JOB DESCRIPTION: Sheva Center Professional Development Associate
DEPARTMENT: Sheva Center for Innovation in Early Childhood Jewish Education & Engagement
REPORTS TO: Vice President, Sheva Center
Position Summary
JCC Association of North America is the largest platform for Jewish engagement on the continent – reaching more families, employing more staff, and seeing more Jewish families through the doors of our 170 JCCs across the U.S and Canada than any other sector. Understanding the unique role that JCCs play in the engagement of families with young children, significant philanthropic investment has been made in the Sheva Center for Innovation in Early Childhood Jewish Education & Engagement to help lead and support our movement’s early childhood centers, which serve more than 35,000 young learners every year. The foundation of the Sheva Center’s work is the JCCs of North America Early Learning Framework, built on seven (“sheva” in Hebrew) core elements of early childhood education. The Sheva Center empowers early childhood center leadership teams and classroom educators through a diverse set of professional development, training, and networking opportunities that enable JCC early childhood education centers to thrive as centers of excellence.
The Sheva Center Professional Development Associate is a full-time position and reports to the Sheva Center Vice President. The Sheva Center Professional Development Associate will be responsible for supporting the execution of the Center’s strategic vision and priorities. As a partner to the Sheva Center Program Director and the Vice President, the Professional Development Associate plays a vital field-facing role, helping to develop and operationalize program initiatives while interacting with early childhood professionals.
The Sheva Center Professional Development Associate is committed to educational excellence and innovation and plays a pivotal role in advancing the Sheva Center’s current work. The Professional Development Associate must be an inspirational communicator and a continuous learner who deeply believes in child-centered learning and passionate about supporting early childhood educators and professionals.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
Professional Development
- Collaborate with Sheva Center Director and Program Director in the development of JCCs of North America Early Learning Framework 2.0, including the development and revision of guiding documents related to the Sheva Center's core elements
- Create and facilitate virtual and in-person professional development
- Engage in outreach and intake for Sheva Center programming
- Provide virtual and in-person consultations
- Develop and curate Sheva Center resources, including but not limited to a library of photographs and videos, playlists, children’s books, articles, publications, Podcasts, and TED Talks
- Develop JCC Movement's early childhood onboarding process content and facilitation guidelines
- Develop and manage school-based intergenerational programs
- Manage Jewish content portfolio
- Develop JCCs of North America Early Learning Framework core element #7 (Jewish peoplehood, Israel, and Jewish holidays)
- Develop and facilitate professional development for
Schlichim and Shinshinim.
- Develop and lead early childhood educators and leaders' trips to Israel, in partnership with the Center for Israel Engagement
Operations
- Act as a welcoming presence and first point of contact for the Sheva Center
- Develop and maintain partnerships with outside organizations
- Organize and provide logistical support for all virtual professional development
- Schedule and organize events such as meetings, conferences, and other departmental activities
- Develop and execute the Sheva Center social media, marketing, and communication strategies, in partnership with the Marketing and Experience departments.
- Track and report engagement with the Sheva Center
- Work independently and within a team to develop and coordinate special non-recurring and ongoing projects
- Act as liaison with JCCs, other JCC Association departments, and outside agencies for matters related to the Sheva Center
- Assist with other duties as assigned
Qualification Requirements
- Bachelor's degree in early childhood education, education, child development, or related field. Masters preferred
- Knowledge and expertise in the areas of early childhood education and Jewish education
- Development and facilitation of professional development expertise
- Willingness to remain current with research-based best practices and to adjust work in line with current standards
- Experience in data collection and using data-driven decision-making processes.
- Desire to be a thought partner for innovative programs
- Project management expertise with the ability to work under pressure, prioritize and be attentive to details, handle simultaneous responsibilities, and meet deadlines
- Ability to anticipate and react to projects as they arise
- Maturity and experience to self-direct and manage workload
- Excellent oral and written communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively with diverse stakeholders
- Expert in Zoom Communications platform and Microsoft Office Suite, and proficient in MailChimp or similar email distribution platforms
- Knowledge of the Jewish Community Center Movement and Programs preferred.
- Nonprofit experience preferred
Compensation and Benefits
JCC Association offers a competitive salary and benefits package including:
- Salary range $60,000 to $65,000, annual
- Medical and dental insurance
- Eight paid legal holidays and up to 13 paid Jewish holidays. In addition, the office closes early on the eve of three Jewish holidays
- Paid vacation
- Sick leave, family leave, medical leave, jury duty leave, and bereavement leave.
- Flexible benefit plan
- Pre-tax salary deductions for transit
- Short- and long-term disability
- Life and accidental death and dismemberment insurance, supplemental life insurance.
- Retirement Plan
How to Apply
Interested candidates can submit a cover letter and resume to Irina Khomina, Human Resources Director, at [email protected]
JCC Association is proud to be an equal opportunity employer, and we are committed to treating people with compassion and respect. All qualified applications will be considered for employment without regard to age, race, color, national origin, ancestry, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, pregnancy, disability, mental disorder, familial status, veteran status, genetic information, or any other protected characteristic as established by law.