Director of Student Advocacy

About Hillel BC

Hillel BC is seeking a seasoned and strategic Director of Student Advocacy to champion Jewish students across British Columbia campuses, ensuring their voices are central in shaping a respectful and supportive campus climate. This senior role focuses on leading antisemitism response and prevention, building essential partnerships, and empowering students to become strong advocates and leaders. As a vital member of our team, you will guide Hillel’s advocacy efforts and drive impactful change, leveraging relationships with campus and community partners to elevate Jewish student presence and resilience.

The Role

As the Director of Student Advocacy, you will serve as a principal advocate and strategist, setting and executing a vision that centers Jewish students in all campus advocacy efforts. You will work alongside students, community stakeholders, and campus partners to address issues of antisemitism and anti-Zionism and ensure that Jewish students are empowered to lead. This position requires a sophisticated understanding of campus dynamics and a proactive approach to fostering a safe, inclusive, and engaged environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Strategically lead antisemitism response and prevention efforts across campuses, positioning Jewish student interests as central to advocacy and institutional partnerships.
• Establish and guide coalitions of faculty, staff, and students around issues impacting Jewish students, advancing recommendations to administration that align with student needs.
• Provide senior-level advocacy by overseeing incident reporting and developing long-term, forward-looking strategies to support Jewish students and campus inclusivity, in collaboration with partners such as CIJA and the Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver.
• Lead engagement with Jewish and non-Jewish student leaders, encouraging their involvement in student governance, campus life, and community organizing to foster a robust campus presence.
• Develop high-impact relationships with university administrators, faculty, and other community stakeholders to create collaborative, long-term partnerships focused on student-centered outcomes.
• Empower student advocates by guiding their leadership development and equipping them with resources to plan and execute initiatives that strengthen Jewish identity and community on campus.
• Proactively monitor and analyze antisemitic incidents and campus climate indicators, providing timely reports and adapting strategies as needed.
• Oversee strategic collaborations with Jewish and non-Jewish organizations on initiatives that reinforce a supportive environment for Jewish students, in coordination with CIJA and the Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver.
• Collaborate on and support the writing of op-eds, letters, newsletters, action alerts, press releases, social media content, and statements on campus culture and advocacy initiatives on behalf of Hillel BC, ensuring alignment with organizational goals and messaging.
• Represent Hillel BC in internal partnerships with Hillel International and other specialized teams, aligning advocacy initiatives with broader strategic goals.

What You’ll Bring

You are an experienced, strategic advocate with a strong commitment to supporting Jewish students. You possess a deep understanding of campus dynamics and have a proven record of building impactful, student-centered partnerships. Your leadership skills enable you to guide students, staff, and campus allies toward sustainable advocacy and meaningful change.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field (Master’s degree a plus).
• 5+ years of experience in political advocacy, community engagement, or campus organizing, with a focus on Jewish or Israel-related issues.
• Demonstrated leadership in advocacy or community organizing with a commitment to representing student needs.
• Ability to navigate policies, build coalitions, and foster collaborative relationships with stakeholders.
• Familiarity with university administration, government relations, or policy environments, particularly in advocacy or political contexts.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with confidence in crafting persuasive messaging and handling media interactions.
• Proficiency with social media and community engagement tools to effectively amplify our mission on campus.

What We Offer

• Competitive salary: $90,000 - $110,000 annually.
• Comprehensive benefits, vacation, wellness packages, and Jewish holidays.
• Transit or parking coverage to support your campus presence.
• An impactful opportunity to support and empower Jewish students in BC.
• A supportive network within Hillel BC and the broader Hillel movement.