Senior Managing Director, Israel Education
The Jewish Education Project & RootOne
?? Hybrid | Based in NYC (3 days in-office)
?? Full-Time | Senior Level
?? $190,000–$220,000 + robust benefits
Reimagine Jewish Education. Redefine What’s Possible.
In a world that is rapidly shifting—politically, culturally, spiritually—we believe Jewish education must evolve to not only keep pace but to lead with vision, courage, and heart.
We’re not tinkering around the edges. We’re building a movement. One where Jewish youth grow up proud, deeply connected to Israel and the Jewish people, and fully equipped to navigate the complexities of today’s world with confidence and clarity.
Now, in the wake of October 7, we are at a turning point. Israel education is no longer a “nice to have.” It’s core to the Jewish story, to Jewish resilience, and to Jewish future. That’s why we’re seeking a game-changing Senior Managing Director of Israel Education to lead this next chapter—shaping a national strategy that centers Israel across the Jewish educational journey, from early childhood through immersive teen travel.
RootOne is an initiative of The Jewish Education Project focused on immersive teen Israel travel. The Jewish Education Team works to empower educators in every educational setting. With the creation of this role, we are bringing together all the Israel education activities across the organization, with RootOne as the pinnacle experience for learners in our vision for creating a strong, lasting connection to Israel.
If you’re an innovative thinker, a strategic leader, and a passionate educator who dreams big and executes bigger, this is your moment.
Learn more at www.jewishedproject.org and www.RootOne.org.
What You’ll Do
This is not your average leadership role. You’ll be:
?? Leading a National Vision
- Drive a bold reimagining of Israel education across North America, positioning it as integral (not adjacent) to Jewish identity formation.
- Serve as a public thought leader in Israel education and engagement—writing, speaking, and representing The Jewish Education Project and its RootOne initiative across national and international platforms.
- Lead strategy and implementation across ecosystems: early childhood through teen years, in partnership with educators, youth organizations, trip providers, and communal leaders.
?? Shaping Strategy, Systems, and Success
- Lead and inspire an interdisciplinary education team of professionals from both RootOne and the Jewish Education Team (JET) to reimagine and advance the agency’s Israel-focused educational and experiential goals and objectives.
- Successfully establish and implement an approach that fosters a thread of learning about Israel from a child’s earliest Jewish educational moments through the RootOne early experience (pre-trip), immersive (Israel travel) and post-trip continuum. Alongside the CEO, CJEO, RootOne Executive Director and RootOne Director of Education, lead the ongoing evolution and sharpening of education strategies based on best practices in the field, The Jewish Education Project’s original research, RootOne’s research and evaluation data as well as other relevant studies.
- Lead the planning and implementation of comprehensive professional development strategies that result in impactful learning experiences for educators and near-educators across age groups and educational settings, building their confidence, deepening their content knowledge, and strengthening their pedagogical practice in Israel education.
- Guide and support JET team in:
- The successful implementation of professional development experiences for North American educators working with children and families from early childhood through high school graduation.
- The curation and development of resources for educators, learners and their families that embed Israel education within Jewish education and promote a nuanced approach to Israel education.
- The exploration of and experimentation with new approaches to Israel and Jewish peoplehood education, integrating them into a comprehensive and evolving vision of Jewish education.
- Guide and support the RootOne Education Team in the successful implementation of:
- RootOne’s biennial stakeholder convening, Connect(ED).
- The launch of the RootOne Educator Fellowship, an initiative designed to recruit, train, and retain more effective trip staff educators.
- The creation of standards of excellence for the implementation of educational strategies among Trip Providers and Tour Operators.
- The elevation of Israel travel educational strategies among RootOne partners based on the annual review of evaluation data (both satisfaction date as well as outcomes-based data).
- The evolution of RootOne’s Pre-Trip learning content and early learning platforms, educational strategies used in itinerary design, and post-trip engagement strategies.
- Build out and manage a RootOne Educational Strategy Committee comprised of Israel and teen educational experts, field professionals and other appropriate stakeholder experts to help strengthen the education strategy as well as its implementation.
- Create scalable training models that empower educators to deliver nuanced, resonant, and developmentally appropriate Israel learning.
- Support the RootOne’s Director of Israel Partnerships, elevating RootOne’s educational partnership efforts in Israel, including Israeli Teen integration and educational assets curation.
?? Inspiring People and Partnerships
- Supervise and inspire a cross-functional, cross-agency team of educational professionals.
- Collaborate closely with RootOne’s and The Jewish Education Project’s senior leadership, including the The Jewish Education Project’s CEO and Chief Jewish Education Officer, and RootOne’s Executive Director and Director of Education. S/he/they will sit on the senior leadership team of RootOne and the Jewish Education Team.
- Cultivate and strengthen relationships with tour operators, educators, community leaders, and content providers.
What You Bring
We’re looking for a rare blend of educator, strategist, and visionary. You’ll thrive in this role if you have:
- 10+ years in North American based Jewish and/or Israel education leadership, with deep content knowledge and a track record of innovation.
- Significant experience designing and facilitating professional learning for educators, including in-person workshops, digital training, and ongoing communities of practice.
- Experience managing high-performing teams and complex initiatives.
- A public voice in the field—through speaking, writing, or convening thought leadership spaces.
- Deep commitment to pluralism, nuance, and relevance in Israel education.
- Ability to juggle strategy and implementation—big-picture thinking with attention to detail.
- A collaborative spirit, strong emotional intelligence, and a learner’s mindset.
- Advanced degree(s) in Jewish education, Israel studies, or a related field preferred.
- A commitment to embracing a work environment that prioritizes:
- A positive attitude.
- Demonstrating care and concern for the people around them.
- Leading with humble confidence and competence.
- Reliability, consistency, and accountability.
- Striving for excellence.
Why This Role, Why Now
You’ll be at the epicenter of the biggest conversation in Jewish life today—how we educate, inspire, and prepare the next generation for what it means to be Jewish and connected to Israel in the 21st century.
This isn’t just a job. It’s a legacy role.
Compensation & Benefits
- Competitive salary: $190,000–$220,000, based on experience.
- Generous PTO: 4 weeks + most Jewish holidays + summer Fridays
- Paid Family Leave
- Comprehensive benefits: Medical, dental, vision
- 401(k) with employer contributions
- Commuter Benefits
- Hybrid work schedule – Tues–Thurs in office (Midtown Manhattan), Mon/Fri remote
Ready to Apply?
Send your resume and a brief cover letter to [email protected]
Please include “Senior Managing Director, Israel Education” in the subject line.
Who We Are
- The Jewish Education Project is a century-strong nonprofit reinventing Jewish education to meet the evolving needs of today’s families and youth.
- RootOne, an initiative of The Jewish Education Project, is building a movement of proud, connected Jewish teens through high-impact Israel travel experiences.
We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We actively seek candidates from diverse backgrounds and identities. We celebrate pluralism and are committed to building a team that reflects the communities we serve.