DIRECTOR OF CONGREGATIONAL LEARNING

BZBI seeks a dynamic educator who will bring enthusiasm and professional expertise to our 400 household Conservative Jewish community. The right person will have a background in Jewish education and curriculum development, formal and informal/experiential educational experience, and a commitment to our core congregational values: community, belonging, learning, tradition, and innovation. Hebrew skills and Judaic knowledge are required, as is a broad Jewish cultural background.

WHO WE ARE

BZBI is an urban inclusive, egalitarian, Conservative congregation in the heart of Center City Philadelphia, part of the fabric of Jewish Center City for 175 years. We are truly a neighborhood shul, building a community that is caring, connected, and fulfilling. BZBI welcomes the entire spectrum of Center City’s Jewish community: people of all ages, races, ethnicities, and abilities; interfaith families; people who are single and partnered; people of all sexual orientations and gender identities.

Learning is a cornerstone of BZBI’s Jewish life. Our youth receive their Jewish education through our Neziner Hebrew School, at one of two local Jewish Day Schools, or at Makom Community, a daily after-school program located in our neighborhood. We design our family programs to address the needs of all families in our community, and maintain active youth groups for grades 5-12 in partnership with Society Hill Synagogue. Adult learners come with the widest possible range of backgrounds – from absolute beginners to those with advanced degrees in Jewish subjects – and we strive to offer classes and stand-alone events covering a broad spectrum of Jewish interest.

At BZBI, you will be joining a team of creative and energetic professionals committed to collaboration, accountability, and self-development. We value each member of our team as a human being and support one another through life’s challenges and joys. Our staff works shoulder-to-shoulder with dedicated volunteers, and we enjoy deep and meaningful partnerships with other local synagogues and Jewish organizations.

ROLE & RESPONSIBILITIES

The Director of Congregational Learning is a key leader and strategic member of our senior staff. Supervised by the Executive Director, and working with the clergy, staff, and lay committees, the Director of Congregational Learning will help design a shared vision of learning that will inspire and challenge participants at all ages and stages of their lives. The Director’s responsibilities include:

Neziner Hebrew School (pre-K through grade 10)

Overall administration of the religious school including recruiting, interviewing, hiring, evaluating and retaining highly qualified religious school teachers; student recruitment and registration process; curriculum development; student health and safety; logistics and budget.

Ensure timely, effective, and appropriate communication with parents and other stakeholders.

Create professional development standards and programs for teaching staff.

Establish and maintain a creative, innovative and grade appropriate Judaic and Hebrew curriculum encompassing Hebrew instruction, history, holidays, life cycle, music and knowledge of Israel, with parental/family involvement and ensuring readiness for Brit Mitzvah.

Revamp and develop a dynamic Hebrew High School curriculum that will engage and attract new and existing students.

Primary leadership for all Youth & Family programming outside Neziner Hebrew School

Family programming and services for Shabbat and Holidays (including High Holy Days).

Brit Mitzvah Program, including supervising a team of tutors, monitoring progress of individual students, and leading family-education programming that builds a sense of community and group cohesion among each year’s Brit Mitzvah cohort.

Supervise Teen Programs Coordinator and ensure youth have ample opportunities for informal education and engagement.

Collaborate with Director of Early Childhood Education to ensure families experience a smooth transition between our Preschool and other community opportunities.

Adult Education and Engagement

Recruit students and supervise tutors for Torah Academy, our successful training program that develops and supports new adult readers for our Shabbat Torah reading (annual cycle/full kriyah).

Collaborate with clergy and volunteer leaders to develop an inspiring and creative vision for Adult Education.

Collaborate with rabbis, staff, and volunteers to plan and implement programming for lectures, scholar-in-residence weekends, shabbatons and other special events.

Requirements

The ideal candidate will be a creative, flexible and experienced Jewish educator, with a commitment to experiential and innovative education, a talent for positive supervision, and an enthusiastic desire to design and create innovative curriculum and programming while serving as a role model with a commitment to Jewish values of learning, engaged Jewish practice, and ethical, values-guided leadership.

The ideal candidate will:

Think and act collaboratively, strategically, and intentionally.

Possess strong oral and written communication, social media, and interpersonal skills while interacting with people of all ages.

Posess a knowledge of, and proficiency in Jewish Studies, Jewish prayer, and Hebrew language

Have excellent interpersonal skills and demonstrated experience working with and inspiring people of all ages

Have the ability to work collaboratively with clergy, staff, parents and congregants

Have the ability to create and manage budgets and write grants

Be familiar with the latest technology, including Microsoft Office Suite and social media apps; Familiarity with ShulCloud and MailChimp are a plus

This position requires evening and weekend work, as well as work on Shabbat and Jewish holidays. Weekday daytime working hours will be set through reasonable collaboration with supervisor to adjust for weekend/evening needs.

To apply for the Director of Congregational Learning position, please send resume and cover letter to lbalaban@bzbi.org