The New Futures Project is a multi-year initiative designed to guide our congregation in the art of imagination in order to build a shared vision of the future, translating that vision into creative, systemic action. By applying tools from futures thinking and community organizing, the project empowers the CBE community to change narratives and use innovative strategies to tackle some of the most pressing systemic challenges facing our city, state, and country.
Congregation Beth Elohim (CBE) is a welcoming, inclusive, and progressive Reform synagogue located in Park Slope, Brooklyn. Founded in 1861, CBE serves over 1,300 households with vibrant worship, robust educational programs for all ages, and a deep commitment to community, justice, and the arts. CBE also hosts cultural events and social action initiatives, making it a dynamic leader in 21st-century Jewish life in New York City.
Position Overview
Congregation Beth Elohim seeks a Lead Organizer to help lead and execute the New Futures Project. This role combines volunteer coordination, community building, event planning, data-driven insight, and operational excellence.
Join us if you are looking to:
- Be a part of building a transformative initiative at one of Brooklyn’s most respected progressive congregations.
- Supporting a team who is building and implementing a future-focused vision.
- Collaborate in a mission-driven environment with clergy, staff, volunteers, and experts.
- Create meaningful social impact through innovation, creativity, and community.
Core Responsibilities & Qualifications
1. Volunteer Management, Team Communications, and Community-Building
Experience & Qualifications:
- Excellent communication skills with ability to write and convey ideas clearly
- A passion for getting to know and understand people and what drives them
- Demonstrated success managing large volunteer teams and consistent internal communications.
- Comfortable working in a mid-sized organizational context and collaborating with staff colleagues.
- Background in community organizing, congregational engagement, or outreach.
- Skilled in distributed leadership design and event planning.
Responsibilities:
- Foster team cohesion through regular check-ins and monthly 1:1 meetings.
- Manage internal communications including updates and group channels (e.g., WhatsApp).
- Prepare meeting agendas with members and Rabbi and co-facilitate Leadership Team gatherings.
- Design and execute inclusive engagement strategies.
- Partner with CBE staff to launch initiatives and draft public communications.
- Coordinate participant involvement and track engagement data to identify emerging leaders.
2. Translating Strategy into Action
Experience & Qualifications:
- Background in strategic or operational planning; interest in community organizing and futures work a plus.
- Strong ability to translate vision into actionable plans, ask insightful questions, anticipate needs, and mentor others.
- Demonstrated skill in delegating effectively to build leadership capacity.
Responsibilities:
- Collaborate with the lead rabbi to shape and steward the New Futures strategy.
- Translate big-picture goals into operational plans and co-solve strategic challenges.
- Drive implementation in partnership with a leadership team.
Engage consultants or experts for program design support.
3. Event Planning & Execution
Experience & Qualifications:
- Proven ability to plan and run large-scale events, coordinating logistics across staff, volunteers, and facilities.
- Excellent communicator able to hold both vision and operational detail.
Responsibilities:
- Lead planning and execution of Imagination Sessions, research meetings, artist/futurist series, and community gatherings.
- Coordinate 1-3 large training sessions and end-of-year celebrations.
4. Data & Insight Management
Experience & Qualifications:
- Skilled at synthesizing large quantities of data (that helps us record stories and shared values) into meaningful insights.
- Adept at identifying key questions to guide analysis.
- Comfortable collaborating with data professionals or consultants.
Responsibilities:
- Build systems to capture and analyze engagement data (sessions, surveys, event participation).
- Organize the data so leaders can digest it and make meaning of it.
5. Operations & Logistics
Experience & Qualifications:
- Highly organized and detail-oriented, able to balance logistics with strategic vision.
- Experience with budget tracking.
Responsibilities:
- Coordinate scheduling for different assortments of leadership sub-groups and events.
- Prepare monthly finance reports and reconcile expenditures with the New Futures budget.
- Manage meeting space bookings, supplies, and catering in collaboration with facilities staff.
How to Apply
We understand that no candidate may meet all of these criteria, but if you feel that you have much of this experience and capacities, please apply by submitting:
- Your resume.
- Answers to the following questions:
- Tell us a little about yourself and why you’re interested in this role (500 words max)
- Tell us about one professional experience where you had to support or lead a group of people. (500 words max)
- In the Fall, CBE will host 8-10 in-person community meetings with, as of now, ~12 people who are not yet identified in each meeting. How would you go about creating the operational plan to ensure these meetings happen smoothly? What questions would you need answered in order to be able to write and implement the plan? (750 words max)
Send materials to Rabbi Stephanie Kolin at [email protected]
Subject line: “Lead Organizer, New Futures Project: YOUR NAME”
Applications will be considered on a rolling basis through September 15th.
Congregation Beth Elohim is an equal-opportunity employer and values diversity in all forms.