National Director of Young Judaea (YJ) Teens
Location: New York, NY (Hybrid)
Reports to: Chief Executive Officer
Travel: National travel required
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BACKGROUND
Young Judaea is America’s oldest Zionist youth movement, transforming Jewish youth from diverse backgrounds and orientations into engaged leaders and inspired activists with an enduring commitment to Israel, Jewish life, and tikkun olam (repairing the world). Through immersive informal and experiential education — including summer camps, year-round programming for teens and Israel travel programs — Young Judaea fosters a deep appreciation for Jewish tradition and ritual, pride in the Jewish people and Israel, and a strong Jewish identity, while also instilling a lifelong sense of responsibility for making the world a better place.
Entering its 116th year, the movement is now at a pivotal juncture in its evolution. Young Judaea Global, the central organization representing the Young Judaea movement, has been on a steady growth trajectory over the past four years, fueled by strategic philanthropic investments, strong professional leadership, and a clear strategic vision. Building on the strength of its premier programs, the regional junior camps and Israel travel programs, Young Judaea started to build out year-round teen programming, now known as YJ Teens. With Tel Yehudah, the national teen summer camp, as the summer expression of YJ Teens, for the past three years we have piloted various compelling models of engagement for the 10 months between summers. We are now ready to scale these models throughout the country to achieve an even greater impact.
POSITION SUMMARY
Young Judaea Global is seeking an innovative, strategic, and growth-oriented National Director of Teen Engagement to lead and expand our teen movement across the United States. This role oversees Young Judaea’s current national teen strategy, program, and operation as well as future growth and expansion. The National Director supervises the national team currently comprised of a National Programs Associate and Central Shaliach/Director of Israel Education, both located in New York City and part time advisors located around the US. The National Director will be responsible for hiring and supervising regional directors located around the US and a national education team. The ideal candidate brings deep knowledge and passion for Jewish teen engagement, excitement to implement and shape the vision for movement growth in partnership with CEO of Young Judaea Global, and a proven ability to build local and national partnerships to further the reach of Young Judaea’s teen movement.
Key Responsibilities:
- Provide strategic leadership and day-to-day management for the National Teen Engagement Team and Regional Directors.
- Refine and implement a multi-year teen engagement strategy that reflects Young Judaea’s values and mission.
- Create and evaluate metrics for success, ensuring regional and national initiatives align with overall growth goals.
- Work in collaboration with CEO Young Judaea Global to speak and write about YJ teens program and vision to invested stakeholders including funders, prospective and current families, and alumni
- Partner with alumni, federations, synagogues, camps, and other organizations to grow recruitment pipelines and collaborative programming.
- Serve as a public ambassador for Young Judaea Teens, presenting at conferences and events, bringing greater visibility to YJ Teens and Young Judaea.
- Serve as the movement’s key connector—bringing together the national, regional, and local YJ Teens teams to foster a vibrant, cohesive teen movement and to steward as many teens as possible on the YJ Journey.
- Work collaboratively with stakeholders throughout the Young Judaea Journey to align engagement and educational strategies. This includes the key professionals at YJ Camps, YJ Israel, and YJ teens as well as overseeing a YJ Teens lay committee of the Young Judaea Global board.
- Supervise Central Shaliach/Director of Israel Education, National Programs Associate, Regional Directors, and National Senior Education position
Job Competencies:
- Superior ability to implement a multi-year plan for movement growth through YJ Teens
- Proven success with shaping a compelling vision and inspiring stakeholders with it
- Demonstrated leadership, management and supervisory experience, ideally in a national or multi-regional context, in-person and virtual settings.
- Deep passion for and extensive experience in Jewish teen engagement and knowledgeable of current Jewish teen landscape in North America.
- Strong instinct to be creative, solution-oriented, and proactive
- Strong organization and interpersonal skills
- Excellent written and oral communication skills – experience with grant writing a plus
- Demonstrated ability to manage multiple tasks, projects, and deadlines
- Proven success with mobilizing highly effective teams (cross-functional teams preferred)
- Proven ability to build local and national partnerships
- Results oriented and metrics driven
- Ease working in pluralistic settings
- Willingness and ability to travel regularly across the U.S. to oversee expansion, foster partnerships, and supervise regional staff
Education/Experience:
- Minimum 10 years of experience in Jewish teen or youth engagement, informal education, or related fields.
- At least two years of experience building and scaling programs
- Bachelor’s degree or higher in Jewish Education, Non-Profit Management or related field
This role is primarily based in New York City, with a hybrid schedule of Tuesdays/Thursdays in our midtown offices and Monday/Wednesday/Friday remote. For candidates living at an inconvenient distance from NYC, one day in the office and four days remote can be arranged, although not preferred. This position includes moderate travel across the United States in year one and more significant in subsequent years as the national team expands.
Salary is $130,000 - $150,000, commensurate with experience.
To apply, send cover letter and resume to [email protected].