Sutton Place Synagogue (SPS), a vibrant, egalitarian synagogue located in the Midtown East neighborhood of Manhattan, is excited to hire an experienced professional to serve as the Director of Synagogue Finances and Operations. As a key part of the SPS team, you will serve a vital role in enabling SPS to execute on and deliver programs and educational and religious offerings consistent with its mission.
About You
You have experience in financial and operational administration of an organization
- At least 10 years of work experience which includes a minimum of 3 (though 5 preferred) years of experience managing an organization's budgets, facilities, and related staff.
You understand the intricacies of running a building in NYC
- You have experience managing a building, including experience with architects and contractors/external vendors, managing a small team of facilities and security personnel, and experience and comfort with current audio and visual technology
- You understand the importance of working closely with the Department of Buildings, Department of Health, Department of Education, and Fire Department for all issues regarding licenses and permits
You are a seasoned professional with a high level of service orientation to both internal and external constituencies.
- Strong interpersonal skills and desire to collaborate with staff and lay leadership
- You will be a part of a growing community, developing connections between our families, each other, and the synagogue through your important role
- You possess a high level of accountability and orientation to detail
- Strong verbal and written skills
- Comfort with basic office technology (e.g. Google Workspace, Microsoft Office Suite, and social media)
You are a Senior Administrator
- You have experience in a leadership capacity at other synagogues, non profits, schools, camps, or related industries which includes supervisory experience of small teams
- You have experience with project management
- You possess the organizational and computer skills required to effectively manage a building and an organization and you understand important issues regarding health and safety
- You have a background in Human Resource Management
Overall Responsibilities:
Manage the day-to-day operations of the synagogue, ensuring a well-run organization for both lay leaders and professional teams; Broadly, be responsible for all aspects of the physical plant and the workings therein as necessary to allow religious services, programming, and educational offerings to operate with full knowledge and confidence that the operational needs of each is satisfied.
As an integrated member of the SPS professional leadership team and community, you will dream, interact, collaborate, plan, and participate with other team members, lay leaders, and families, to develop and implement synagogue programs, celebrations, and other activities of the congregation. Demonstrating a keen ability to work independently yet understanding the importance of collaboration with staff and volunteers to further the mission and goals of the Synagogue, is critical to this role.
Financial Management:
- Serve as key senior staff member responsible for budgets, payroll and benefits, invoices (both external payments, internal reimbursements, and school billings), and audits and providing timely information about budgets and finances to stakeholders (lay and professional)
- Oversee management of remote/outsourced services provided to SPS such as offsite bookkeeping service (or onsite bookkeeper if applicable) and auditors;
- Organize, in conjunction with the lay leadership, the financial aid processes for the schools
- Play a key role, in partnership with the Director of Membership and Development, in securing external revenue (grants, rentals, sponsorships) that will contribute to the growth of revenue outside of dues, tuitions, and members’ philanthropy
Human Resources Management:
- Participate in Onboarding of new employees and ensuring proper conclusion of employee status
- Oversee all HR-related issues including liaising with Insurance broker for benefits
- Assume responsibility for workplace concerns, training, policies, and procedures
Facility and Systems Management:
- Ensure proper management of external vendors (e.g. architects, contractors, maintenance providers, Departments of Buildings, Health, and Fire, AudioVisual systems, Insurances, Licensure, so that the building and physical plant remain up to code and in compliance with all rules and laws to allow for SPS operations to continue;
- Hire and Coordinate all A/V consultants to executive A/V needs for services and programs
- Coordinate IT systems; Keep current on technological advances in software and hardware as well as audio/visual technology and make purchase recommendations as appropriate to the President/Board of Trustees;
- Ensure that mailings are coordinated with key staff and lay leaders and that relationship with printing company is in line with needs of the organization
- Purchase and supervise maintenance of all office and building equipment and arrange for repairs as necessary and other supplies as needed;
