Talent Development Associate

Who We Are:

The Orthodox Union (OU) is the largest Orthodox Jewish organization in the United States. Founded in 1898, the OU supports a network of synagogues, youth programs, Jewish and Religious Zionist advocacy programs, programs for the disabled, localized religious study programs, and international units. The OU maintains a kosher certification service, whose circled U symbol, ?, is found on the labels of many kosher commercial and consumer food products. 

Position Summary:

The Talent Development Associate sits at a unique intersection, making an impact at both the macro and micro levels of the Orthodox Union. This role helps shape professional growth across the OU’s 3,500 employees through organization-wide development initiatives. This role will also be tasked with offering individualized mentorship and guidance to the OU Executive Fellows, a select group of post-college professionals participating in a premier one-year Jewish communal service and leadership program.

Roughly 60% of the role focuses on supporting all OU staff development efforts: trainings, conferences, networking events, and career development programming, while 40% is dedicated to guiding the Executive Fellowship. That includes 1:1 check-ins, coordinating trips and events, recruitment, troubleshooting issues, overseeing day-to-day logistics, and helping Fellows thrive in their departments and professional journeys.

This role is ideal for someone passionate about helping others grow, who thrives in both strategic and detail-oriented work, and enjoys balancing big-picture impact with personal connection. Working closely with the head of Talent Development, the Associate will help foster a culture of growth and continuous learning at both the fellowship and organizational levels.

Key Responsibilities:

Talent Development (60%)

• Coordinate and help execute the OU’s organization-wide professional development initiatives, including:
  • Live and virtual trainings, conferences, and retreats
  • Career growth tools and communications
  • Overseeing the OU’s new Learning Management System (LMS)
• Collaborate with department leaders to ensure offerings are aligned with strategic and employee needs.
• Support internal facilitators and external speakers with logistics and materials.
• Track engagement and feedback to support continuous improvement.
• Help develop internal guides and resources that inspire learning across all career levels.
• Help managers follow through on meaningful career conversations by supporting completion of performance reviews, goals, and growth touchpoints across the year.
   

Executive Fellowship (40%)

• Serve as the primary coordinator for the OU Executive Fellowship, ensuring a smooth and enriching experience for each Fellow.
• Build meaningful relationships with Fellows through 1:1 check-ins and mentorship.
• Coordinate logistics for seminars, trips, projects, and special events.
• Liaise with OU departments and senior staff to support projects and professional development.
• Assist in recruitment and marketing efforts for incoming Fellowship cohorts.
• Gather feedback and contribute to the ongoing enhancement of the program.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the Director.

Qualifications:

Education & Experience:

• 3+ years of experience in talent development, program coordination, or a related field.
• A bachelor’s degree is required.
• In-depth knowledge of Orthodox Jewish culture and customs.
• Experience working in fast-paced environments with multiple stakeholders.
• Familiarity with the Jewish nonprofit space or immersive leadership programs.

Skills & Strengths:

• Passion for helping others grow; energized by both the behind-the-scenes and people-facing work.
• Excellent written and verbal communication.
• Organized, resourceful, and proactive.
• Able to manage projects from start to finish while maintaining strong attention to detail
• Skilled in Microsoft Office, with comfort learning other platforms (e.g. Zoom, Canva, LMS, etc.)
• Ability to handle confidential information with discretion.
• Willingness to travel and work weekends as needed (less than 10%).