Assistant Director at Minnesota Hillel

Make your mark on Jewish student life by joining Minnesota Hillel as the Assistant Director. You will drive Hillel forward by thinking big and implementing with excellence on a day-to-day basis. As you lead people and programs, you’ll help every student on campus connect to Jewish life, learning, and Israel. Reporting to the Executive Director, the Assistant Director provides day‑to‑day leadership for student engagement strategy, staff management, and program execution, ensuring that Minnesota Hillel’s work is aligned with our mission and vision.

This role is ideal for a strong manager and connector: someone who can translate big‑picture vision into operational, data‑driven excellence, build systems that support staff and students, and cultivate meaningful relationships that lead to sustained student involvement. The Assistant Director will oversee key engagement and leadership pipelines, supervise early career professional staff, and ensure that Minnesota Hillel continues to meet students where they are while moving them toward deeper connection, leadership, and Jewish commitment.

• Design and execute an engagement strategy with the Executive Director to connect more than 70% of Jewish students at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities and our multi‑campus ecosystem to Hillel’s mission.
• In partnership with the Executive Director, craft and implement a plan for programming and pluralistic Jewish education.
• Innovate and expand upon our student leadership structure to support robust program activities, Shabbat, holiday celebrations, and meaningful Jewish experiences.
• Supervise, mentor, and support the growth of two early‑career staff members.
• Create and maintain strategic partnerships with the University community, including Student Affairs and Admissions, parents, alumni, and lay leaders.
• Staff Shabbat and holiday programming as required, assisting with discussions, rituals, and celebrations.
• Take the lead on recruiting and staffing Minnesota Hillel’s Perspectives trip to Israel.

• Recruit, supervise, and lead the student engagement team and other leadership council teams.
• Mentor and advise student leaders, supporting them in creating high‑quality, student‑driven programs and communities aligned with Minnesota Hillel’s mission and pillars.
• Connect with prospective students and their families, educating them on Jewish life at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities and schools across the state.
• Lead and create meaningful graduate student programming.
• Participate in ongoing Jewish learning and professional development.
• Staff and support alternative breaks and Taglit‑Birthright Israel, including pre‑ and post‑trip programs.
• Support the Development team and Executive Director in core fundraising activities, including donor relations, strategic fundraising conversations, and special events.
• Oversee the collection of our engagement data in partnership with Hillel International.

• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree a plus.
• 5+ years of professional experience in Jewish communal work, higher education, experiential education, camping, or a related field.
• Excellent supervision skills and demonstrated success managing staff, interns, or student employees.
• Proven track record in student engagement, leadership development, and community building.
• Creating structures and opportunities that assist and empower students to take initiative and ownership of their communities.
• Experience translating strategy into systems, structures, and measurable outcomes.
• Management of multiple projects while maintaining quality.
• Building relationships with leaders within education or the nonprofit space.

• Knowledge of what makes people tick - you can connect people’s passions and interests to Hillel’s mission.
• Comfort in managing teams as well as working independently and collaboratively.
• An entrepreneurial spirit - things may not always go according to plan, but you understand that ambiguity is part of developing great new opportunities.
• Strong written and verbal skills, effective at communicating with a variety of stakeholders, including students,…