Start Date - December 1, 2025/negotiable
About Us
Located in the woodlands of historic Gladwyne just a few miles outside Center City Philadelphia, Beth David Reform Congregation is a diverse, close knit and joyful community of seekers, learners and doers who are committed to connection, the support of our communities, and doing our part to help heal the world. Our synagogue, with 300 member families, reflects the aggregation of our stories, with a 75-year plus history that entwines our diverse individual pasts with a shared future.
Position Overview
As a synagogue embracing change and reimagining our organizational structure, we seek a dynamic, creative leader with vision to build, strengthen, and support our administrative team, foster collaboration, and help build a welcoming and vibrant Jewish community in alignment with Reform Jewish values. The Executive Director will work in partnership with the Rabbi, Senior Staff, support Staff, Board of Trustees, committees, and congregants to ensure smooth functioning, operational excellence, and long-term financial sustainability of the synagogue.
The Executive Director of Beth David Reform Congregation is the hands-on chief director of operations and administrative officer, overseeing daily management of finances, operations, facilities, HR, and non-clergy staff. This position reports to the Board of Trustees with collaborative accountability to the Rabbi. The current Executive Director is retiring after 19 years.
Qualifications & Skills
- Curiosity and a willingness to learn and grow.
- Strong leadership, management, and organizational skills in nonprofit or synagogue administration.
- Financial acumen, including basic financial accounting knowledge, budgeting, fundraising, and development.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
- Familiarity with the values and practices of Reform Judaism and the Jewish calendar.
- Experience managing facilities, HR, and security operations. Ability to oversee IT systems, including computer network, telephone and building systems.
- Proficiency with technology, including ShulCloud, QuickBooks, Google and social media platforms is desirable.
- Excellent writing skills necessary for communications, website and grants.
- Experience in school operations including preschool is helpful.
- Flexibility to work evenings, weekends, and holidays.
- A sense of humor is welcomed.
Key Responsibilities
Leadership & Strategic Planning
- Partner with the Rabbi, Senior Staff, support Staff, Board of Trustees, and committees to execute the synagogue’s mission and strategic goals.
- Foster a culture of collaboration, engagement, and inclusivity among clergy, staff, lay leadership, and congregants.
- Represent the synagogue within the broader community, building relationships with specified local organizations and Jewish institutions.
Operations & Administration
- Oversee daily synagogue operations, risk management and administration, communications and program logistics.
- Create and implement new and more effective operational processes as needed.
- Hire, train and supervise staff, including administrative/finance personnel, Facilities Manager, Program Coordinators and other staff as designated.
- Ensure compliance with legal, tax, licensing, insurance, HR, and nonprofit governance requirements.
- Hire and manage vendors, contractors, and maintain contracts and relations.
- Work with the head of the religious school and proposed preschool to ensure facility and education coordination.
- Facilitate congregant purchase of Beth David owned cemetery plots in the sections of Haym Salomon Memorial Park & Community Mausoleum.
Financial Management & Development
- Manage the synagogue’s budget, financial planning, reporting and analysis in collaboration with the CFO, Treasurer and Finance Committee.
- Manage payroll, purchasing, vendors, accounts receivable and payable.
- Oversee membership annual commitments, fundraising campaigns, grants, and other revenue-generating initiatives.
- Participate with appropriate Committees in cultivating and maintaining donor relationships and support fundraising strategies to sustain and grow the congregation.
- Responsible for best practices in day-to-day usage of existing and future technology. IT systems and software including QuickBooks/Kesef (3d party vendor), payroll (ADP), CRM (ShulCloud), communications (GoDaddy email marketing).
Membership & Community Engagement
- Work in partnership with the Membership Committee and Clergy to attract, retain, and engage members by fostering a warm and inclusive environment.
- Oversee membership processes, including recruitment of new members, onboarding, and retention strategies.
- Coordinate, oversee, and/or provide advice in the planning and carrying out of all synagogue events, programs, lifecycle events, services, and High Holy Days, ensuring that facilities and staff are appropriately organized and ready for each such event, and attending those events or arranging for a designee when not possible to personally attend.
- Communicate regularly with the congregation via weekly email blast and synagogue bulletins and through email/snail mail correspondence, social media, and the website.
- Maintain the website (with vendor assistance as needed).
- Oversee social media in coordination with PR and marketing firms as needed.
- In consultation with Rabbi and Senior Staff, develop effective internal and external communication strategies
- Provide congregant support, including addressing questions and concerns and providing support in times of need.
- Foster positive relationships with the congregants and with members of the greater community.
Facilities & Security
- Create an attractive and welcoming environment (indoors and out ) for staff, congregants and guests.
- Ensure the maintenance, security, and upkeep of synagogue campus (building and grounds).
- Coordinate with security personnel and community agencies to ensure a safe environment for congregants and visitors, including maintaining relationships with local police and fire department and other security partners and agencies.
- Oversee and recommend capital improvements and facility-related projects as needed.
- Serve as a liaison with the Board of Friends of Gladwyne Jewish Memorial Cemetery, Har Hasetim.
- Facilitate the rental of the Beth David buildings and grounds as appropriate.
- Identify areas to advance the greening and sustainability of the Beth David buildings and grounds.
Compensation & Benefits
- Full time, on-site, salaried position offering $90,000 - $100,000 annually.
- Benefits package, including health insurance, retirement contributions, and paid time off.
- Opportunities for paid professional development and growth.
How to Apply
Interested candidates should submit a resume and cover letter to Lisa Miller at [email protected] with the subject line “Executive Director Application – Beth David Reform Congregation.”
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.