OPTJobPostings

Director of Programming and Member Engagement

Posted Date 2/26/2025
Newly Created Position 2025!
Reports to: Senior Rabbi
Location: Oak Park Temple, 1235 N Harlem Ave, Oak Park, IL 60302
This full-time role, principally in-person, offers flexibility with occasional evenings, weekends, some Jewish holidays and Shabbatot, and some travel to other Chicago-area communities. 

Salary & Benefits:

• Competitive salary: $65,000–70,000 (based on experience)
• Benefits package includes:

                    •Paid time off + paid Family & Medical Leave
                    •Health, dental, and vision insurance (for you and your family)
                    •Pension contribution
                    •Professional development allowance
                    •Temple membership
                    • Religious school + preschool tuition

We Are…

Oak Park Temple B’nai Abraham Zion (OPT) is a Reform Jewish congregation. We are committed to continually creating a warm, welcoming, and diverse community centered around Jewish worship, family, and lifelong learning. We promote the rights and well-being of Israel and all humanity. 

You are…. 

A creative, organized, personable leader.  You’ll work collaboratively as a member of the synagogue leadership team. 

A “people person” who gets to know Oak Park Temple members.  You’ll bring members closer to each other and the community. 

What You’ll Do

This is your chance to take on a dynamic, hands-on role in shaping the future of our community.  As the Director of Programming and Member Engagement, you’ll have the opportunity to create – and help others create - engaging programs that resonate with people, build relationships, and make OPT a place where everyone feels welcome. 

• Be the Connector: Build authentic relationships with members and deepen their sense of community. Engage with them at services, events, and informal gatherings to make meaningful connections with and among members. Co-lead the Adult Education Committee with the lay chairperson.
• Create Meaningful and Engaging Programs: Design events and activities that meet the needs of our diverse congregation. Engage members intellectually, spiritually, and socially. Support members, partner with speakers, organizations, OPT committees, clergy, and leadership to develop and coordinate well-attended programs.  Help bring their ideas to fruition through high-quality logistical support, marketing, outreach, social media strategies. From thought-provoking learning experiences to social events, your creativity will bring our community together in new ways and help deepen connections with U.S. and global Jewish life.  
• Evaluate the effectiveness of programming. Assess and summarize program effectiveness and member feedback for professional staff and lay leadership. 
• Manage the OPT programming portfolio and calendar; in coordination with professional staff and other leaders. Manage event and program revenue and expenses as requested.  
• Help our members engage with OPT and each other: Work with new and long-time members, young families and retirees and everyone in between, interfaith and diverse households to help them find their place at OPT. You’ll collaborate with clergy, staff, and members to create opportunities for involvement, connection, and growth, such as New Member Shabbats, social programming, small-group (e.g., Havurot) opportunities for member sub-groups with common interests and characteristics, and volunteer opportunities.
• Help Oak Park Temple Grow: You will collaborate with synagogue leaders (especially professional staff, Membership Vice President, Board Members, and Committee leaders) to develop and implement new member recruitment, proactive outreach, and marketing strategies, with activities at Oak Park Temple and neighboring communities such as the Western Suburbs (Naperville, Hinsdale, etc.) and the Northwest side of Chicago (Logan Square, Portage Park, etc.).
• Track Trends & Innovate: Stay on top of the latest trends in Jewish programming and member engagement. We want someone who’s excited to bring fresh ideas that inspire and innovate.

What We’re Looking For

• Experience & Passion: 3-5 years of experience in programming, event planning, or community engagement. Relevant educational background (master’s desirable). You love working with people and have a genuine passion for connecting with others. You bring us your warmth, maturity, responsibility, energy, creativity, integrity, passion and enthusiasm, and a sense of humor
• Leadership & Collaboration: You know how to lead, inspire, and collaborate with others—whether it’s a committee, team, or individual members. Demonstrated ease and effectiveness working with diverse age and gender constituencies. Cultural competence with LGBTQ+ communities, Jews of Color, people with disabilities, and other diverse identities within the Jewish community 
• Builder: You know how to manage a project to a successful outcome, you can manage multiple programs, set priorities, work independently, meet deadlines, follow-through and adapt. You know how to improve processes and systems.
• Tech-Savvy: You’re comfortable with digital tools like ShulCloud, Zoom, Google Suite, social media, website design, on-location and remote AV, and more.
• Cultural Competence: You embrace diversity and understand the unique needs of different communities within the Jewish world.
• Strategic Thinker: You think big picture, while still keeping your eye on the details to ensure everything runs smoothly.  You understand synagogue life and organizational systems, and can work with committees and a Board.
• Jewish Professional: Knowledge and background in Judaism (preferably including exposure to the history, principles, practice, and current issues of Reform Judaism)
• Engaging Communicator: Whether in person, online, or in writing, you know how to communicate clearly and warmly.

Why Oak Park Temple?

• A nurturing, thoughtful, supportive environment where your ideas are valued.
• The opportunity to make a real impact in a growing and vibrant Jewish community.
• Be part of a team that’s all about innovation, creativity, learning, and making meaningful connections.
• Located in a vibrant, diverse community conveniently located just outside Chicago, with great access to food, entertainment, culture, transportation, natural resources, friendly neighborhoods, and more. Check us out at oakparktemple.org.

Are you ready to help shape the future of Oak Park Temple and help create a community where everyone feels seen and valued? 

