Engagement Associate

University of Kansas Hillel

Role Overview

Make your mark on Jewish student life by joining KU Hillel as our next Engagement Associate. You will build one-on-one relationships with students, plan and execute engaging events and programs around campus, and help inspire students to make a commitment to Jewish life. KU Hillel proudly serves more than 1,000 Jewish Jayhawks with a dynamic professional team and strong community partnerships. KU Hillel is a student-centric and data-informed team that is committed to dreaming big, entrepreneurial thinking, and always creating new and exciting opportunities to build student leadership, provide pre-professional training, and build a sense of belonging on campus.

This is a relationship-focused, student-facing role, perfect for folks who love meeting new faces, building authentic relationships over coffee, and connecting students with opportunities. This role is ideal for an early-career professional (even right out of college!), especially someone with experience in Jewish summer camps, youth group leadership, athletics, or experiential education, who is energized by working directly with students, building belonging through shared experiences, and reaching students who may not initially see themselves in traditional Hillel spaces. This is so much more than your average 9-to-5.  And, most importantly,  you’ll be excited to support and be supported by a community that sees KU as home. After all, you are in Kansas!

What You’ll Do

• Be the first face and warm welcome to KU students, and help foster a community of belonging amongst Jewish students on campus. 
• Take a leading role in representing KU Hillel on campus through visible and head-turning opportunities in order to ensure every student on campus has the opportunity to discover who we are.
• Work with our first-year student community, students in Greek life, and students from multifaith families.
• Supervise, mentor, and empower student leaders and volunteers to take ownership of Jewish programming and outreach.
• Meet yet-to-be-engaged students wherever they are— be that in the on-campus dining hall, their favorite downtown coffee shop, or grilling kosher hot dogs on Greek Row.
• Plan and engage with students to facilitate regular Shabbat and Holiday experiences, as well as social programming. If you enjoy Challah baking or experimenting with recipes in the kitchen, we’ve got an extra apron for you, too!
• Assist the KU Hillel team with other on-campus activities, including recruitment for Birthright Israel trips and cohort-based learning opportunities. 
• Track engagement data and use metrics to inform program development and outreach efforts.

What You’ve Accomplished

• You thrive on meeting new people, understanding their interests, and forging meaningful connections.
• You have experience in Jewish summer camps, youth groups, or experiential leadership strongly preferred.
• You enjoy working collaboratively with a team to solve problems and explore new initiatives.
• You see yourself as a creative person who takes initiative and a proactive approach to problem-solving
• You’ve demonstrated interest in student engagement, leadership development, and Jewish life.
• You have the ability to work collaboratively while also taking ownership of projects and relationships.
• You’re comfortable with working a flexible schedule that includes evenings, weekends, and Jewish holidays.

What You’ll Bring to the Job

• Recent college graduates or graduating seniors with 0-2 years experience. People with relevant internship and leadership experience are encouraged to apply.
• Bachelor's degree
• This is an in-person role located in Lawrence, KS; remote work is not available for this position. Staff frequently choose to live in nearby Kansas City (about a short podcast’s drive away).
• A deep passion for Jewishness, Judaism, the Jewish people, and Israel.
• An entrepreneurial spirit — you’re excited to take smart risks, try new ideas, and learn when something doesn’t go as planned.
• Confidence in initiating, brainstorming, and running programs — both independently and collaboratively.
• Familiarity with Google Suite, Canva, and social media platforms is a plus.
• A willingness to work nights and occasional weekends when students are available — and to take time off to recharge.

What You’ll Receive

• The salary range for this role is $45,000 - $48,000. 
• Monthly cell phone stipend.
• A comprehensive benefits package, including health insurance, retirement plan, Life, AD&D, and Long Term Disability (LTD) insurances, Flexible Spending accounts, generous vacation/sick time, and parental leave.
• High-level professional development to help develop core skills and gain expertise from changemakers, engagers, and Jewish life experts.
• Mentoring and career coaching to help you during and after your position
• A network of terrific colleagues from across the Hillel movement. 
• Travel opportunities, both domestically and internationally, multiple times per year.

About KU & Lawrence, Kansas City, and Our Community

KU Hillel proudly serves more than 1,000 Jewish Jayhawks with a dynamic professional team and strong community partnerships. KU Hillel is a student-centric, data-informed team committed to dreaming big, entrepreneurial thinking, and creating new and exciting opportunities to build student leadership, provide pre-professional training, and build a sense of belonging on campus.

Kansas City and Lawrence are incredible places to live:

• Kansas City is a major metropolitan area with a population of over 2.2 million, while Lawrence offers a true college-town atmosphere with about 100,000 residents, blending cultural energy with a more relaxed pace of life.
• Both Kansas City and Lawrence are highly livable communities, featuring all the cultural amenities of a big city, with the midwestern hospitality that makes you feel at home.
• Kansas City is a cultural hub for the arts and museums, and home of the very best barbecue in the world. Kansas Citians are passionate about our hometown teams, the beloved Chiefs and Royals, and KC is considered the Soccer Capital of the USA. 
• Lawrence is home to the University of Kansas, where we “bleed crimson and blue” every day. The place where basketball was born, you can travel the world in Jayhawks gear, and be proudly greeted with “Rock Chalk Jayhawk,” a welcome sign that you’re in good company.

**Interested candidates willing to relocate to Kansas are encouraged to use Jewish Federation’s See KC program as a resource to learn more about living in Kansas City and our incredible Jewish community. Kansas City boasts a thriving Jewish community of more than 20,000, including an incredible group of young professionals living in and around the KC Metro Area.**

The University of Kansas (KU) is centered in Lawrence, Kansas. Today, Lawrence remains a crossroads of culture, celebrating the artists and innovators that populate its history and create an unmistakable identity.  So, too is the spirit of the Jayhawks that powers KU. KU is the state’s flagship institution, home to innovative research and the constant pursuit of knowledge. 

KU 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.