Martha’s Vineyard Hebrew Center
DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS
Background
Martha's Vineyard Hebrew Center (MVHC), founded in 1940, offers year-round religious, educational, cultural, and social programming. It is the home of Jewish spiritual, cultural, intellectual, and artistic life on Martha's Vineyard. It is a diverse, inclusive, and multi-generational Jewish community informed by the values of liberal Judaism and affiliated with the Union of Reform Judaism (URJ).
MVHC supports community members as they learn, question, and grow in the richness of Jewish tradition, Torah, and mitzvot. A caring community, MVHC strives to apply values of justice, as described by the Prophets, to global and local issues alike. They seek partnerships with other Island faith communities and organizations to promote the Jewish and universal values of compassion and human dignity for all.
MVHC also sponsors the acclaimed Summer Institute that has been bringing world renowned speakers and films with Jewish themes to Martha’s Vineyard for over 20 years and has become a cultural institution on the island engaging hundreds of individuals in programming every summer.
Martha’s Vineyard Hebrew Center serves 340 families and has an annual operating budget of $750,000.
For more information about MVHC, visit https://www.mvhc.us/
Position
This position has been newly created. Our resolve to respond to the needs of our growing community has stretched our dedicated staff and volunteers. These circumstances call for a more cohesive strategy. The Director of Operations will have the opportunity to facilitate a comprehensive review of our administrative organization, and to collaborate with the Board, Rabbi and team to help shape the structure, process and staffing needed for optimal performance and growth.
The environment for this initiative is promising. This is a welcoming and healthy congregation and community. The Rabbi is an inspirational and skilled leader. The board and board leadership enjoy a collaborative and mutually supportive relationship with the Rabbi and staff. The board is composed of a diverse mix of lay leaders and individuals with deep experience in executive and financial leadership. There is a common recognition that this is the moment to empower an experienced operational and administrative leader to upgrade the performance of a dedicated and overstretched staff.
The Director of Operations will lead the administrative functions of the Center. Specifically, they will ensure that our fiscal, operations, fundraising, human resource, technology, facilities, publicity, communications, and programmatic strategies are implemented across all segments of the organization. They will supervise and manage all operational and administrative activities, facilitate and implement the policies of the Rabbi and President and assure the Rabbi is supported in her many duties and activities.
We do not require that this person be Jewish. But an understanding of our religious and cultural practices and values will be necessary and can be learned.
Growth and Future Opportunity
Our ambition is that a modern, well integrated operational platform will stimulate growth. New programs, advocacy and creative partnerships with the greater community are all within reach. The opportunity for our Director is to strengthen this platform, to innovate, and to be a key partner for our progressive vision.
Responsibilities
Administration & Operations
- Ensure the smooth administrative, day- to- day, functioning of the Hebrew Center, in compliance with MVHC policies/procedures and all applicable laws.
- Facilitate the work for the Board, Rabbi, and Committee Chairs with administrative and operational support.
- Supervise, train, and evaluate professional staff and allocate staff workload and workflow.
- Ensure the office and facilities are accessible and inclusive to members and visitors and that administrative, program, and facilities needs are met.
- Serve as a liaison to MVHC and the island community, in alignment with the strategy and values of the Rabbi and board leadership.
Financial Management
- Supervise the development of Annual Budget in collaboration with the Treasurer and President.
- Monitor implementation of approved budget and advise the Board appropriately.
- Ensure the accuracy of monthly membership billing and oversee the maintenance of the MVHC membership database.
- Ensure the accuracy of employee payroll.
Facilities Management
- Oversee the operations, maintenance and security of the Hebrew Center building and grounds.
- Ensure maintenance and timely repair of all property and equipment including technology, sound systems, and live streaming.
- Oversee the scheduling of the building for religious, cultural, educational, and social events and classes.
- Supervise and manage vendors (caterer, security, etc.) who work in the facility.
- Oversee the logistics of events that happen throughout the facility.
Human Resources Management
- Hire, train, supervise and evaluate all administrative, program, and facilities personnel, including the Development and Events Manager, Administrative Assistant/Office Manager, Communications Manager, and Bookkeeper.
- Collaborate with the Rabbi to supervise and support other members of the staff as needed.
- Lead the review and development of an updated personnel manual; ensure the implementation of the personnel policies.
- Work with the Rabbi to develop an environment that fosters respect, employee satisfaction, productivity, and high overall morale among the staff and volunteers.
- Ensure that staff provides a high level of customer service to congregants and the greater community.
Fundraising
- Collaborate with the Development and events manager to identify other fundraising opportunities to meet the Center’s fundraising goals.
- Support the Board President and the Development and Events Manager with all development activities, including annual appeals.
- Ensure that appropriate cultivation, acknowledgment, and recognition processes are in place.
Board Engagement
- Work with the President and Executive Committee to ensure the Board is properly supported with information and data as needed.
Membership and Community Engagement
- Oversee the operations and publicity of the programs and events of the Hebrew Center as envisioned by the Rabbi and Lay Leadership in partnership with Committee Chairs.
- Respond to member and community requests directly or connect them to the appropriate channels.
- Build relationships with members and prospective members.
- Oversee and review all communications to members.
Desired Qualifications
- Ability to oversee the operations and publicity of the programs and events of the Hebrew Center, as envisioned by the Rabbi and Lay Leadership in partnership with Committee Chairs.
- Ability to respond to member and community requests directly or connect them to the appropriate channels.
- Ability to build relationships with members and prospective members.
- Ability to oversee and review all communications to members. Strong leader and experienced people manager with demonstrated experience building, engaging, and supporting a team.
- Able to build relationships, engage with people and create a warm environment
- Diplomatic presence with demonstrated experience in customer relations and customer service
- Self-starter who can thrive in an entrepreneurial environment
- Proven experience engaging new members and retaining current members; experience leading a membership organization preferred
- Comfortable being an external face and presence of the community
- Collaborative spirit with an excitement to partner with professional staff and volunteer leadership
- Experience and knowledge of marketing and branding to enhance the external presence of the Hebrew Center
- Ability to multitask with proven experience in taking a project from start to finish
- Financial management skills and business acumen
- Communication skills, written and verbal
- Tech and social media savvy
- Experience with building procedures, maintenance, security, and facility operations
Serious candidates will be welcomed to a candid exchange about our needs and circumstances, and their strategy for this role.
Hybrid Work
Once the Director of Operations has established themselves in the role, it will be possible to work from home and come to the Vineyard intermittently, to engage with staff and support key projects. We anticipate the Director will need to be on site, on average, for two days a week.
If this individual relocates to the Vineyard we will help identify housing and will offer a generous subsidy. If this individual commutes, we will subsidize the costs of commuting and temporary stays on the Vineyard, when needed.
Compensation
The compensation range for this position is $100,000 to $120,000 and is negotiable, depending on experience. Benefits are competitive. MVHC is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to a diverse workplace. All applicants will be evaluated on a merit basis.
Resumes and a cover letter may be submitted in confidence to:
[email protected]