Executive Director, Hillel at Florida State University

Hillel at Florida State University, Executive Director

Role Overview:

Join Florida State University (FSU) Hillel as the next Executive Director and be a vital part of its evolution into a premier site of Jewish student engagement, development, and growth. FSU Hillel is in the middle of a multiyear explosion in organizational development, growing its staff, student engagement, fundraising, and governance. We seek an innovative, creative, and dynamic leader to usher in the next phase of its evolution. As the next visionary leader, you will inspire the staff to ensure that our campus community has a large variety of opportunities to gather, explore, and create vibrant Jewish experiences as part of their college years. 

In partnership with all key stakeholders, you’ll develop critical resources to help students thrive and increase overall community engagement inside and outside the university while significantly expanding its financial base of support. You’ll be excellent in this role if you are passionate about supporting a large and diverse student body, being part of a huge public university, leading a dynamic team, collaborating with a capable and motivated board to set a strategic vision, developing human and financial resources, and strengthening the ties between Hillel and the broader community. This is so much more than your average 9-5.  

What You’ll Do: 

Drive long-term success for Florida State University Hillel in: 

Strategy & Vision:  

• Inspire and organize pluralistic, diverse Jewish life on campus. Create strategies to expand the base of the Jewish student community to include a multiplicity of Jewish backgrounds and interests.  
• Act as a leader and convener of the community every day during times of celebration and challenge.  
• Serve as FSU Hillel’s primary spokesperson to the organization’s constituents, the media, and the general public, engaging the community in the importance of Hillel’s mission and purpose. 
• Lead the board in vision and strategic planning. Manage all financial and building responsibilities, operating within the approved budget, ensuring resource development and utilization, and keeping the organization and facility in a positive financial position. 

Fundraising:  

• Significantly expand FSU Hillel’s financial resources to be commensurate with the organization’s staff and programmatic growth. 
• Develop and implement a robust, multi-faceted annual development plan, including stewardship of gifts and donor relations. 
• Personally engage in donor identification, solicitation and stewardship, as well as manage the relationships with granting organizations and foundations. 
• Develop additional revenue sources. 

Staff Supervision & Development: 

• Work closely with the leadership team to ensure success at every level of the organization. 
• Inspire, develop, supervise, and mentor a professional staff team that delivers on a vision of pluralism, inclusivity, and student leadership development in order to deepen students’ relationships to Jewish life, Jewish learning and Israel.  

• Establish a culture of professional development and growth. 

Stakeholder Relations: 

• Exhibit organizational and communal leadership by cultivating relationships with all stakeholders, including student and university leaders, the FSU Interfaith Council, Jewish community leaders in Tallahassee and beyond, as well as alumni and parents across the country. 
• Serve as FSU Hillel’s primary spokesperson to the organization’s constituents, the media, and the general public, engaging the community in the importance of Hillel’s mission and purpose. 
• Build relationships with students from diverse backgrounds through meaningful conversations and by creating connections to opportunities to participate in Jewish life on campus. 
• Create a culture of shared responsibility and engagement among members of the board of directors and cultivate relationships with prospective board members who can provide generative and strategic leadership. 
• Have your pulse on the changing needs of Jewish college students, Jewish identity development, and campus climate. 

Student Engagement: 

• Ensure the student engagement strategy is dynamic, inclusive, and successful in meeting its goals. 
• Recognize and adapt to the changing needs of Jewish college students, Jewish identity development, and campus climate. 

What You’ve Accomplished: 

• 5–8 years of professional work experience. Experience in management roles in the Jewish or secular nonprofit, higher education, or mission-driven organization world is a plus. Past Hillel experience is a plus as well. 
• Led organizations or programs with a proven and measurable innovation and sustainable growth track record.  
• Managed and supervised a team of professionals in an exemplary manner to accomplish their best work and develop their potential. 
• Demonstrated personal fundraising experience, including executing annual fundraising campaigns, cultivating stewardship, and major gift solicitation. 
• Successfully partnered with a non-profit board of directors, granting foundations, and grant-issuing organizations.  
• Ensured sound financial management practices, including budgeting and cost controls. 
• A bachelor’s degree is required, but a Master’s degree is preferred. We will consider a range of candidates’ experiences and credentials. 

What You’ll Bring to the Job: 

• Strong entrepreneurial spirit. Things may not always go according to plan, but you are willing to take risks and learn from your wins and losses. 
• A visionary leader who inspires students, staff, and other key stakeholders.  
• An attitude of proactive communication and collaboration across offices and agencies. 
• Strong relationship-building skills and comfort working with diverse populations different from your own, including inter-religious populations. 
• Solid organizational skills, including planning, attention to detail, multitasking, and prioritization. 
• An inspiring presence that will help others to deepen their interest in Jewish life and the ability to listen to and build relationships with college students. 
• Expertise in leading complex conversations about Judaism and Israel in an approachable way and meeting students at various points in their personal Jewish journey. 

What You’ll Receive: 

• Competitive salary in the non-profit marketplace. The salary range for this role is $95,000 - $115,000 depending upon skills, qualifications, and experience. 
• Medical Insurance, Life insurance, long-term disability (LTD), vacation/sick time, and parental leave.  
• Professional development, mentoring, and skill-building opportunities. 
• Opportunities for travel throughout the U.S. and to Israel. 
• A supportive and committed board of lay leaders. 
• Access to and support from Hillel International and the larger Hillel movement. 

About Florida State University Hillel 

The students, staff, and lay leaders at FSU Hillel are dedicated to providing a welcoming, pluralistic, and inclusive atmosphere on campus. Pluralism is always at the core of what we do, and we recognize that there is not just one way to “be Jewish.” Students come from diverse backgrounds and beliefs. Our goal is to provide opportunities for students to explore their Judaism in a way that is meaningful to them. 

We encourage students to grow intellectually, spiritually, and socially. We help students find a balance between being “distinctly Jewish” and “universally human” by encouraging them to pursue tzedek (social justice), tikkun olam (repairing the world), Jewish learning, and support Israel and global Jewish peoplehood. 

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.  

FSU 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.