Executive Director, RootOne

Position Specification

Title: Executive Director, Root One

Organization: The Jewish Education Project

Location: New York, NY Preferred

Root One is a leading initiative dedicated to expanding participation in and strengthening the impact of immersive Israel travel experiences for North American Jewish teens. Through strategic investments, educational innovation, and partnerships, Root One helps thousands of young people each year participate in transformative, identity-building experiences that deepen their connection to Israel and the Jewish people and prepare them to navigate and engage confidently in campus and community life.

Working with a broad network of youth organizations, educational institutions, camps, communities, and travel providers across North America and Israel, Root One has become a driving force in teen Israel engagement. Through its voucher program, Root One expands access for thousands of Jewish teens each year while advancing the field through research, educational innovation, and thought leadership.

Powered by The Jewish Education Project, Root One was seeded by a generous gift from The Marcus Foundation and is sustained by a growing community of philanthropic partners.

At a pivotal moment for Israel engagement and identity building, Root One seeks an entrepreneurial and visionary leader to serve as its next Executive Director.

The Executive Director will provide strategic and operational leadership for an approximately $35M initiative at the vanguard of efforts to strengthen the connection between Jewish teens, Israel, and Jewish life. Leading a talented team across North America and Israel, this individual will foster innovation, elevate Root One's profile, and serve as its primary representative and advocate across the Jewish communal landscape.

Reporting to the CEO of The Jewish Education Project, the Executive Director will lead Root One's next phase of growth and impact, advancing an ambitious vision while overseeing operations. Working closely with leading philanthropic, educational, and communal partners across North America and Israel, this individual will strengthen the partnerships, influence, and organizational capacity needed to expand Root One's reach, deepen its impact, and further establish it as a leading force in teen Israel engagement.

Key Leadership Areas Include:

• Shape and advance Root One's vision and strategy, deepening its impact, expanding its reach, strengthening its communal influence, and further establishing Root One as a household name in teen Israel engagement.
• Partner closely with organizational leadership, funders, and key stakeholders to align priorities, drive execution, and maximize organizational and field-wide impact.
• Drive ambitious, research-informed growth in participation and long-term impact, expanding opportunities for more Jewish teens to experience transformative Israel travel.

• Serve as Root One’s chief public ambassador, elevating its visibility, brand recognition, and influence across Jewish communal, educational, philanthropic, and Israel engagement sectors.
• Build and strengthen strategic relationships with major funders, foundations, communal leaders, and partners, cultivating support and resources to sustain continued growth and impact.
• Convene and inspire diverse partners around a shared vision for teen Israel engagement, fostering collaboration, innovation, and collective impact across the field.

• Lead, develop, and inspire a high-performing team while building the talent, culture, and organizational capacity to support Root One’s growth, effectiveness, and long-term success.
• Partner with organizational leadership and key stakeholders to strengthen Root One’s governance and advisory structures in support of strategic priorities and long-term impact.
• Provide executive oversight of operations, planning, budgeting, and performance management, ensuring strong execution, cross-functional alignment, and measurable results.