Director of Engagement

University of Connecticut Hillel

Role Overview

The University of Connecticut Hillel is seeking a dynamic, engaging, and innovative professional with an entrepreneurial spirit and strong leadership skills to join our staff as Director of Engagement. The Director of Engagement will be responsible for programming, engagement, and leadership development for our student community.  We are seeking a leader with a strong talent for coordinating and integrating the many moving parts of UConn Hillel’s programs and projects to ensure the effective flow and function of our staff and student leaders. The Director of Engagement will work collaboratively with a talented staff and engaged student leaders to pursue UConn Hillel’s mission to connect Jewish students to each other and their Judaism, inspire and equip the next generation of Jewish leaders, and build a thriving Jewish community on campus. This role is a fully onsite position with work-from-home flexibility during winter and summer semester breaks.

What You’ll Do

• Work closely with student leaders and staff to envision, co-create, and support high-impact, innovative programming, and Jewish experiences and to offer support and guidance.
• Direct, supervise, mentor and support the growth of our two other engagement team members (Israel Fellow & Director of Jewish Life)
• Manage all information flow within the organization to keep our team on the same page, including marketing, social media, programming, and overseeing the program calendar.
• Oversee engagement and database tracking of students’ participation and engagement, and maintain our data management system as part of the Measuring Excellence initiative of Hillel International. Use these metrics to inform program development and outreach efforts.
• Initiate, manage, and ensure implementation of ongoing and signature programs such FYSH (First Year Students of Hillel), multifaith initiatives, community service and more.
• Mentor student leaders as they contribute to Hillel and the campus community in new, creative ways. Recruit, supervise and lead the student engagement interns.
• Develop and implement opportunities to expand Hillel’s reach and visibility on campus and the greater community through partnerships, relationship building, interfaith initiatives, sponsorships and campus-wide initiatives
• Oversee the program budget, distribute funds, account for costs, and pursue program grant opportunities.
• Staff and attend events. Due to the nature of Jewish student life, during the semesters this position will require several nights/weekends, including for Shabbat and holidays.
• Support prospective students and families at tours, open houses, and orientation events.
• Participate in ongoing Jewish learning and professional development. 
• Provide Jewish students of diverse backgrounds and identities with a sense of belonging to the larger Jewish community on campus.

What You’ll Bring to the Job

• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree is a plus.
• 3-5 years professional experience. Hillel experience or experience in Jewish, experiential, and/or higher-education settings, preferably with teens and/or college-age young adults is strongly preferred
• Familiarity with higher education and campus settings is a plus.
• A keen understanding and passion for working with emerging adults and investing in their growth as Jewish leaders, and a belief in the potential of every college student to grow as a leader and as a person.
• Strong supervision skills and the ability to manage multiple projects, motivate and empower others to achieve outcomes
• Keen organizational and management skills that will continue to unify our team.
• A drive to engage in ongoing personal and organizational self-evaluation with an openness to trying new ideas and learning from mistakes
• Strong written and verbal skills with an ability to communicate with a variety of stakeholders effectively and proactively, including students, parents, staff, alumni and university partners
• Demonstrated ability to think and act strategically in order to reach goals, including proactive planning and attention to deadlines.
• A commitment to creating an inclusive, vibrant, and pluralistic Jewish community. 
• A strong entrepreneurial spirit and approach oriented towards creative problem-solving, proactive communication, and collaboration.
• Confidence in initiating and running programs, and comfort asking questions. 
• Ability to collaborate across teams both inside and outside of Hillel.

What You’ll Receive

• Competitive salary in the non-profit marketplace. The salary range for this role is $70,000 - $75,000. 
• A comprehensive benefits package, including health insurance, retirement plan, Life, AD&D and Long-Term Disability (LTD) insurances, generous vacation/sick time, and parental leave.
• Great professional development, mentoring, and skill building opportunities. 
• Travel regionally and abroad, particularly to Israel as relevant.

About UConn Hillel

UConn Hillel provides a friendly, warm, and pluralistic environment in which students can shape their college experience by connecting socially, culturally, and spiritually to their Judaism. Hillel operates out of a beautiful 8,500 square foot facility in the center of campus and near the Kosher dining hall. With almost 2,000 Jewish college students, Hillel offers students the means to explore and celebrate their Jewish identity in a dynamic and comfortable environment. Each year, Hillel connects students to their community, their peers, and their heritage through an array of social, cultural and community service programs. The momentum is here, and we want to continue our trajectory.

UConn Hillel 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.