Beth El Synagogue

Executive Director

Beth El Synagogue http://betheldurham.org/

Applications will be considered as received and will be accepted until the position is filled

The Opportunity

Beth El is a thriving, inter-generational, pluralistic Conservative Jewish congregation located in Durham, North Carolina – an exciting city known for its arts scene, biotech businesses, legendary college basketball team, and heimish Jewish community. Founded in 1887, Beth El has long served the vibrant Jewish communities of the Triangle including Durham, Chapel Hill, and Raleigh. Often compared to Austin ten years ago, the region is consistently ranked by US News and World Report among the most desirable places to in the US. Like the local population, Beth El is also growing, and counts over 400 member families. Beth El, which is a member of the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism, is unique in its big tent approach and dedicated lay leadership, which is evident in its three minyanim: one Conservative, an Orthodox Kehillah affiliated with the Orthodox Union, and a new Egalitarian Minyan.

Beth El is now seeking a new Executive Director to succeed Jodi Salomon, who served the congregation successfully before departing for personal reasons. The new Executive Director will be the strategic and operations leader of the congregation, working in close collaboration with the Rabbi and lay leadership to ensure the synagogue is as efficient as it is welcoming. They will also be responsible for creating a new strategic plan and vision for Beth El that translates its existing and aspirational value propositions to engage both the current and next generation of members. The Executive Director reports to the Beth El Board President and is responsible for the synagogue’s administrative, financial, and business operations, in addition to supporting the congregation’s religious and membership services.

As we have navigated the impacts of the pandemic, our staff and community have found creative and meaningful ways to stay engaged and to strengthen their connections to Beth El, while yearning to take advantage of our newly renovated facility. We are now seeking an executive leader who thinks proactively, can run a healthy and growing organization, will continue to build a vibrant Jewish community, and will help lead us into the future. The new Executive Director will help position Beth El as a synagogue that is both high-integrity in terms of Jewish tradition and deeply accessible and inclusive in its approach.

Beth El has many notable strengths on which to build, including:

• An engaged, growing, and diverse multi-generational membership – including growing Talmud Torah participation and young adult membership.
• A strong and stable financial foundation supporting an annual operating budget of approximately $1.1 million.
• A recently completed synagogue renovation financed by a successful $6.5 million fundraising campaign.
• A strong tradition of talented lay leadership represented by an active
• A dynamic, caring, and creative Rabbi committed to Beth El and the active participation of its congregants who have been with Beth El for almost 12 years.
• An inclusive culture that welcomes diversity and builds community within Beth El and actively seeks connections to the wider Jewish and interfaith and LGBTQ+ communities.
• An experienced staff of nine full- and part-time members and a legacy of effective management on the part of the departing Executive Director.

Beth El intends to build on these foundations in its next phase of development, realizing the promise of its newly renovated facilities to provide inviting spaces for even deeper ties and active engagement across our community. A new strategic planning process, led by the incoming Executive Director, in collaboration with the Rabbi and Board, will engage the congregation in defining what this next level of programmatic effectiveness will look like. As a part of this process, the Executive Director will have the opportunity to define and build their own team. Developing additional revenue sources through facilities rentals and fundraising, for example, will be essential to support the continuing growth and vitality of the community. The community is ready for a visionary leader to use Beth El’s strong foundation as a launchpad.

The Person

Beth El seeks a dynamic and experienced organizational leader who is committed to supporting our vibrant, welcoming, and growing congregation. Beyond a high level of proven competence in the functional domains of the job (see below), we are seeking:

• A people expert, who empowers and brings out the best in others, knows how to have difficult conversations, and is capable of building (and advocating for) a best-in-class team.
• A smoother operator, who sweats the small stuff and keeps the trains running on time – but who also knows not to take it all too seriously.
• A community builder, who understands how to make people feel like they belong, has a customer service mindset and the endless empathy and optimism needed for congregational life.
• A strategic thinker, who can help develop and execute a comprehensive vision for the future that is both inspiring and
• A creative problem solver, who serves a diverse congregation with confidence, patience, calm, and positivity and who builds trust by doing what they say they’re going to do.

The Role

The Executive Director position requires high-level leadership and management acumen and day-to-day hands-on skill in key functional areas, particularly finance. The Executive Director supervises eight full-or part-time staff positions, including at least one vacant position. Primary responsibilities include:

Organizational Leadership:

• In conjunction with Beth El’s Rabbi and Board, lead a robust, consultative strategic planning process to establish and periodically update long-term strategic priorities aligned with the congregation’s mission and core values.
• In conjunction with the Rabbi and Board, develop annual operating plans and resource allocations consistent with the mission, core values, and established
• Develop and maintain a constructive co-leadership relationship with the
• Foster a warm and caring environment that encourages volunteerism and ensures that congregants, potential members, lay leaders, volunteers, and staff feel welcomed, respected, nurtured, and
• Support the work of the Board with sound advice, timely and accurate reports and information, and participation in deliberations.
• Attend Board committee meetings as needed to maintain awareness and provide leadership and alignment of congregational activities.
• Develop effective and efficient management systems across the organization to track progress on key initiatives, priorities, goals, schedules, open issues, and performance
• In conjunction with the Board, develop, revise, and, oversee the implementation of Beth El’s policies and practices and ensure systems are in place to keep Beth El’s policies, operating procedures, and institutional knowledge accessible and current.

