Strategic Initiatives Associate

Columbia/Barnard Hillel

Role Overview

Columbia/Barnard Hillel is seeking an organized, entrepreneurial professional to join our team in a role that sits at the intersection of student recruitment, external outreach, and organizational effectiveness. The Strategic Initiatives Associate will serve as the primary point of contact for prospective Jewish students and their families, building relationships long before students arrive on campus and ensuring that Hillel is part of their college journey from day one.

In addition to leading Hillel’s high school engagement and recruitment efforts, this role will take on meaningful special projects in support of both the Student Life and Development departments. This is a position for someone who is comfortable moving between strategy and execution, thrives on variety, and wants to make a tangible impact on one of the most consequential Jewish institutions in North America.

This position is in-person with some evening, weekend, and Jewish holiday responsibilities, as well as periodic travel.

What You'll Do

High School Engagement & Recruitment

• Board & Student Committees: Staff and support a board committee and a student committee focused on high school engagement, coordinating agendas, follow-through, and strategic direction.
• University Admissions Partnerships: Cultivate and manage working relationships with the Columbia University and Barnard College admissions departments, staying current on recruitment timelines and collaborating on shared outreach opportunities.
• Prospective Student & Family Communications: Manage ongoing communications with prospective students and their parents, high school administrators, and college guidance counselors. Produce and distribute a monthly newsletter and other outreach materials that position Columbia/Barnard Hillel as a central part of the campus Jewish experience. Maintain accurate records of outreach efforts and engagement activity to support recruitment tracking and assessment.
• High School Visits: Travel to high schools across the country to represent Hillel, build relationships with students and educators, and generate excitement about Jewish life at Columbia and Barnard. Coordinate and facilitate visits by Hillel colleagues and current students as well.
• Recruitment Metrics & Reporting: Track recruitment activity and outcomes, maintain recruitment data, and assist in preparing reports that evaluate outreach effectiveness, matriculation trends, and student engagement outcomes.
• Marketing & Materials: Ensure that all recruitment-facing marketing materials are accurate, compelling, and up to date, working with relevant staff to refresh content as needed.

Special Projects

• Student Life Support: Partner with the Student Life team on time-limited projects including program development, data tracking and reporting, event logistics, and other initiatives as organizational priorities evolve.
• Development Support: Assist the Development team with special projects including donor research, grant-related data compilation, event support, and communications projects that require strong writing and organizational skills.
• Cross-Departmental Assessment & Reporting: Collaborate with Student Life, Development, and Finance & Operations on special projects requiring data analysis, reporting, and organizational assessment. Assist with tracking key metrics related to student recruitment, engagement, participation, and other institutional priorities.
• Hillel-Wide: Serve as an active member of the broader team by staffing Kraft Shabbat Dinners and other signature Hillel experiences.

What You've Accomplished

• Bachelor's degree required and 0-3 years of relevant work experience.
• Knowledge of Columbia University and Barnard College is strongly preferred.
• Experience in admissions, outreach, peer engagement, community organizing, or Jewish communal work; whether through internships, campus roles, or programs.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and follow through on commitments independently.

What You'll Bring to the Job

• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to tailor voice and message for different audiences (students, parents, school administrators, donors).
• Proactive, entrepreneurial approach; you identify what needs to be done and make it happen without waiting to be told.
• Genuine interest in the breadth of Jewish identity and experience, and commitment to Hillel's pluralistic vision of Jewish life.
• Comfort with travel, including multi-day trips to visit high schools across the country.
• Flexibility and enthusiasm for working across departments on a range of projects, including willingness to shift priorities as organizational needs evolve.
• Proficiency in standard office and productivity tools; experience with CRM or data management systems is a plus.

What You'll Receive

• Competitive salary in the nonprofit marketplace. The salary range for this role is $50,000 - $60,000, commensurate with experience.
• 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.
• Opportunities to travel regionally and nationally for high school visits and Hillel professional development conferences.
• Dedicated and fun colleagues who will support you along the way.

About Columbia/Barnard Hillel

Columbia/Barnard Hillel is an exciting, fast-paced, intellectually rigorous work environment. We are a high-energy, dedicated team of professionals committed to enriching the Jewish experience of our students. Columbia/Barnard Hillel serves the undergraduate and graduate Jewish communities of Columbia University, Barnard College, and The Jewish Theological Seminary. There is a large and very active Jewish community based in the Kraft Center for Jewish Student Life and around campus. While more than 1,700 Jewish students are involved with Hillel, there are many students who have not yet found their Jewish niche on campus and this role is instrumental in reaching them before they ever arrive.