Apply now and help us bring this vision to life. Send your resume and cover letter to engagementsearch@oakparktemple.org.

STATEMENT OF EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYMENT AND POLICY PROHIBITING HARASSMENT AND DISCRIMINATION IN THE WORKPLACE

Consistent with our Mission, the Congregation is an equal opportunity employer. The Congregation will not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, religion, age, sexual orientation, sex, national origin, ethnicity, citizenship, military status, marital status, physical and mental disability, or any other characteristic protected by law. It is the policy of the Congregation that certain positions must be filled by persons of the Jewish faith as a bona fide occupational qualification. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment. All employees, regardless of position, are expected to maintain and contribute to this policy.

Director of Early Childhood Education, Glasser Preschool
Oak Park, IL

Organizational Context
The Beatrice and Morris Glasser Preschool provides an educational foundation for young children, including teachings of Judaism as embraced by Oak Park Temple B'nai Abraham Zion. Glasser Preschool is a mid-sized preschool with a capacity for 70 students currently offering a half-day program. Our curriculum promotes each child's physical, emotional, educational, ethical, and social growth and is designed around the concept that children learn through play. Our classroom environment encourages children to make choices, develop a positive self-concept, and promote learning through experimentation and problem-solving. Glasser Preschool enhances the Oak Park Temple community by providing religious, educational, and social support for families with young children. Glasser Preschool welcomes all children regardless of religious affiliation and strives to promote acceptance and understanding of the benefits of diversity.

Position Overview
The full-time, year-round director oversees all aspects of the preschool’s and summer camp’s daily operations, including faculty, students, families, programs, facilities, and curriculum. The Director ensures the implementation of a child-centered emergent curriculum enriched with Jewish values and traditions while fostering a strong sense of community among families and staff. The Director will actively support the teaching staff by promoting open communication, providing professional guidance, and serving as a consistent and encouraging presence in their classrooms. Additionally, the Director is an Oak Park Temple senior staff member working within the greater Oak Park Temple community. The director is responsible for aligning Glasser Preschool and the synagogue’s mission and philosophy in partnership with the board, clergy, and other staff members.

Areas of Responsibility
Leadership & Vision

• Enact a clear vision for the preschool that aligns with play-based learning principles and Oak Park Temple’s mission, including building strong relationships with families, the synagogue, and the broader community.

Curriculum & Programming

• Oversee the development and implementation of a curriculum that promotes social-emotional, cognitive, and physical growth while integrating Jewish holidays, traditions, and values.
• Oversee the development and implementation of Camp Bet Yeladim summer camp.

Staff Management

• Recruit, hire, and train teaching staff.
• Supervise, evaluate, and provide ongoing support and professional development opportunities for teaching staff to ensure high-quality instruction and alignment with the school’s mission.
• Promote a collaborative, warm, and respectful working environment.

Family Engagement

• Build strong relationships with families, foster a strong sense of community within Glasser Preschool, and facilitate teachers’ open communication and regular updates about children’s progress and classroom activities.

Operations & Administration

• Work with Oak Park Temple staff and the board of directors to manage Glasser Preschool’s budget.
• Participate in Glasser Parent Committee board meetings.
• Develop and enact fundraising initiatives in collaboration with the board of directors and the Glasser Parent Committee.
• Maintain compliance with all local, state, and federal licensing requirements, IL/DCFS requirements, and records for children and staff.
   

Community Building Within Oak Park Temple

• Create and enact temple programming for families with young children.
• Participate in Oak Park Temple's weekly senior staff meetings and monthly board meetings.

Community Building Beyond Oak Park Temple

• Promote Glasser Preschool within the local community and enroll and welcome new families into the program.
• Participate in local and national early childhood education meetings, conferences, and professional development opportunities.

Qualifications
Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s or Master’s (preferred) degree in Early Childhood Education or related field as aligned with IL/DCFS standards.
• Minimum 5 years of professional experience working in an early childhood education setting with at least 2 years in a supervisory role.
• Knowledge of Jewish traditions, holidays, and values, and the ability to integrate them meaningfully into the curriculum.

Certifications

• Meets or exceeds IL/DCFS licensing requirements for early childhood educators and directors.
• CPR and First Aid certified (or willingness to obtain).
• Food Sanitation Management certified (or willingness to obtain).

Skills & Attributes

• Demonstrate exceptional organizational, time management, and multitasking abilities.
• Strong oral and written communication skills.
• Excellent interpersonal skills.
• Comfort leading a variety of outreach and recruitment efforts.

Compensation & Benefits

• Competitive salary: $65,000–80,000 (based on experience)
• Benefits package includes:

                     •Paid time off and paid Family & Medical Leave
                    •Health, dental, and vision insurance (for you and your family)
                    •Pension contribution
                    •Professional development allowance
                    •Temple membership
                    •Religious school and preschool tuition

To apply, please send a resume and letter of interest to Amy Carson and Sarah Larison at gpsdirectorsearch@oakparktemple.org. Preference will be given to candidates who apply by Friday, April 4th, 2025.

Consistent with our mission, Oak Park Temple is an equal opportunity employer. The congregation will not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, religion, age, sexual orientation, sex, national origin, ethnicity, citizenship, military status, marital status, physical or mental disability, or any other characteristic protected by law. It is the policy of the congregation that certain positions must be filled by persons of the Jewish faith as a bona fide occupational qualification. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment. All employees, regardless of position, are expected to maintain and contribute to this policy.