Director of Israel Engagement & Global Jewish Experience
Brody Jewish Center - Hillel at the University of Virginia
Role Overview
Make your mark on Jewish student life by joining the Brody Jewish Center, Hillel at the University of Virginia as the Director of Israel Engagement & Global Jewish Experience. In this role, you will be the primary manager of the BJC’s Israel Engagement plan. Informed by student needs and organizational values, the BJC Israel Engagement plan blends education, relationship building, leadership opportunities, and immersive experiences to help students at UVA develop their own relationship with Israel and Jewish communities around the globe.
You are a deep thinker, a master relationship builder, possess extremely high emotional intelligence, and have a great sense of adventure. Drawn to learning and facilitating intellectual conversations, often across a broad range of backgrounds, experiences, and opinions, you will utilize these skills to engage UVA students, Jewish and non-Jewish, in conversations related to Israel and the global Jewish peoplehood. You will be responsible for ensuring meaningful and diverse opportunities for Israel education, identifying and cultivating student leaders who are passionate about Israel, and consistently promoting a welcoming and lively pluralistic Jewish community.
As the Director of Israel Engagement & Global Jewish Experience, you’ll drive Hillel forward by applying your academic, cultural, and intellectual knowledge and your ability to build meaningful, trusting relationships with students and external partners. You’ll oversee UVA’s comprehensive Israel and global Jewish experience, supervise student interns, and manage the overall Israel Education vision for the organization.
What You’ll Do
- Engage in meaningful one-on-one and group conversations about Israeli conflict, culture, and history as well as the history and experience of global Jewish peoplehood.
- Work directly with the Assistant Director to execute strategy, develop, and plan staff-led Israel education opportunities.
- Manage recruitment for all Israel immersive experiences including Birthright and Onward as well as continued engagement opportunities for alumni of these programs.
- Identify, recruit, cultivate, and develop a group of student leaders who are eager to engage their peers in Israel education and activities.
- Supervise the Program Intern Cohort, which offers the community events related to Israel, Tikkun Olam work, Jewish education, and more.
- Develop and facilitate your own Israel Education courses, building off of courses designed by former staff members.
- Act as the liaison to all Israel partner agencies within and outside of Hillel, ensuring that the BJC is aware of opportunities available, on track to participate in immersive experiences, and aligned with general Israel education priorities.
- Track and analyze data and trends through Hillel Engagement and Relationship Tracker (HEaRT).
On a day to day basis you will
- Facilitate Israel-related programming and learning opportunities, informed by the Israel engagement plan.
- Maintain communication with partner agencies regarding Israel and other immersive experiences.
- Coach, train, and advise student leaders and interns so they in turn can engage engaged and unengaged students and create their own programs that reflect community needs and interests.
- Develop key relationships with student leaders outside of the BJC and student organizational partners to ensure the positive positioning of Hillel at the University of Virginia in the university landscape.
- Use social media as a platform for educating and engaging students in your work.
- Track and assess student participation data using our database system.
- Recruit students for immersive experiences.
- Assist in staffing weekly programs and all large-scale events, working evenings and weekends when needed.
What You’ve Accomplished
- Preference is given to candidates with 2+ years of experience in Israel education work or explicit undergraduate education in Israel or Jewish history.
- Proven success in:
- Implementing and leading engaging programs, courses, and conversations related to Israel and global Jewish experience.
- Facilitating difficult and meaningful dialogue across differences with confidence and empathy.
- Coaching and motivating student leaders using goal setting and mentorship strategies.
- Building trust with individuals and groups within and beyond the Jewish community.
- Managing multiple projects from inception to completion.
What You’ll Bring to the Job
- Bachelor's degree is required, and a formal degree in Israel Education or Jewish Studies is preferred.
- Entrepreneurial energy to everything that you do, a willingness to try new strategies, and comfort being a “self starter”
- A deep passion for building pluralistic Jewish communities and creating a warm, vibrant, and deeply enriching Israel environment on and around campus.
- Fluency and comfort with Israel culture, history, conflict, as well as Jewish traditions, conversations, and practices.
- Some experience creating, planning, and staffing Jewish experiences or other immersive experiences.
- Organization and attention to detail and deadlines.
- Clear and concise spoken and written communication skills.
- Leadership development skills.
- Bring to the job an ability to work as part of a team as well as a strong ability to manage projects independently.
- Flexibility and “big picture” thinking.
- A good sense of humor.
What You’ll Receive
- Competitive salary in the non-profit marketplace. The salary range for this role is $50,000-$60,000
- A comprehensive benefits package, including health insurance, Group Supplemental Retirement Annuity (GSRA), pension plan, life insurance, Long Term Disability (LTD), Flexible Spending Plan, generous vacation/sick time, and parental leave.
- Great professional development, mentoring, and skill-building opportunities, attending at least one professional conference a year
- Flexibility in scheduling and during student breaks
- Opportunities for international travel at least 1x a year
About the Brody Jewish Center
For over 85 years, the BJC has been a cornerstone of Jewish life at UVA, fostering dynamic engagement and leadership development. Join us as we continue this legacy, partnering with the university and the wider Jewish community to create an enduring impact. The Brody Jewish Center (BJC) serves approximately 1,000 undergraduate and 400 graduate students at the University of Virginia. BJC strives to empower students to take ownership of their Jewish identities and to make an enduring commitment to Judaism and the Jewish people. The BJC at UVA engages students in vibrant and meaningful Jewish experiences by emphasizing Jewish learning, community building, and personal growth. The BJC is housed in an 18,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art building. Governed by a geographically diverse board of directors, the Brody Jewish Center enjoys strong partnerships with the UVA campus partners and community organizations.
About the University of Virginia
The University of Virginia is distinctive among institutions of higher education. Founded by Thomas Jefferson in 1819, the University sustains the ideal of developing, through education, well-prepared leaders to help shape the nation's future. The University is public while nourished by the strong support of its alumni. The University of Virginia is the No. 5 best public university and 24th overall in the 2024 edition of the U.S. News and World Report rankings.
About Charlottesville
Located 2 hours southwest of Washington, DC, Charlottesville is a thriving city with a population of over 45,000 and a metropolitan population nearing 220,000. In 2023, Outside magazine named Charlottesville the 5th happiest city in the country. Charlottesville’s downtown mall is a tree-lined pedestrian mall with great restaurants, bars, shops, a theater, and an outdoor amphitheater. Some of the world-class performers the city has recently hosted include the Dave Matthews Band, Rolling Stones, Paul McCartney, Bruce Springsteen, Cirque du Soleil, and Yo-Yo Ma. Numerous wineries and breweries and the historic homes of Presidents Madison, Monroe, and Jefferson surround Charlottesville. Charlottesville hosts the annual Virginia Film Festival in October and the Virginia Festival of the Book in March. Charlottesville boasts beautiful mountains, wonderful hiking trails, and close proximity to Shenandoah National Park.
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 more than 550 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.
