Rabbi & Director of Education

Role Overview

Join Hillel at Arizona State University as the Rabbi & Director of Education, and you’ll be joining a team passionate about educating and inspiring every Jewish student at the largest public university in the country. It is no small task but one that energizes and inspires us daily. You will be on our senior leadership team, working together to dream up and then implement our ideal set (sets!) of Jewish experiences for today’s Jewish ASU students. You will be seen as Hillel’s key religious leader, even as we uplift our full staff and student team as co-leaders. 

As our organization embarks on exciting facility growth and transition, you’ll help ground students in Jewish values through cohort-based classes, one-on-one study, and pastoral guidance. You will also work with student leaders and staff to infuse Jewish traditions into weekly pop-ups, large social events, and holiday celebrations. While sometimes this means you will be in the front leading, you will also often be behind the scenes, coaching students and our staff on growing in their own Jewish leadership and educator skill sets. 

As our rabbi, you will ensure a pluralistic and welcoming atmosphere throughout Hillel through education, relationship building, and mentorship of staff and student leaders. 

Join our team, and you will find a data-informed organization committed to providing high-quality experiences that meet a diverse and expansive student population.

What You’ll Do

Leadership & Vision

• Sit on the Senior Leadership Team, shaping and developing the mission and educational vision of Arizona State University Hillel 
• Serve as a thought leader, champion, and resource for Jewish learning among the professional team
• Play an active role in public Judaism on campus through tables, presence at events, and participation in key campus committees 
• Build and maintain strategic connections that support students’ needs including with ASU faculty, relevant campus departments (i.e., counseling), culture & faith-based groups, and the Council of Religious Advisors at ASU 

Education/Spiritual/Pastoral

• Develop and direct (with input from key stakeholders and team members) ASU Hillel’s educational vision of regular, warm, welcoming, and inspiring ritual and Jewish educational experiences for a diverse student population
• Teach 2-3 cohort-based learning experiences each semester, topics that meet the moment and are aligned with student's needs and interests
• Coach student leaders on leading rituals, and prayer services, and on using Jewish values to guide their leadership choices and vision 
• Serve as an educator and pastoral resource to students in a one-on-one setting, be on call during ‘off’ days for student pastoral needs
• Lead high holidays services for the Hillel at ASU community (students, faculty, staff, community members)

Engagement 

• Use creative educational strategies to reach 300+ students each holiday through both traditional ritual practices and informal experiential opportunities
• Create innovative rituals for Shabbat and holidays that respond to students’ needs, connect students, and foster a unique culture of community at ASU Hillel 
• Cultivate individual relationships with a wide array to understand the diverse ASU student experience. 

A week in the life could include…

• 10+ student one-on-ones ranging from exploratory coffee dates with new students, text studies, coaching student leaders, and counseling students with pastoral needs. 
• Developing engaging Jewish content for a social media campaign  
• Managing recruitment of students to the semester’s cohort-based learning classes. 
• Leading staff learning so all staff are equipped with Jewish knowledge and understanding for an upcoming holiday
• Attending a Council of Religious Advisors meeting as Hillel’s representative 
• Playing a critical role in a senior leadership team ‘off-site” to identify Hillel’s educational strategy to ‘meet the moment’
• Crafting a new initiative based on students’ feedback

Qualifications

• Rabbinic ordination from an accredited institution and a commitment to a pluralistic approach to Jewish life
• 4+ years of relevant work experience. Experience in Hillel, youth movements, camping, or experiential Jewish education is preferred
• Ability to work flexible hours, including some nights, weekends, and holidays
• Track record of bringing creative educational strategies to life
• Training and experience in counseling, innovative program development, and work in diverse Jewish spaces

What You’ll Bring to the Job

• A hunger to ‘get it right’ along with a flexibility to pivot based on student or staff feedback
• A passion for mentoring the next generation of Jewish leaders and a belief in the importance of shaping this pivotal stage for the future of American Judaism.
• Expertise in leading complex conversations about Judaism and Israel, meeting students at various points in their Jewish journeys
• Embrace of Jewish pluralism and acceptance of every student’s Jewish identity
• Motivation for healthy risk-taking toward professional and organizational growth
• A team-oriented approach and strong work ethic

What You’ll Receive

• Competitive salary in the non-profit marketplace. The salary range for this role is $110,000-140,000
  • Candidates claiming parsonage will receive an equivalent payroll tax contribution.
• A comprehensive benefits package, including health insurance, retirement plan, Life, AD&D, and Long Term Disability (LTD) insurance, Flexible Spending accounts, generous vacation/sick time, and parental leave.
• Signature from our Executive Director on paperwork that can help reduce your student loans
• Relocation stipend 
• Dues covered for the Phoenix Board of Rabbis
• Dynamic professional development, mentoring, and skill-building opportunities through our Hillel movement as other avenues as needed.
• A work community that values professional growth and personal balance.
• Travel regionally and abroad, particularly to Israel.
• Additional Hillel at ASU benefits, like lighter winter and summer hours, the opportunity to present on passion projects, and lots of free coffee! 
• Paid Jewish holidays or alternate days for those holidays worked.

About Arizona State University Hillel 

About Hillel at Arizona State University

The mission of Hillel at Arizona State University is to enrich the lives of Jewish undergraduate and graduate students so that they may enrich the Jewish people, Israel, and the world. Hillel at ASU provides religious, educational, social, and academic programs, that deepen students’ understanding of Jewish life, and connect students to the Jewish homeland, Israel. Through Shabbat and holiday celebrations, service projects, and Israel engagement, Hillel at ASU creates the space and provokes the conversations that encourage students to gain ownership over their own Jewish experiences and subsequently make an enduring commitment to Jewish life. 

About Phoenix & the Valley of the Sun

Home to our staff that have relocated from the East & West coasts as well as the Midwest, Phoenix boasts stunning sunsets and sprawling mountains, alongside a vibrant cultural scene of music, museums, and sports. This large metro area has several neighborhoods that speak to our staff’s diversity and if you are considering relocation we are happy to help you find the one that fits your personality and needs best. 

As the 5th largest city in the United States, Phoenix is home to over 100,000 Jews, with strong synagogues and Jewish organizations. Living here allows having the resources of a large city with the charm of connecting to a smaller Jewish community that supports and cheers on its own. 

Hillel at Arizona State University 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.