Youth Engagement Coordinator/CLASP Fellow

Who We Are:

Temple Shaari Emeth is a vibrant, supportive, and inclusive Reform synagogue of 650+ households in Manalapan, NJ. An intergenerational and musical congregation in Central NJ, Temple Shaari Emeth supports a range of engaging community activities, Jewish holiday celebrations and lifecycle events, supplemental religious education for K-12th Grade, and an active preschool.

The Religious School operates from September through May with classes on Sunday mornings, Tuesday afternoons and evenings, and Wednesday afternoons and evenings. We have 250 students in grades K-12, approximately 25 teen Madrichim (classroom assistants), a self-contained special-needs class, active parent learners, several teen trips each year, and students and parents who are looking for more! 

Who You Are:

You are an outgoing, dynamic, and energetic individual with experience in Jewish youth engagement. As a warm, approachable, and inviting presence, you are an effective communicator with teachers, students, parents, staff, and volunteer leaders through thoughtful and respectful interactions. Your formal and informal education has fostered in you a love of Jewish summer camp, teen social interactions, teen travel, and Jewish community building. You are organized, detail-oriented, and motivated to work hard in a fast-paced synagogue environment with a strong team of professionals who will serve as colleagues and mentors.

As a relationship builder and collaborator, you can communicate your passions and will help support and grow our Religious School and teen community. You are flexible, adaptable, and have a willingness to accept feedback. You are a self-starter and team player with a strong sense of self who appreciates the value of partnership. You are seeking a warm, supportive, spiritual, and progressive community in which to grow and learn.

What You Will Do:

General responsibilities:

• Serve as a thought partner with the Director of Religious Education and the professional staff and be a positive role model in the congregation.
• Elevate the positive presence and recognition of youth in the synagogue community, share the vision of the Religious School and youth program with prospective families, serve as an ambassador for the congregation, and other engagement tasks.
• Partner with the Director of Religious Education, clergy, and other staff as necessary to advance the strategic priorities of the schools and congregation.
• Serve as the primary camp contact, integrating camp approaches into programming and connecting the children of the congregation to camp and camp experiences.
• Maintain regular office hours and be present in the building during the times that the community is present, which includes, but is not limited to, times when Religious School is in session, community events, and worship opportunities.
• Attend weekly staff meetings, supervisory meetings, Religious School Committee meetings, and Board of Trustees meeting, as appropriate.
• Strategize and implement a social media presence for the Religious School and youth programs.

 Teen and Youth Engagement

• Serve as the advisor for YOSHE Seniors (9^th-12^th Grade youth group), including creating, mentoring, and supervising the youth board, staffing all youth group programs and meetings, planning all event logistics, and ensuring appropriate adult supervision.
• Plan and execute monthly events for YOSHE Juniors (6^th-8^th Grade youth group), specifically focused on community service/doing mitzvot.
• Be responsible for the budget of the youth programs, creating and maintaining a fiscally responsible program.

• Create, edit, and send communications for planned youth programming including maintaining a social media presence and website for teen programs and publicizing events to students and parents.
• Encourage participation in NFTY and attend NFTY-GER regional events as a chaperone when appropriate.
• In collaboration with the Director of Religious Education, oversee the Religious School Madrichim program (classroom assistants), including placement, training, regular check-ins, and evaluation.

• Teach 7^th Grade and/or 8^th/9^th Grade Religious School as a means to build relationships with teens.
• Support the work of the Religious School through other teaching assignments and administrative tasks as necessary.
• Coordinate joint programming with the Director of Religious Education, including field trips, all-school programs, and other special events.
• Plan and attend 3-4 teen trips each year, including working with trip organizers, developing and running specific activities, directing recruitment and marketing efforts, partnering with other trip staff, and ensuring health and safety during the trip for all participants.
• Recruit Religious School families to URJ Camps and liaison with the camps to energize the community around URJ Camping.
• Engage teens and their families in Jewish life and broader synagogue events.
• In coordination with the Director of Religious Education, develop the schedules and calendars for the Religious School and youth programs.
• As a CLASP Fellow, execute summer responsibilities at a URJ Camp, serving as a member of the camp’s staff (onsite at camp) during the summer. Specific responsibilities will be assigned by the Camp Director.

Your Background: 

You have worked in some capacity in the Jewish Teen Engagement space, Hillel, or other synagogue-based education programs. You have a track record of excellent communication skills, strong engagement and relationship building skills, Jewish knowledge, and some foundation in Jewish formal or informal education. You are excited to spend your summer at a URJ Summer Camp, and previous experience working at a Jewish summer camp program is a plus.

With a Bachelor’s Degree, preferably in Education or Jewish Studies, you have strong technological skills and are proficient in Microsoft Office Suite, Google Suite, Zoom, and various social media platforms. You have the ability to have a flexible work schedule, including evenings and weekends.

What We Offer:

This position has a salary between $50,000 and $55,000 with good benefits. Includes robust professional development, mentoring, and skill building, and the ability to work with a passionate, creative, and dynamic team working together to support you. You will have the opportunity to have a significant impact on the youth of Temple Shaari Emeth and a URJ Camp. The Youth Engagement Coordinator will be supervised by the Director of Religious Education and will also have ongoing mentorship from a URJ Camp Director.

 How to Apply:

Please send a resume and cover letter to Melissa Pescatore, Director of Religious Education, at [email protected], by February 7, 2025.