- Responsible for hiring, supervising, and assessing the performance of maintenance staff as necessary;
- Regularly assess the conditions of the grounds and the building and office space for purposes of storage, cleanliness, and efficiencies;
Security Coordination
- Coordinate and supervise synagogue security. Liaise with outside security vendor and appropriate law enforcement agencies, including the NYPD on a weekly basis, and Paid Detail when security so requires. Maintain the security camera and access systems;
- Responsible for the annual submission of security grants and follow up, specifically with the national and state Departments of Homeland Security;
Event Production
- Work with the clergy, educational, programming team, and lay leadership to meet and anticipate the facilities needs of all synagogue programs, schools, religious services, and other events;
- Oversee setup, cleanup, and breakdown of facilities for events and religious services;
- Serve as primary liaison to the synagogue caterers when in use and manage ordering of food for kiddushes and other events as appropriate in conjunction with other key staff;
- Ability to be on site, full time, with occasional nights and weekends, and Jewish holidays when there are events taking place in the synagogue such as the fall holidays, b’nai mitzvah, congregational events such as Purim and Yom HaShoah, speakers, and events which require various set ups including audio, visual, and food
- Have a strong understanding of the rhythms of a Jewish organization in order to anticipate needs throughout the calendar year
Compensation & Benefits
- The salary range is $130,000-$160,000. Compensation will be commensurate with the candidate’s experience and qualifications.
- This is a full time, on site position; 3 weeks vacation
- Health Insurance Coverage; Between 85-95% (plan dependent) of individual Health Insurance is covered by SPS with a small contribution by the employee
- 100% of Vision and Dental Insurance is covered for the employee
- Facilitates participation in a Health FSA, TransitCheck FSA, and Dependent Care FSA
- Life and disability insurance
- Family leave in accordance with NY State
- Synagogue Membership
- Tuition discounts for the synagogue’s educational programs
- Facilitate participation in 403(b) retirement savings plan
This position is full-time, exempt, and reports to the senior Rabbi.
SPS is an equal-opportunity employer, and we are committed to racial equity and accessibility. SPS does not discriminate in employment opportunities or practices on the basis of race, color, national origin, sexual orientation, disability, sex, age, gender identity or expression, or other status protected by applicable law.
Not sure if you meet 100% of our qualifications? If you believe that you could excel in this role, we encourage you to apply. We are dedicated to considering a broad array of candidates, including those with diverse workplace experiences and backgrounds. Please use your cover letter to tell us about your interest in our work and what you hope to bring to this role.
Please send cover letter and resume to: [email protected]
About Sutton Place Synagogue (About Us)
Sutton Place Synagogue is a midsized congregation on the East Side of Midtown Manhattan. It is big enough to be “full service” for people at all ages and stages with varying interests, and it is also small enough for people to have personalized attention with the clergy, the administrative, programmatic, and educational teams, with the ability for all members to have many opportunities for involvement and connections. Recognizing that families enter (and re-enter) Jewish life through various avenues, JRS is one of the core pillars of the synagogue, alongside Kaplan Nursery School, an exciting and welcoming play-based Nursery School, and the Block Center for Jewish Exploration and Engagement, the newest addition at SPS, which seeks to create meaningful moments for the community to connect with Jewish life in ways they haven’t even yet imagined.
Sutton Place Synagogue is Your Jewish Home, wherever you are…
- We inspire through spiritual connections, meaningful prayer, and impactful tzedakah
- We educate through outstanding schools, compelling adult programming, and opportunities for growth and leadership
- We engage through personal relationships, with a warm and vibrant membership shaped by local and global experiences
…a community for every stage of life
Our synagogue community is committed to providing its members and those seeking to connect with the best opportunity to strengthen Jewish identity, joyfully inspire intellectual curiosity, and develop the skills needed to engage in a fulfilling and meaningful Jewish life. This happens through our schools, camp, programming, religious services, and most importantly, the deep relationships that we strive to build between our community members.
Our Hiring Process and Timeline
- We will review applications on a rolling basis until the position is filled.
- We will not be able to respond to every application we receive but we will let you know if/when the position has been filled