The Assistant Director, Community Engagement, serves as a key leader at JCC Chicago, working closely with the Director of Community Engagement to plan, implement, and oversee programs that build meaningful connections across all stages of life. This role provides direct oversight in core areas including Teen Engagement, Israel Programming, Adult Programming, and community initiatives JCC-wide.
As part of a collaborative team, the Assistant Director helps shape a cohesive and inclusive JCC experience by developing strong relationships with staff, community members, partner organizations, and lay leaders—both within and beyond the Jewish community. The role also supports strategic agency goals by enhancing community involvement, tracking program data and outcomes, and ensuring smooth logistics for impactful events. From neighborhood gatherings to city-wide celebrations, the Assistant Director plays a vital role in strengthening community bonds and promoting lifelong engagement.
At JCC Chicago, we are focused on growing good kids, building communities, and educating ourselves on the past to make a difference for the future. The largest JCC in North America, JCC Chicago offers a life-affirming journey that builds on the richness and power of Jewish values and continues to reimagine them for a more connected, inspired community. JCC Chicago is an equal opportunity agency that offers career opportunities, internships, and volunteer roles for all.
Key Areas of Responsibility:
- Leadership and Strategy: Maintain and grow JCC’s reputation as a community leader in providing opportunities for cultural enrichment and engagement across all demographics. Create and implement a forward-thinking vision and strategies to provide many points of connection to enrich and inspire Jewish identity and build community for community members of all ages. Work with staff to ensure fiscal responsibility for department budget.
- Logistics: Oversee our comprehensive tracking system to support the operational and strategic needs of the Community Engagement department. This includes survey execution, creation, and administration, as well as data collection for grants and logistics for key initiatives.
- Programming: Work with staff to execute and enhance Teen programming, special events, Israel programming, and adult programming. Some examples of programs include (but are not limited to) Seed 613, Maccabi Games, Growing Hope, Momentum, and Women InPower, etc.
- Team Building: Foster a strong team culture and provide a model of positive leadership that is aligned with JCC Chicago core values. Clear communication of goals and expectations with all staff to maximize outcomes. Provide formal and informal feedback regularly to department staff.
- Customer Relationships: Communicate with program participants in a timely, respectful, appropriate manner. Ensure best practices regarding customer service, communication, and issue resolution. Actively pursue an understanding of all agency programs to steward participants through JCC offerings.
- Partnerships: Build successful partnerships within the agency and leverage resources to maximize outcomes.
- Performs other duties as required.
Education and Experience:
- Bachelor’s Degree Required: focus on Jewish Studies, Fine Arts, Non-Profit Management, or related degree preferred
- Advanced degree in Jewish Communal Service, Social Work, or Education preferred
- Minimum 8+ years previous experience working with adults in educational, social or recreational setting.
- Previous experience creating and implementing programming.
- Outreach experience to lay leaders and community stakeholders required.
- Experience utilizing effective networking skills required.
- Budget development, management, and compliance required.
Other Requirements:
- Clear commitment to the Jewish community and embodiment of JCC Chicago’s core values of Self-Leadership & Accountability, Customer Service, Teamwork & Collaboration, and Creativity & Innovation.
- Knowledge of Jewish history, culture, and practice preferred.
- Program development experience required; Adult programming experience preferred.
- Daily travel to various program sites. Must have access to transportation.
- Build relationships with program participants and their extended family to further engage them in JCC programming across the lifespan.
- Previous leadership experience. Experience in developing and implementing outreach vision and methodology.
Key Essential Job Duties/Physical Duties:
- Demonstrate physical stamina and agility required to be mobile for long periods throughout the day.
- Ability to physically procure, lift, move and set up program supplies (minimum 20 lbs.) for direct program support.
- Stand for long periods of time and be able to actively engage with adults of all ages.
- Possess strength and endurance required to set up, facilitate/host, and clean up events.
- Clearly and effectively communicate in a manner that adults understand.
- Understand the difference between appropriate and inappropriate behaviors. Prevent, circumvent, and handle problem behaviors appropriately and effectively.
- Maintain a sense of calm and perspective with physical and mental alertness during stressful times.
- Consistently demonstrate and reinforce values of caring, respect, honesty, and responsibility.
- Ability to climb stairs and access public and private transportation.
- Implement activities to meet a broad range of physical, emotional, intellectual, and social needs of participants across the lifespan.
- React with physical and mental alertness in emergency situations.
- Vision – must be able to distinguish between colors, shades, and brightness with ability to focus.
Days/Hours/%Travel:
Must be able to attend events and programs scheduled on evenings and weekends. Frequent travel across the greater Chicagoland area, and occasional travel to Lake Delton, WI (Camp Chi).
Direct Reports (titles and FTE%):
3 Teen Coordinators (100% FTE)
Job Category:
Management
Compensation:
$80,000- $95,000 annually (exempt/salaried)