phone screenings with selected candidates
• Late June-Early July: Semi-finalist interviews with Senior Rabbi (via Zoom)
• July 30-August 7: Finalist interviews with panel (in-person)
• Anticipated start date August 15 or September 1, 2025