About Congregation B’nai Israel (CBI)
Congregation B’nai Israel is a vibrant, growing community in the heart of Sacramento, California where people of diverse backgrounds experience the joy and beauty of Jewish life. Our congregation of over 600 households is multi-generational, multi cultural, egalitarian, and inclusive. We offer a broad range of religious services and educational, social, and cultural programs for all ages. B’nai Israel is widely recognized in the community for our commitment to social action.
Position Summary
The Executive Director (ED) manages all aspects of CBI’s administrative, financial, and business operations consistent with the synagogue’s vision, mission, and values. Responsibilities include human resource management, budget development and financial management, information technology and facility maintenance and improvement, congregational communications, and physical and online security. The ED attends meetings of the Board of Trustees and Executive Committee and provides support to congregational committees. The position reports to the Board regarding all financial, facility and budget matters of the congregation and to the Senior Rabbi on matters related to the congregation’s spiritual, religious, and educational functions. The President, Vice President for Administration, and Senior Rabbi will work with the ED to set annual goals and benchmarks for the ED position no later than January 15th of each year. This is a full-time position that includes some evening and weekend hours.
Duties and Responsibilities Include:
Personnel
- In coordination with the Vice President for Administration, hire, train, and supervise administrative, facilities, and security personnel.
- Contract with and oversee outside contracted personnel.
- In consultation with the Vice President for Administration, establish and interpret personnel policies and procedures as necessary.
- Coordinate with the clergy, other staff, lay leaders, and volunteers to ensure that their administrative needs are met.
Budget Development and Financial Management
- In coordination with the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and the Budget Committee, develop annual budget proposals for the operating and capital budgets.
- Oversee the expenses and income of the congregation consistent with the congregation’s budget and financial policies and make recommendations for policy and procedure changes as necessary.
- Work with staff and the CFO to maintain accurate financial records and prepare accurate and timely financial statements.
- Maintain and monitor effective internal financial controls.
- Supervise the preparation of invoice statements for synagogue members and acknowledgements for donors, and see that members are properly billed for dues and other charges and are making timely payments.
- Work with fundraising volunteers in planning and execution of the congregation’s fundraising campaigns and provide advice and administrative support to meet the fundraising goals of the congregation.
Information Technology and Facilities
- Oversee information technology and audiovisual needs, including software and hardware needed for streaming and online services and events.
- In consultation with the Vice President for Facilities and the Facilities Committee, manage the security, maintenance, cleanliness, and timely repair of all CBI facilities.
- Ensure the proper care of religious ritual items, in consultation with the Senior Rabbi and the Religious Practices Committee.
- Direct safety and security practices: evaluate, develop and maintain the synagogue’s security systems, hire or contract with security personnel as needed, and serve as the synagogue’s liaison to local entities (e.g., police department).
Operations
- Work to establish policies that support the long-term operational health of the congregation.
- Manage the day-to-day operations of the Temple office, including the maintenance of regular office hours and accurate congregational membership and related records and databases.
- Oversee procedures for calendaring and scheduling, facilities rental, supply purchasing, etc. as necessary, and make recommendations for revision to related policies to the Board, as applicable. Resolve conflicts between competing requests consistent with facility use policies.
Board of Trustees
- Ensure that Board members are informed of upcoming Board meetings.
- Serve as a resource person providing expertise to the President, Executive Committee and other committees of the Board of Directors.
- Attend Board of Trustees and Executive Committee meetings and provide monthly reports on operational issues.
Communications
- Supervise communications staff and oversee production of the Chadashot, Koleinu, and the Temple website.
- Create, write, and edit other such publications as the Board of Directors deems necessary.
- Oversee general publicity and the production of all High Holy Day communications.
Other Duties
- Serve as a welcoming first point of contact for potential new members, and for members seeking assistance with their membership commitments or other matters.
- Assist members holding events at CBI (such as weddings and parties) to facilitate their rental and use of CBI facilities and other resources available to members.
- Recruit, place, and supervise administrative volunteers when needed.
- Monitor insurance policies and recommend changes as needed.
- Seek out opportunities for grants and coordinate their preparation and submission.
- Implement and oversee other policies and carry out such other duties as are necessary for the smooth and effective operation of the synagogue and/or that have been assigned by the Rabbi or President.
Qualifications
Understanding and respect for Jewish tradition, religious practices and the Jewish calendar is necessary, as is having professional composure, sound judgment, and the ability to maintain strict confidentiality. Reliability, responsiveness, excellent follow through, efficiency, and timeliness are also especially important, as are routinely showing great attention to detail, and having good humor and a sense of fun.
Qualified candidates will have excellent customer service, employee management, financial management and organizational leadership skills, and the ability to manage multiple projects at once. They must be organized, enthusiastic, self-directed, detail oriented, flexible, and highly motivated with excellent written and oral communication, interpersonal and computer skills. Qualified candidates will need to work closely and cooperatively with our clergy, staff, members, prospective members, lay leaders, and volunteers.
In addition to the above, qualified candidates must be fully proficient with Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook, Power Point). Knowledge and experience with ShulCloud (our synagogue membership database system) or other membership database systems preferred, as is the ability to learn quickly and become proficient with customized database software. Knowledge of QuickBooks, or the ability to learn how to use it, is also necessary.