What you will be responsible for:
You will be recruiting for and organizing a new network of early childhood educators in Chicago. These will all be teachers new to their roles at area Jewish early childhood centers. As the local coordinator for a national initiative (called ElevatEd) based in a dozen cities around the country, you will create and nurture a local cohort of up to 30 teachers, with the support of fellow coordinators and support staff at ElevatEd. Your work is important: While new teachers often feel isolated and vulnerable, research has shown that mentoring and support can boost their confidence and enthusiasm. This is the magic that you will be making for them.
Outside of this national project, you will also serve as a vital member of JUF’s early childhood team, which supports 37 early childhood programs in the area and advocates for the importance of early childhood education. On this team, you will bring critical thinking and an eagerness to hit the ground running and lead your own projects while also acting as a team player to contribute to the projects of others.
If you are looking for relational, mission-driven work in a culture that fosters a sense of belonging and feels rewarding, supportive, and inclusive, this is the position for you. This is a two-year grant-funded position, but it is likely there will be the opportunity to join the team as a permanent employee after the grant ends. The salary range for this position is $50,000-$65,000.
What you will be doing:
- 50-75% of your time will be devoted to the coordination of the ElevatED program, a collaborative initiative to transform the field of early childhood Jewish education through recruitment, training, and mentoring. This includes but is not limited to:
- Liasing with the national ElevatED project team
- Recruiting and supporting early childhood teachers and mentors
- Conducting regular check-ins with each school leader
- Participating in evaluation requests from the program’s evaluation partner
- Convening local gatherings of educators (in person or virtually)
- Meeting with a cohort of Community Coordinators from around the country
- The remaining 25-50% of your time will be allotted to:
- Assisting with grants management and data collection, including collecting and reviewing grant proposals and coordinating data collection processes
- Supporting communication needs for the team and event/meeting planning. This may include monthly newsletters, sustaining a social media presence, and helping with meeting or event coordination
- Using discretion and independent judgement in performing all aspects of the position.
- Supporting JUF Campaign and mandatory campaign-related activities on an ongoing basis
What you need to succeed:
- Bachelor’s degree
- Strong project management skills – including excellent interpersonal, organizational, time-management, written and oral communication skills
- Basic administrative and management skills including budgeting and scheduling
- Familiarity with digital communication tools and platforms
- Ability to work independently, demonstrating initiative and being receptive to feedback
- Desire to learn new things
- Warmth, sense of humor, and creativity
We are eager to meet people that believe in our mission and can contribute to our team in a variety of ways – not just candidates who check all the boxes. If this job sounds exciting to you, we encourage you to apply even if you don’t feel you meet every single requirement.
What you’ll love about us:
At JUF, you can be part of one of the largest non-profit social welfare institutions in Illinois. We provide food, refuge, healthcare, education, emergency assistance, and essential services to 500,000 Chicagoans of all faiths and millions of Jews around the world. We offer medical, dental, and vision insurance, 401(k) with base contribution and match, additional health and wellness benefits (pet insurance!), financial benefits, professional training, tuition reimbursement, paid family leave, and much more. We have a flexible schedule with core hours and the ability to work from home / remote a few days per week on a hybrid basis.