Executive Director, Center Jewish Studies; U

About Berkeley

At the University of California, Berkeley, we are dedicated to fostering a community where everyone feels welcome and can thrive. Our culture of openness, freedom and belonging make it a special place for students, faculty and staff. As a world‑leading institution, Berkeley is known for its academic and research excellence, public mission, diverse student body, and commitment to equity and social justice.

Since our founding in 1868, we have driven innovation, creating global intellectual, economic and social value. We are looking for applicants who reflect California's diversity and want to be part of an inclusive, equity‑focused community that views education as a matter of social justice. Please consider whether your values align with our Guiding Values and Principles, Principles of Community, and Strategic Plan.

At UC Berkeley, we believe that learning is a fundamental part of working, and provide space for supportive colleague communities via numerous employee resource groups (staff organizations). Our goal is for everyone on the Berkeley campus to feel supported and equipped to realize their full potential. We actively support this by providing all of our full‑time staff employees with at least 80 hours (10 days) of paid time per year to engage in professional development activities.

The Center for Jewish Studies is a diverse and interdisciplinary new initiative center (NIC) administered through the Arts & Humanities Division in the College of Letters & Science. It is led by an appointed faculty director and has approximately 21 senate faculty and 15 affiliated faculty from departments across campus. There are 19 graduate students pursuing a Designated Emphasis in Jewish Studies and 18 undergraduate students pursuing the Jewish Studies Minor.

In addition to classes, the Center hosts postdoctoral visiting scholars and visiting faculty who augment both course offerings and public lectures; sponsors an annual series of endowed lectures and collaborates with several affiliated campus units in co‑sponsoring a broad range of programming. The center is home to the Antisemitism Education Initiative which promotes antisemitism awareness and education at Berkeley, at colleges and universities across California, and nationwide.

First Review Date:
April 17, 2026

• Oversees general management of the Center for Jewish Studies. Supports the faculty director, faculty affiliates, and/or administrators. Provides recommendations to guide and support a broader strategic direction for the organization. Performs ad hoc, analytical studies on a wide variety of policies, programs and issues which are complex in nature. Conducts post‑implementation analysis to determine the need for further enhancements, finer distinctions and/or additional process/policy components.
• Researches and drafts proposals, reports, briefings and executive summaries. The position requires creative interaction with the array of programs and processes at the University of California, Berkeley in support of Center activities. Focus on all aspects of implementing the Center’s strategic direction, including developing internal programs and processes, analyzing and working creatively within existing campus structures and processes, and generating new relationships with the range of departments and administrative units across campus.
  
  As needed, conducts research on programs at this campus, other UC campuses, and universities both in and outside of the US regarding the teaching and administration of Jewish studies. The creative endeavors described above will help define the program and activities of the Center.
• Audience members could include the Center directors, the Center's faculty membership, the undergraduate and graduate students in the Jewish Studies degree programs, the campus academic community, senior campus administrators, and external partners of the Center.
• Initiate communications and workflows with CJS faculty to fulfill programmatic elements of the Center which includes the administration and implementation of committee decisions and actions related to the…