About The Retreat Institute (RI)
The Retreat Institute provides vibrant, meaningful, memorable experiences in which participants encounter the relevance and excitement of Jewish values, texts, practices, and community. We collaborate with various Jewish organizations, including congregations, part-time Jewish education programs, and day schools, providing programmatic, financial, and logistical support. Participants include elementary-age students, teens, parents, families of all ages, multi-generational groups, and Jewish educators. The RI is part of the Jewish Education Center of Cleveland.
About the Role of Director of the Retreat Institute
- Develop the vision and implementation plan for the growth and development of retreats and immersive experiences that align with the agency's strategic plan.
- Build Relationships with participants, partners, and other communal stakeholders.
- Foster innovative part-time Jewish educational experiences.
- Facilitate retreats and programs that foster a vibrant, inclusive, and safe experiential environment.
- Partner with Jewish educational programs, congregations, and institutions on all aspects of the retreat process, encompassing planning, educational content, budgeting, recruitment, logistics, staff training, implementation, and evaluation.
- Mentor professionals in the field.
- Create professional development opportunities for the field.
- Evaluate programs and processes using feedback from participants and partners to continuously improve future experiences.
- Lead and support the Retreat Institute Oversight Committee, and co-lead the Jewish Family Engagement Network.
- Execute the yearly proposal process, including funding allocations and communications with community partners.
- Budget to advance, align, and support the JEC & RI vision.
- Coordinate logistics to develop project calendar, manage resources and supplies.
The Director of the Retreat Institute will be supervised by the Director of Educational Capacity Building and guide the Educator for Retreats and Intergenerational Programs.
Qualifications
- 5+ years in Jewish education, retreat facilitation, camp, experiential education, or related fields.
- Excellent interpersonal, communication, and listening skills.
- In-depth knowledge of Jewish traditions, text, culture, history, and Hebrew.
- Able to work with all facets of the Jewish community.
- Ability to engage and inspire a diverse group of learners.
- Strong planning, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
- Willing to work weekends, evenings, and occasional holidays as needed.
- Flexible self-starter who manages their own projects and makes decisions.
- Master's degree in Jewish Education, Education, Jewish Studies, a related field, or equivalent experience preferred.
This full-time position offers a competitive salary, generous vacation, including Jewish and national holidays, and a great work environment.
If you are qualified and interested in this exceptional opportunity, please send a cover letter and resume to [email protected].
About the Jewish Education Center (JEC)
At the cutting edge of educational practice, the Jewish Education Center incubates new innovative programs, consults with educational partners, and provides direct services to the Jewish education system in Cleveland. As the educational planning arm of the Jewish Federation of Cleveland, JEC works across the breadth of the Cleveland Jewish community, focused on three pillars: Advancing Professional Growth, Enhancing Educational Effectiveness, and Expanding Jewish Experiences. The JEC values its positive, collaborative, and growth-minded organizational culture. We encourage and support ongoing staff development and learning.