Financial Management:

• With the support of the Finance Committee of the Board, manage the financial operations of the congregation, including financial planning, budgeting, forecasting, accounting, and reporting.
  • Maintain efficient and effective financial systems and controls to safeguard the assets of the congregation.
  • Support Board committees with timely, informative reporting and
  • Maintain compliance with internal policies and pertinent local, state, and federal.

Human Resource Management:

• Hire, manage, and empower a diverse professional staff to leverage their talents for the benefit of the community;
• Maintain a collaborative work environment built on trust, clear expectations, and accountability that attracts, retains, and motivates a diverse staff of top-quality
• Develop and review clear performance and professional development goals with each employee. When necessary, provide guidance to address staff performance issues.
• In conjunction with the Board, implement and periodically review employee benefits programs and compensation policies and maintain appropriate records.
• Maintain employee job descriptions and confidential personnel
• Oversee recruitment, salary setting, and orientation of new employees.

Fundraising:

• Participate in planning and executing fundraising initiatives to support annual operations and programming and ensure long-term sustainability.
• Implement best practices for tracking and reporting on memberships and fundraising efforts, including timely acknowledgment of dues paid and gifts made.
• Ensure that donor intentions and legal requirements are met and ensure effective stewardship of all gifts.

Programming and Membership:

• Work with the Rabbi, Board, and lay leadership to establish a holistic vision for a membership experience that is engaging and enriching for Beth El’s diverse, multi-generational membership.
• Plan and oversee the logistics of the congregation’s religious services and observance and celebration of High Holidays, in conjunction with the Rabbi and lay leadership, in a way that reflects the values and traditions of the community.
• Support bar/bat mitzvah families and other members in planning their simchas and other life cycle events.
• Support the Education and Youth Director in developing and delivering both structured educational opportunities and informal programming activities.
• Provide leadership to Board committees and volunteer groups to establish and implement integrated and robust educational, service, and social programming, assisting in its implementation as needed and providing training when
• Work with and support committees of the congregation to facilitate engagement and

Communications and Community Relations:

• Develop and implement a comprehensive communications plan that provides timely, engaging, and accessible information to the congregation and relevant external
• Publicize Beth El through its website and other printed, electronic, and social
• Build on existing and establish new cooperative relationships with local Jewish, interfaith, and civic organizations.
• Develop and maintain a current understanding of social, economic, and political trends in the Triangle area with an eye toward anticipating opportunities and challenges for the Beth El community.

Information Technology:

• Support the information technology needs of the Beth El community, including hardware, software, websites, and similar communications forms.
• Oversee security standards to safeguard confidential information and protect Beth El community devices from malware.
• Maintain databases of pertinent member and donor information in ways that are secure but easy to query for those with authorized access.

Facilities Management:

• With the support of the Head of Building Maintenance, manage use, maintenance, and operation of the facilities.
• Manage vendors and contractors who perform building maintenance and
• Oversee maintenance and use of kosher
• Proactively establish and manage relationships with entities renting Beth El

The Search

Beth El’s Board will appoint the congregation’s next Executive Director following a national search. The Board has appointed a six-member Search Committee drawn from the congregation to conduct the search. The Committee is chaired by Kevin Ginsberg who is the First Vice President of the congregation and will serve a two-year term as President from 2024 to 2026.

The selection process for qualified candidates will include preliminary interviews, a formal interview with the Search Committee, and an on-site interview in Durham for finalist candidates.

Applications will be reviewed as submitted, and the search will continue until the position is filled.

The successful candidate must have the personal characteristics and professional competencies described above to earn the trust of, and work effectively with, the Rabbi, Board, congregation, and staff. The Executive Director must be willing to work evening and weekend hours when meetings and congregational events require. The Search Committee has outlined the following additional criteria:

Education and Experience:

• An earned bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution of higher education(required);
• At least five years of demonstrated leadership at a senior level in performing the range of duties required at Beth El (preferred);
• At least three years of people management experience (required)
• Familiarity with Jewish rituals, holidays, and life-cycle traditions (required);
• Significant financial planning, budgeting, forecasting, reporting, and management experience in a non-profit or for-profit organization;
• Experience evaluating and utilizing financial, communications, and database software and web-based technology; and
• Community management or facilitation experience (preferred).

Compensation and Benefits:

• Salary range: $100,000-$120,000 depending on experience. A relocation stipend is available for qualified candidates considering a move to the area.
• Benefits: Health care, professional development allowance, professional dues, retirement plan with employer contribution, synagogue dues, religious school tuition discount, paid vacation/sick leave/family leave, paid holidays.

Please apply, direct nominations or any questions to:

Kevin Ginsberg

Chair, Search Committee

Beth El Congregation kginsberg@kglawnc.com

Applicants should send a single attachment (Word or pdf) including a resume and a cover letter discussing your qualifications and interest in the position, along with where you heard about the position, to the above address. Applications will be considered as received and will be accepted until the position is filled.

Beth El encourages applications from individuals with many identities and backgrounds to apply for this role, including Sephardic and Mizrahi Jews, Jews of color, women, people with disabilities, immigrants, LGBTQIA people, and people who come from low-income backgrounds. Even if you don’t meet 100% of the requirements for this job – if you think you can do it, apply anyway. We want to hear from you.