Executive Director - Cleveland Hillel

Role Overview:

Cleveland Hillel is shaping vibrant Jewish life on eleven campuses throughout northeast Ohio by embracing the core concepts of Jewish joy and belonging, inclusion, and resilience, and building strong Jewish leaders. Cleveland Hillel maintains two flagship campuses at Case Western Reserve University (CWRU) in downtown Cleveland and Oberlin College and Conservatory in Oberlin, Ohio. The Cleveland Hillel building, the Albert & Norma Geller Hillel Student Center, and offices are situated on the campus of CWRU, with a physical storefront space, the Hillel Student Lounge, at Oberlin College.

The work of Cleveland Hillel is more critical than ever, and our commitment to creating safe, proud, and empowered Jewish spaces on campus for nearly 2,000 Jewish college and graduate students is unwavering. Hillel offers students the means to explore and celebrate their Jewish identity in a dynamic and welcoming environment. Each year, Hillel connects students to their community, their peers, and their heritage through an array of social, cultural, and community service programs. The momentum is here, and we want to continue our trajectory.

The Executive Director will maintain and develop the resources necessary to increase the breadth and depth of student engagement, ensuring that all students are empowered to create a meaningful Jewish community. The ideal candidate will bring demonstrated success in developing financial and human resources, as well as a passion for supporting and engaging students, experience leading an effective team, an ability to set and implement our strategic vision, and a strength in building meaningful and trusting relationships across various constituencies. The Executive Director of Cleveland Hillel will also model an enduring commitment to Jewish life, learning, and Israel for students. 

What You’ll Do:

Strategy & Vision:

• Lead with big-picture thinking and work collaboratively with the Board and other stakeholders to build and communicate an inspiring and sustainable long-term vision.
• Partner with the board to identify priorities and design a multi-year plan to grow Cleveland Hillel's visibility, funding, and impact.
• Guide staff in creating an annual student engagement strategy that centers on student interests and needs, empowering student leadership while broadening and deepening involvement across diverse Jewish backgrounds in line with Hillel's values.

Fundraising and Donor Stewardship:

• Build and sustain a culture of philanthropy through strategic outreach, authentic stewardship, and clear communication of organizational vision, mission, and impact.
• Steward the Oberlin College $1M capital campaign through completion, in partnership with the lay leadership and a contracted project manager, 
• Continue to cultivate long-term major donor relationships, while diversifying and expanding revenue sources through strategic and consistent outreach with strong follow-through.

Financial Management

• Work closely with the Board Treasurer to ensure the timely and accurate reporting of finances and the ongoing assessment and adherence to the budget.
• Collaborate with Cleveland Hillel board members, Hillel International, and other stakeholders to maintain and strengthen the organization's finances and governance.

Stakeholder Relations:

• Cultivate and maintain relationships with a broad group of stakeholders, including student and university leaders, Jewish and other community organizations in Cleveland and beyond, such as the Jewish Federation of Cleveland and Hillel International, and alumni, parents, and grandparents across the country.
• Strengthen relationships with campus administrators and student government bodies, advocating for Jewish students with courage, respect, and clarity.
• Provide expertise on the evolving needs and challenges of Jewish college and graduate students and on-campus climate in Cleveland and northeast Ohio.

Student Engagement:

• Understand the diverse needs of Jewish students across different campuses and ensure all programming aligns with the overall engagement strategy.
• Build relationships with students from diverse backgrounds through meaningful conversations and create opportunities to participate in Jewish life on campus.
• Ensure each Hillel provides a safe space and programming opportunities for "all kinds of Jewish" students to feel at home, while addressing antisemitism and anti-Israel activities on campus.

Multi-Campus Operations:

• Effectively manage a complex network of campuses and Jewish programming with appropriate resources, clear communication, and responsiveness.
• Understand the different methods and resources available at each campus for reporting legal/bias incidents and inform students about these resources, providing support, assistance, and advocacy as needed.

Board of Directors:

• Cultivate relationships with current, past, and prospective board members, utilizing them as thought partners and building on the culture of excellence in governance and volunteer management.
• Staff monthly Board Meetings and quarterly Executive Committee meetings (in person or via video conferencing) and present comprehensive status updates, including programming, budget tracking, and student engagement metrics in partnership with the Board Chair.
• Staff  Board Committee meetings in partnership with the committee chairs, and seek out development opportunities for Board Members to strengthen their commitment and enhance relevant skills.
• Partner with and seek advice from Board members or the Board Chair on key decisions throughout the year.
• Create opportunities for board members to engage with students informally and formally.

Communications/Public Relations:

• Enhance Hillel's visibility, brand, and reputation on our campuses, in the Jewish community, and in the greater northeast Ohio area, with parents and alumni and beyond.
• Generate a steady stream of multimedia communications to maximize student engagement in programming and demonstrate organizational value to community stakeholders.
• Collaborate with Hillel International for press releases/interviews/public statements when needed.
• Serve as Cleveland Hillel's primary spokesperson, particularly in crisis situations, representing Hillel and the students with calm clarity, leadership, and courage.

Staff Supervision & Development:

• Inspire, mentor, develop, and supervise a professional staff team of six full-time and four part-time staff who deliver on a vision of pluralism, inclusivity, and leadership development to deepen students' relationships with Jewish life, learning, and Israel.
• Manage the relationship of outsourced work with various partners.
• Oversee staff with clarity, kindness, respect, collaboration, and accountability, ensuring a positive work environment and a culture of trust, safety, belonging, and growth.
• Lead recruiting, hiring, and onboarding of any new employees.

Additional Position Details:

In this role, the Executive Director will focus their support primarily on the flagship campuses of CWRU and Oberlin College, requiring on-the-ground support for both campuses. Presence and travel to the other campuses served by Cleveland Hillel to be determined as needed. The Executive Director will make the Cleveland, Ohio area their permanent residence in order to provide leadership and support to our primary Hillel building/offices and to build and strengthen the core stakeholder relationships in the Cleveland community. 

What you’ll bring:

• Minimum of eight years of professional experience, with at least three years in a leadership role in a Jewish or secular nonprofit, higher education, or related organization.
• Bachelor's degree required; Master's degree preferred.
• Proven success in strategic planning, team management, financial resource development, including major gifts, stakeholder relations, and inspiring pluralistic Jewish life.
• Excellent communication and organizational skills, attention to detail, and a commitment to excellence.
• Entrepreneurial spirit, willingness to take risks, and the ability to learn from experiences.
• Ability to create a space for diverse perspectives and voices.
• Creative innovation and inspiring presence.
• Proactive communication and collaboration across offices, stakeholders, and agencies.
• Expertise in leading conversations about Judaism and Israel in an approachable way.
• Appreciation and passion for working with college-age students and stakeholders in a university setting.
• A joyful spirit and enthusiasm for building community.

What You'll Receive:

• A competitive nonprofit salary with a range of $145,000 to $160,000.
• Comprehensive benefits package.
• Relocation assistance is available.
• Support from Hillel International’s Campus Support Director.
• 100% paid professional development opportunities, including conferences and regional meetings.
• 100% paid travel regionally and abroad, as needed

Preference given to applications received June 30, 2026.

If you have any questions about this role, please contact:
Jennifer Sosnow – Director, Executive Talent Management, Hillel International at jsosnow@hillel.org