Jewish Life Coordinator

Hillel Campus Alliance of Michigan

Role Overview

Make your mark across the state by joining the Hillel Campus Alliance of Michigan (HCAM) as a Jewish Student Life Coordinator! In this exciting role, you’ll work closely with students across ten campuses, each with its own unique culture and Jewish population, to create dynamic and meaningful Jewish experiences. You’ll oversee student boards, guiding them in planning fun and impactful programs while mentoring both current and incoming leaders to help shape the future of Jewish campus life. Through immersive retreats and exciting getaways, you’ll foster deeper connections among students, all while developing Hillels that reflect the needs of each campus.

This role is like Hillel on wheels—you should be excited to hit the road, travel between campuses, and personally connect with students wherever they are. You’ll be responsible for working directly with Jewish students to connect, motivate, and empower them to create a vibrant and welcoming Jewish community on campus. The successful candidate will collaborate with students to develop creative, intentional, and relevant programming that meets the diverse needs of each campus, ensuring that every student has the opportunity to engage meaningfully in Jewish life.

The Hillel Campus Alliance of Michigan (HCAM) is a vibrant network of ten campus Hillels dedicated to building dynamic and inclusive Jewish communities across the state. Serving students at Alma College, Albion College, Central Michigan University, Eastern Michigan University, Grand Valley State University, Kalamazoo College, Michigan Technological University, Northern Michigan University, Saginaw Valley State University, and Western Michigan University, HCAM proves that meaningful Jewish life thrives beyond the walls of a traditional Hillel building. This is a student-facing position with an emphasis on being a staff mentor to students.

What You’ll Do

• Shape the Future of HCAM: Work closely with the HCAM professional team on strategic planning and organizational management to implement a dynamic and innovative mission.
• Empower Student Leaders: Mentor and train student leaders, helping them develop programming, engagement initiatives, and leadership skills. Meet regularly with emerging and current leaders to support and empower their work.
• Create Meaningful Jewish Experiences: Design and implement engagement initiatives for different student cohorts (e.g., freshmen, athletes, Greek life) to ensure diverse and pluralistic offerings.
• Facilitate Leadership & Immersive Experiences: Organize and lead retreats, leadership trainings, and other immersive programs that strengthen Jewish identity and community bonds.
• Engage and Inspire Students: Foster one-on-one and group connections that help students explore Jewish life and personal growth.
• Enhance Social Media Presence: Manage the HCAM social media account, creating engaging content that highlights student experiences and showcases HCAM’s impact.
• Utilize Data for Impact: Leverage data and metrics to ensure a strategic and intentional approach to Jewish life on campus.
• Ensure a Welcoming and Inclusive Community: Foster a pluralistic, diverse, and supportive environment where every student feels at home.
• Other duties as assigned.

What You’ve Accomplished

• 0-2 years of professional experience in a related field.
• Bachelor’s degree required.

What You’ll Bring to the Job

• Collaborative mindset with the ability to work across teams both within and outside of Hillel.
• Deep understanding of college culture and Gen Z, including how students connect with Jewish life and learning.
• Creative problem-solving skills and an entrepreneurial spirit.
• Commitment to Jewish growth, both personally and in guiding students to explore their Jewish identities through pluralism, education, and inclusion.
• Strong knowledge of Jewish traditions, holidays, and culture. 
• Confidence in program development and leadership, with a willingness to ask questions and adapt to new challenges.
• Exceptional time management skills, including the ability to juggle multiple priorities, meet deadlines, and thrive in a fast-paced, evolving environment.
• Passion for mentoring and motivating student leaders, encouraging them to engage their peers, deepen their Jewish identities, and think creatively about program content and outreach.

What You’ll Receive

• Competitive salary in the non-profit marketplace: the starting salary for this role is $44,000-46,000.
• A comprehensive benefits package, including health insurance, retirement plans, life insurance, Long Term Disability (LTD), Flexible Spending Plan, generous vacation/sick time, and parental leave and a paid cell phone plan with unlimited data
• Potential travel opportunities both regionally and abroad.
• Great professional development, mentoring, and skill building opportunities.
• A flexible, supportive work environment where your well-being is valued.

About Hillel Campus Alliance of Michigan (HCAM)

The Hillel Campus Alliance of Michigan (HCAM) is a coalition of campus Hillels across Michigan, building vibrant Jewish communities for students at Alma College, Albion College, Central Michigan University, Eastern Michigan University, Grand Valley State University, Kalamazoo College, Michigan Technological University, Northern Michigan University, Saginaw Valley State University, and Western Michigan University.

HCAM provides students with meaningful Jewish experiences, including Alternative Breaks, Birthright Israel trips, volunteer programs, and leadership conferences. Staff work closely with student leaders to support their vision for Jewish life on campus, offering guidance, resources, and leadership development.

This position is based in East Lansing, Michigan at the Lester and Jewell Morris Hillel Jewish Student Center at Michigan State University and requires regular travel—approximately three times per week—to campuses across the state (most within 1.5 hours) to engage students, support programming, and foster community. A vehicle will be provided for travel.

Hillel Campus Alliance of Michigan (HCAM) is affiliated with Hillel International. Hillel International enriches the lives of Jewish students so they may enrich the Jewish people and the world, and envisions a world where every student is inspired to make an enduring commitment to Jewish life, learning and Israel.

About Hillel International

In 1923, Rabbi Benjamin Frankel started Hillel with humble means, a noble mission and a breathtaking vision: to convey Jewish civilization to a new generation. Today, Hillel International continues to enrich the lives of Jewish students and is the largest Jewish campus organization in the world at nearly 1,000 colleges and universities across North America and around the world. As Hillel evolves as an organization, the mission remains steadfast: to create lasting connections with every Jewish student that foster an enduring commitment to Jewish life, learning, and Israel and train them to become the next Jewish leaders.

Hillel is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to creating an accepting and inclusive environment for all.