Assistant Director, Youth Engagement (Teens)At Temple Isaiah, Lexington, MA
Description
Background
Temple Isaiah is a special congregation located in historic Lexington, Massachusetts. We are a warm and caring community, with 775 households, that values and respects the individuality of its members and the diversity of its membership. We are deeply committed to Jewish tradition and are proud of our ongoing history of innovation. We offer a vast array of programs and activities, which encourage our members to find their own paths and craft their own approaches to living a Jewish life. We take Jewish education seriously, for ourselves and our children, which encourages our members to question and challenge. Our outstanding professional leadership values and relies on congregants as partners in determining our synagogue’s direction and planning/leading our programs. We strive to be a sacred community that matters in our members’ lives and makes a difference in the larger world.
The Position
Temple Isaiah seeks a full-time Assistant Director of Youth Engagement to work with our vibrant teen community (grades 8-12). Working collaboratively with staff and lay leaders, the Assistant Director will ensure that the Temple Isaiah teen community is a place where teens find meaning, connection, and community, and engage in meaningful Jewish experiences. The Assistant Director will prioritize experiences and programs that build community, inspire engagement, and cultivate teen leaders.
Responsibilities
The Assistant Director of Youth Engagement reports to the Director of Congregational Learning and is responsible for the following:
Youth Engagement
*Collaborate with Temple Isaiah educators, clergy, and lay leaders to establish an engaging and meaningful weekly teen experience (Tichon Isaiah). Create and implement a robust array of youth engagement opportunities to offer diverse pathways for the teen community. In partnership with staff and teens, create a new structure for weekly high school experience prioritizing engagement and community building. Hire staff and facilitators as needed.
*Serve as the advisor for Temple Isaiah High School Youth Group, LEFTY.
*Support program development and staffing for SMALLY (6/7th grade youth group).
*Support or staff QUEERY (for queer and questioning 6-12th).
*Teach in middle and high school programs.
*Oversee and coordinate monthly Moving Traditions experience. Serve as a Moving Traditions Group Leader.
*Recruit for and attend weekend trips and events such as NFTY-NE regional gatherings, religious school retreats, and teen travel opportunities such as L’taken, NYC trip, Social Justice trip, Leadership retreat.
*Actively recruit and engage age-appropriate children for Jewish summer camps and programs, Israel travel, and young adult programs.
*Outreach to engage and unengaged teens through new and creative means.
*Serve as the primary point of contact for all Temple Isaiah teens and seek to connect regularly with every member family with a teen in their household. Track all touchpoints.
*Partner with the youth specialists of the other synagogues and Jewish communities in the area to stay up to date on communal events and best practices.
Youth Leadership
*Mentor and support LEFTY board members to plan and implement a successful LEFTY experience for the Temple Isaiah teen community.
*Collaborate with other staff and teens to implement weekly experiences.
*Oversee and support teen-led youth shabbat and holiday experiences
*Oversee Temple Isaiah Madrichim program. Supervise and train Madrichim (teen interns and classroom assistants) in partnership with the Director of Congregational Learning and Director of Inclusion.
Administration & Communications
*Establish a weekly calendar for the school year. Share with the teen community.
*Ensure coordination between Temple Isaiah and community calendars for youth and teen engagement.
*Publish weekly and monthly communications and post regularly to the school’s social media accounts about teen engagement and education.
*Design and provide content for Temple Isaiah publications.
*Coordinate logistics for congregational youth experiences such as trips, retreats, High Holy Day teen programming, etc.
*Manage technology for youth learning and youth engagement programs.
*Prepare the budget and plan fundraising efforts for youth programs (8th-12th grade).
*Ensure that all setup and supply requests are placed and fulfilled in a timely manner. Supervise teachers of teen classes, providing regular feedback and training, and tracking payroll.
*Assist the Director of Congregational Learning in operations as requested and partner in the planning and running of school-wide events.
The above statements are not intended to be an all-inclusive list of the duties and responsibilities of the job described, nor are they intended to be such a listing of the job requirements. Rather, they are intended to describe the general nature of the job. Temple Isaiah reserves the right to revise or change job duties as the need arises. This job description does not constitute a written or implied contract of employment.
Compensation
$50K - $55KRequirements
To be successful in this job, you excel in the following areas: Youth Engagement & Mentoring Passion for working collaboratively with teens from a wide range of backgrounds to help them create a Jewish community that is meaningful to them; demonstrates strong and appropriate personal boundaries in relationships with youth; committed to empowering and strengthening teens ability to lead; excited by the idea of going above and beyond to help teens grow into their best selves. Experience in camp and youth group setting. Relationship Management Ability to create a welcoming and inclusive environment that fosters deep learning in personally meaningful ways. Ability to develop strong relationships with teens, parents, colleagues, and lay leaders; exhibits high emotional intelligence; good listener and compassionate partner. Creative & Passionate Inspires teens to learn about and embrace Reform Judaism through innovative, creative and relevant, and meaningful experiences. Thinks creatively and is willing to innovate and experiment. Has an outlook that is positive, assertive, and flexible. Highly motivated self-starter, willing to try new things and ask for help. Comfortable making mistakes and learning from them. Administration Ability to assess needs and opportunities for success and willingness to improvise, be flexible, and make changes as needed. Able to manage projects and maintain organizational skills in a multi-tasking environment. Communication Effective and efficient verbal and virtual communication skills. Comfortable speaking with various individuals Open and effective communication and a relatable and professional manner with internal and external stakeholders.Strong presentation skills which include a high level of comfort, confidence, and enthusiasm in front of groups of all ages.How to Apply
Application Process Please send your cover letter and resume to Debbie Marty, dmarty@templeisaiah.net, in the learning office.Contact Information
Camp Name
Temple Isaiah, Lexington, MA
Job Title
Assistant Director, Youth Engagement (Teens)
Website
Phone
Camp Address
55 Lincoln Street, Lexington, MA, 02421, United States