Mid-Atlantic District Synagogue Consultant

Mission Critical:

This position is the primary point of contact between the lay and professional leadership of USCJ affiliated congregations and the services of the USCJ and/or related collaborating organizations.

Position Purpose:

Helping synagogues thrive is the core of the Synagogue Consultants’ work. In order to provide quality service to our synagogues, consultants maintain ongoing contact with congregational leadership, routinely and consistently, learning about the congregations assigned to them and building relationships. Synagogue Consultants serve as diagnosticians of their congregations, connecting each community with USCJ resources and engagement opportunities, providing coaching and leadership development to lay and professional leadership, and identifying specialized consultants from USCJ staff, USCJ lay leaders or extra-organizational relationships when relevant.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• With Congregations
  • Serve as the primary point of contact to a portfolio of congregations in order to enhance and build relationships and to engage congregational leaders.
  • Develop a deep understanding and knowledge of available resources within and outside of USCJ. This includes the USCJ Sulam Leadership products and curriculum.
  • Coach synagogue leadership in various areas that may include clergy or employee search. In some instances, this may lead to referrals and/or work with USCJ movement partners or expert USCJ lay leaders.
  • Manage the processes related to dues collection, variances and budget preparation in partnership with the USCJ dues department.

• With Individual Leaders
  • Identify and recruit potential synagogue leaders to participate in USCJ’s opportunities, programs and services.
  • Serve as community organizer and network weaver, identifying talented professionals and lay leaders who have the potential to benefit other congregations, USCJ and the network as a whole.
  • Using existing USCJ resources (e.g. Sulam curriculum), to plan and facilitate on-line, or in-person USCJ leadership development workshops that focus on the work of synagogue rabbis, presidents, boards, executive directors and education directors.
  • Develop a working relationship with District Council lay leadership. Plan meetings, set goals and identify potential district volunteers and assist in their training.
• Within USCJ
  • Serve as a resource and share background information about synagogues, as needed, with other USCJ departments, staff or lay leadership. Routinely follow-up with appropriate USCJ staff or outside resources to ensure follow through.
  • Regularly utilize the USCJ customer relationship management (CRM) tool for recording and reviewing synagogue contacts. Make certain that all data and interactions are updated in the CRM database for district/regional synagogues.
  • Work with team of synagogue consultants to plan events, share ideas and implement trainings.
  • Any other duties that may be required to fulfill the mission of synagogue relationships and USCJ. After a period of learning the position, the Synagogue Consultant will be assigned to a specialty area to provide additional consultations to congregations anywhere in the network. For example, a consultant assigned to education will not only provide support for congregations in his/her district, but to any congregation that contacts another consultant and needs the connection

• Supervisory Responsibility: NA

   

  Work Environment: Remote Employee

   

  Physical Demands: NA

   

  Position Type/Expected Hours of Work: Full-time position • Some evenings and weekends required

   

  Travel: Some travel required, either day visits to congregations or multi-city trips, depending on geographic proximity of synagogues

   

  Required Education and Experience: College degree or equivalent experience • Demonstrated general knowledge of synagogue leadership, management, governance, and programming, as well as specific knowledge of the trends unique to Conservative synagogues • 5 years or more relevant experience.

   

  Preferred Location: This role will mainly serve congregations in New Jersey and Eastern PA and requires occasional in person meetings and trainings in this area. USCJ offers flexible remote working and welcomes applications for those able to work Eastern Time business hours and meet the travel requirements. Travel will require some driving and applicants must have a current driver’s license.

   

  Qualifications

  • Experience with synagogue leadership training and strategic planning
  • Familiarity with synagogue life and/or Jewish communal organizations
  • Understanding of and sensitivity to the tenets of Conservative Judaism
  • Expertise in building and maintaining stakeholder relationships
  • Commitment to excellent customer service
  • Enjoys collaborative work
  • Emotional intelligence
  • Written and oral communication skills
  • Experience with presentation and facilitation
  • Capacity to analyze and connect needs with resources
  • Ability to work independently and manage multiple deadlines
  • Problem solver
  • Commitment to personal growth and ongoing training
  • Competence in Microsoft word, Excel and PowerPoint
  • Willing to learn client management database (CiviCRM) and other systems as required