Director of Student Leadership & Empowerment at Hillel Ontario

Director of Student Leadership & Empowerment 

Reports to: Senior Director of Advocacy and Public Affairs

About the Role

Hillel Ontario is launching a bold, strategic  Student Leadership & Empowerment initiative that trains, inspires, and supports Jewish and non-Jewish allies to become more involved in leadership roles across campuses. At the heart of this initiative will be the Director of Student  Leadership & Empowerment — a visionary and hands-on leader responsible for creating, launching, and scaling a new generation of empowered Jewish student leaders and allies across Ontario campuses. This role is for someone passionate about empowering students, cultivating the next generation of changemakers, and who fully understands the nexus between student leadership and advocacy.

This position will develop strategic pipelines to support Jewish students and non-Jewish allies in leadership roles, deliver dynamic leadership training, work closely with campus staff teams, and partner with key organizations to bolster Jewish and pro-Israel visibility, advocacy, and community life.  Travel to campuses across Ontario is required to engage students and deliver in-person programming. 

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership & Program Development

• Design and launch Student Leadership & Empowerment initiatives across Ontario’s campuses in partnership with campus staff teams.
• Develop and implement leadership development frameworks for Jewish students and allies.
• Identify and cultivate high-potential students for leadership roles by creating new and exciting opportunities for engagement starting in their first year.
• Develop metrics-driven plans to increase Jewish student representation in leadership roles by 10% annually.
• Manage Hillel Ontario’s advocacy cohort, mentoring and developing campus advocacy professionals through regular coaching, skills training, and shared learning, so they can identify, train, and support student leaders who drive advocacy on their campuses.

Program Execution

Launch and deliver:

• A one-day student leadership summit (gathering).
• A first-year leadership pilot program on three campuses.
• Enhanced leadership development workshops for Hillel Ontario’s flagship Leadership Summit.

Campus Engagement & Allyship Building

• Train, support, and mentor student leaders on campus. 
• Cultivate non-Jewish student allies through targeted programming and outreach.
• Support and grow participation in partner-led initiatives. 
• Travel to campuses to engage with students, build relationships, and deliver programming.

Partnerships & Collaboration

• Strengthen and grow partnerships with CJPAC, Stand With Us Canada, and other relevant advocacy and civic engagement organizations.
• Lead coalition-building efforts by supporting student leaders in forging relationships with: student governments, student organizations/campus clubs, and associations
• Work collaboratively with campus directors and Hillel Ontario central staff to ensure cohesion and impact.
• Maintains open, proactive communication and seeks guidance when needed while operating with independence and initiative.

Evaluation & Impact

• Establish clear KPIs to measure leadership pipeline growth, student advocacy, and program outcomes.
• Support the development of reports and presentations for internal and external stakeholders, including funders.

Qualifications & Skills

• 7+ years of relevant experience in leadership development, community organizing, civic engagement/advocacy, Jewish communal work. Political experience would be considered a significant advantage.
• Demonstrated experience mentoring young leaders and working with diverse student populations.
• Strong organizational and project management skills.
• Deep understanding of Jewish campus life, antisemitism, Israel engagement, and allyship-building.
• Proven success in building and scaling leadership or empowerment programs.
• Excellent communication, facilitation, and interpersonal skills.
• A valid driver’s licence is preferred to facilitate travel between campus locations.

Preferred But Not Required

• Experience working in the Jewish nonprofit world or on university campuses.
• Knowledge of the Ontario post-secondary ecosystem.

Why Join Hillel Ontario?

Hillel Ontario serves over 14,000 Jewish students across nine universities and is the largest regional Hillel in the world. We are passionate about inspiring Jewish students to make an enduring commitment to Jewish life, learning, and Israel. By joining our team, you’ll be part of a collaborative and innovative environment committed to empowering the next generation.

Compensation & Benefits

• Competitive salary commensurate with experience. The salary range for this role is $70,000 - $75,000.
• Comprehensive benefits package
• Generous vacation and Jewish holiday policy
• Opportunities for professional development and leadership training
• A dynamic, mission-driven team making real impact

What Success Looks Like

By Month 3 — Build the Foundation

• Establishes working relationships with campus directors, student leaders, central teams and priority external partners, with clear communication and collaboration plans to support student leadership development.
• Develops and presents a student leadership and empowerment strategy that defines leadership pathways for Jewish students and non-Jewish allies, priority initiatives, target outcomes and an implementation timeline.
• Identifies three priority campuses for the first-year leadership pilot, in consultation with campus directors, and establishes an initial pipeline of prospective student leaders, including first-year students.
• Establishes baseline data and a tracking framework to monitor student participation, leadership development and representation in campus leadership roles, including agreed-upon indicators and targets to measure progress toward 10% annual growth.
• Develops implementation plans for the one-day Student Leadership Summit, three-campus first-year leadership pilot and enhanced leadership workshops, including timelines, deliverables, roles, recruitment targets and measures of success.
• Learn how to accurately record, track, and manage student engagement data, interactions, and follow-up activities (CRM).
• Build familiarity with Hillel Ontario’s core work tools, systems, and processes, and begin using them effectively to organize tasks, manage workload, track priorities, and support day-to-day workflow.

By Month 6 — Launch & Activate

• Successfully launches the one-day Student Leadership Summit, creating meaningful opportunities for student connection, skill-building, and leadership development.
• Launches the first-year leadership pilot across three campuses, with clear recruitment, training, mentorship, and engagement pathways.
• Delivers leadership training and mentorship opportunities that strengthen students' confidence, skills, and readiness to take on leadership roles.
• Activates partnerships with CJPAC, Stand With Us Canada, and other relevant organizations to expand leadership and civic engagement opportunities.
• Demonstrates early growth in the student leadership pipeline, with measurable participation, engagement, and emerging leadership opportunities across campuses.

By Month 9 — Demonstrate Impact & Scale

• Demonstrates measurable progress toward increasing Jewish student representation in campus leadership roles by 10% annually.
• Establishes a growing pipeline of Jewish student leaders and non-Jewish allies actively pursuing or holding campus leadership positions 
• Evaluates the effectiveness of the Student Leadership Summit, first-year pilot, and leadership workshops, using student feedback and participation data to identify improvements.
• Demonstrates stronger collaboration between student leaders, campus teams, and external partners, resulting in expanded leadership, advocacy, and coalition-building opportunities.
• Develops recommendations and an actionable plan to strengthen, sustain, and scale successful leadership initiatives across additional campuses.

Hillel Ontario is an equal opportunity employer. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and do not discriminate based on race, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, or disability.

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.