Chief Program Officer

Schilit Hillel at University of Florida

Role Overview

Transform student life for one of the largest campus Jewish communities in the country as the Chief Program Officer of Schilit Hillel at University of Florida.  The opportunities for Jewish life at the University of Florida are limitless, and you will play a central role in propelling Schilit Hillel forward. Driven by your dedication to excellence, passion for Jewish life, and commitment to developing talent, you will lead people and create opportunities that enrich lives and shape the future. 

The University of Florida is a big place with big dreams, a sense of community that spans the globe and unites generations. At UF, our common bond has always been more than a rallying cry. It comes from a steadfast commitment to excellence, and the Jewish Gator Nation will look to you to develop strategies that inspire every Jewish student at the University of Florida to make an enduring commitment to Jewish life. You will articulate a compelling vision for Jewish engagement, implement a data-driven approach to maximize Schilit Hillel’s reach and impact, and ensure operational excellence across the organization. Engaging every Jewish student will become your mantra as you build and support a team of excellent, mission-driven professionals and passionate students to ensure vibrant, diverse Jewish life at the University of Florida.

What You’ll Do

• With the Executive Director and other senior staff, design and execute an engagement strategy to expand Hillel’s reach within the UF community and connect Jewish students to Hillel’s mission.
• Develop student leadership to ensure diverse opportunities, including community building, Jewish learning,  Shabbat and holiday celebrations, social justice, Israel education, and engagement and advocacy.
• Supervise, mentor, and support the growth of 6 full-time professionals.

On a day to day basis you will

• Develop intentional relationships with students that help strengthen their Jewish identity and connection to Jewish life on campus
• Oversee a data-driven student engagement strategy to identify students, ensure timely and appropriate ongoing relationship building, and foster a culture of accountability
• Be a thought partner with the Executive Director, senior staff, and campus partners
• Build student leadership by identifying and cultivating student leaders, providing them with ongoing mentorship and support
• Design and implement curriculum for cohort fellowships, such as our First Year Fellowship
• Guide Schilit Hillel’s Israel education, engagement, and advocacy efforts, including one of the largest campus-based Israel travel programs in North America. Staff Israel travel programs and craft effective participant follow-through
• Lead weekly staff meetings and plan quarterly retreats in collaboration with senior leadership
• Manage the hiring and training of a growing team of program and engagement professionals

What You’ve Accomplished

• 7+ years in Jewish, experiential, or higher education. Bachelor’s degree required. Masters degree preferred
• Experience as a professional in a Jewish nonprofit organization is preferred
• Excellent supervision skills and ability to coach others to achieve outcomes, with experience hiring and managing a team
• Success creating structures and opportunities that assist and empower students to take initiative and ownership for their communities 
• Developed and/or implemented a strategic plan, including reporting and tracking data
• Record of accomplishment managing multiple projects while maintaining exceptionally high quality and outcomes

What You’ll Bring to the Job

• Comfort in managing teams, as well as working independently and collaboratively
• Knowledge of what makes people tick - you can connect people’s passions and interests to Hillel’s mission 
• An entrepreneurial spirit - things may not always go according to plan, but you understand that ambiguity is part of developing great new opportunities and are constantly striving to for excellence
• A commitment to pluralism and comfort with your Jewish identity so you may act as a role model and mentor for emerging Jewish adults
• Owning your unique Jewish knowledge and experiences and inspiring others to be on a Jewish journey
• Strong written and verbal skills, effective at communicating with a variety of stakeholders, including students, parents, alumnae/i, and university partners
• Attention to detail while managing multiple on-going projects

What You’ll Receive

• Competitive salary in the nonprofit marketplace. The salary range for this role is $90,000 - $110,000
• A comprehensive benefits package, including health insurance, retirement plan, Life, AD&D and Long Term Disability (LTD) insurances, Flexible Spending accounts, generous vacation/sick time, and parental leave.
• Great professional development, mentoring, and skill building opportunities 
• Travel regionally and abroad, particularly to Israel

About Schilit Hillel at University of Florida

With one of the largest Jewish student populations in the country, the opportunities for Jewish life at UF are nearly limitless, and Schilit Hillel at University of Florida strives to operate on a scale capable of meeting this challenge. Hillel provides Jewish students with community and connection through a relationship-focused approach that seeks to ensure every Jewish Gator feels welcome and celebrated. We work to build community and help students explore their identities.

Gainesville is a great place to live with all the offerings of a vibrant college town, including an excellent arts scene, first-class medical care and academic health system, SEC sports, and inspired local restaurants. Here, culture meets nature with eight state parks, featuring more than 100 miles of trails for biking and hiking, plus crystal-blue freshwater springs. The wide range of offerings, extremely high quality of life, and relatively low cost of living have made Gainesville an increasingly popular destination to live for people of all ages.

Schilit Hillel at University of Florida 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.