Associate Director of National Leadership Initiatives

Job Description

Department: Center for Small Town Jewish Life

Pay Rate Type: Salary

Employee Type: Job Summary:

The Associate Director of National Leadership Initiatives supports the development and implementation of programs that strengthen leadership capacity within small-town Jewish communities across the United States. Working in close collaboration with and under the supervision of the Director of National Leadership Initiatives, this role focuses on training lay leaders, fostering peer networks, and connecting communities to national and global resources.

The Associate Director plays a key role in building relationships with community leaders and partner organizations, helping to ensure that small town Jewish communities are supported through relevant, accessible, and responsive programming. This position also contributes to expanding the visibility and impact of the Center for Small Town Jewish Life by strengthening the connections between local communities and broader Jewish communal organizations.

This position may be performed remotely in accordance with Colby College policies, with periodic travel to Maine required.

To be successful in this position, an individual should be able to perform the essential duties and bring the education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities that support the role. Colby College supports the Americans with Disabilities Act and is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position. This list of duties is intended to be representative rather than exhaustive, and additional responsibilities may be assigned as needed.

• Develop and implement training programs that support lay leaders in small-town Jewish communities
• Design and facilitate learning experiences that enhance leadership effectiveness and community sustainability
• Evaluate program outcomes and recommend improvements to strengthen impact

• Facilitate programs and initiatives that foster relationships among leaders of small-town Jewish communities
• Build and maintain relationships with community leaders to support ongoing engagement and collaboration
• Identify emerging needs within communities and help shape responsive programming

• Support community leaders in accessing national and global Jewish communal resources relevant to local challenges
• Cultivate and maintain relationships with national and global Jewish organizations
• Collaborate with partner organizations to expand their capacity to effectively serve small town Jewish communities

• Manage administrative and operational tasks associated with national leadership initiatives
• Coordinate program logistics, communications, and participant engagement
• Maintain accurate records and support reporting efforts related to program activities

• Participate actively in Center staff meetings and contribute to cross-program collaboration
• Serve as an educator or facilitator in Center programming when appropriate
• Represent the Center for Small Town Jewish Life in public facing contexts as needed
• Engage in ongoing professional development

• Master’s degree in a relevant field, or equivalent in professional experience
• 3-5 years of experience in leadership development, education, Jewish communal service, or a related field
• Experience working with or within small-town Jewish communities preferred
• Strong program development and facilitation skills
• Ability to build relationships across diverse communities and stakeholders
• Excellent interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills
• Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively within a team structure
• Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple priorities
• Cultural competence and commitment to fostering inclusive community environments

The physical demands and work environment characteristics described herein are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform essential functions of this position and/or may be encountered while performing essential functions. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• To perform this role effectively, an employee is expected to handle employee information, documents, and sensitive matters with care, professionalism, and respect for privacy.
• This position involves working with a variety of timelines, including some that require quick turnaround and responsiveness to urgent needs.
• In this role, the employee will interact with members of the public and others in a variety of situations and conversations. Presenting oneself in a professional, respectful, and thoughtful manner at all times is an important part of the role.
• This position…