Reconstructing Judaism is seeking a director of a new to-be-announced Family Education Initiative, established in 2023, with a landmark gift from generous donors. This initiative will serve to ground and bolster educational offerings in Reconstructionist communities for our present moment and for generations to come, focusing on synagogues and havurot as a primary site for developing and strengthening Jewish identity in K-12 and family education settings.

The director of this project will be supervised by the Vice President for Thriving Communities and will work with Reconstructionist educators and the staff of Reconstructing Judaism and Havaya Summer Programs to create rich educational resources that reflect diverse and distinctive Reconstructionist perspectives while also covering fundamental Jewish concepts. We aim to ensure current and innovative tools for educators and rabbis to use as they cultivate strong Jewish and Reconstructionist literacy among families and children.

For candidates who live in the Greater Philadelphia area, a hybrid work schedule with a minimum of two days per week in person is strongly preferred. Candidates based in other cities who would need to work remotely are also welcome to apply – please note that this position would require some travel to our office as well as to other locations.

Major Responsibilities will include:

• Creating innovative resources to support educators in Reconstructionist congregations and havurot, most notably a searchable database of engaging multimedia educational modules geared toward religious school (K-12) and family education;
• Development, oversight and management of all aspects of the project, including:
  • establishing and convening an advisory committee to help survey the field to understand the educational needs and shape implementation goals with Reconstructing Judaism;
  • researching and developing best practices for Reconstructionist educators;
  • building assessment benchmarks and metrics for the overall project as well as for individual modules;
  • working closely with a database designer to develop and build a database for the project;
  • soliciting contributions from content creators and coordinating contributors;
  • applying a lens of diversity, equity, and inclusion to the creation of the overall competencies and each module, valuing the multiple identities of Jewish peoplehood;
  • consulting with and providing training for educators, rabbinical students, and rabbis on the resources available;
• Working collaboratively to highlight the work and impact of RENA (the Reconstructionist Educators of North America) and to ensure maximal involvement of the educators;
• Strengthening the connection between affiliated communities and the central organizations of the Reconstructionist movement, including Reconstructing Judaism, Havaya Summer Programs, Ritualwell, Evolve and the RRA;
• Over time, supervising a part-time staff member and a rabbinic intern, as well as collaborating with staff from Havaya Summer Programs;
• Convening and facilitating groups of educators for learning and sharing.

Competencies: 

• Experienced and innovative educator, with deep understanding of engaging project-based curricula and experiential learning;
• A love of Jewish learning and strong knowledge of and openness to Reconstructionist Judaism, as well as a desire and ability to share its approach and values;
• Ability to design, create, edit and assess curricula and other educational material;
• Experience and comfort with a range of relevant pedagogical tools and technologies;
• A strategic, critical and creative thinker who holds the larger context of the project while also being detail-oriented;
• An excellent project manager with the ability to balance programmatic content with logistical and administrative tasks, to track multiple concurrent tasks and projects, and to manage outside contractors and specialists;
• A mindset of collaboration with staff, colleagues, rabbis, and specialists;
• Respect for people of all ages and abilities, an attention to anti-bias and anti-racist practices, and an orientation toward accessibility and inclusion in program design;
• Exceptional interpersonal skills, especially the capacity to develop and sustain relationships;
• Ability to communicate clearly and professionally, both orally and in writing;
• Ability to take initiative and self-motivate, as well as the ability to manage others;
• Demonstrated organizational skills and ability to meet critical deadlines.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Four-year college degree, with preference for a bachelor’s or a master’s degree in education;
• 5-10 years of relevant work in the field of Jewish education, with preference for direct experience with synagogue schools and experiential learning;
• Demonstrated ability to develop youth-centered curricula and to work with children of all ages and backgrounds;
• Supervisory management experience;
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite (Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint) and Zoom; some database experience highly desired.

Salary:  $75,000-$80,000, commensurate with experience/qualifications.

Benefits:
We offer excellent benefits, including health insurance, 401(k), generous paid vacation and sick time, and ample time off for major Jewish and American holidays. We offer a dynamic and progressive workplace.

This is a full-time, exempt, benefit-eligible position with opportunity to work a hybrid schedule (partially remote/partially in-person).

COVID-19 mitigation:
In the interest of the health and safety of our community members, Reconstructing Judaism requires COVID-19 vaccination of those entering the building or medical exemption. During periods of high community transmission in Montgomery County, masking may be required of all employees and visitors in shared spaces regardless of vaccination status.

To Apply:
Please send cover letter, resume, and 2 examples of curricula you have written to hr@reconstructingjudaism.org. Because of the importance of outstanding written communication skills for this position, submissions without these items cannot be considered. No phone calls please.

Diversity is a core value of our organization. We are an equal opportunity employer committed to economic, social, and racial justice. We do not discriminate on the basis of any legally protected classes. We know that many people – particularly those from historically marginalized groups – don’t apply for jobs unless they meet all listed qualifications. As an organization committed to diversity, if many (even if not all) of the following describe you, we still want to hear from you.

About Us:
Reconstructing Judaism is the central organization of the Reconstructionist movement. We train the next generation of rabbis, support and uplift congregations and havurot, foster emerging expressions of Jewish life, and encourage people to be their best selves — always helping to shape what it means to be Jewish today and to imagine the Jewish future.

Reconstructionists approach Judaism — and life — with deep consideration of the past and a passion to relate it to the present. We have originated many of the core innovations of today’s Judaism and lead efforts to make our congregations and havurot even more groundbreaking, inclusive and relevant.