Job Description - Youth Director

Position Summary

Young Israel of East Brunswick’s Youth Director is responsible for the overall management and development of youth programming for the shul. The ultimate goal of the Youth Director is to foster among local youth a greater connection to Jewish community, YIEB, and Torah observance. This position is accountable for developing and leading a successful Youth Program comprising diverse activities for various age groups and levels of observance while working closely with the Rabbi, shul employees and the lay leadership. The Youth Director is a role model for Jewish values and the promotion of Jewish identity.

Responsibilities:

Leadership and Programming

Create organized, fun and engaging Shabbat and Yom Tov Groups with “curriculum” and refreshed material for all groups/programs including early drop off
Train Shabbat Group leaders and constantly supply them with the support and materials they need to successfully run their program
Oversee Teen Minyan
Increase participation by creating incentives to maximize participation
Create leadership development opportunities for the youth leaders and students
Create exciting, fun and engaging educational & social programming outside of Shabbat for each age group, including pre-holiday programming (6-8 programs per year per age group)
Work with the Rabbi and lay leadership to organize 1-2 onegei Shabbatot per month for Middle School and High School
Organize Shabbat lunches and/or Friday night dinners for specific age groups
Work with lay leadership to provide fun adult programming up to four times per year to engage adults and raise money for youth programming
Special family and youth programming around the Jewish holidays (including Rosh Hashana, Sukkot, Simchat Torah, Chanuka, Purim, Pesach, Shavuot, and Tisha B’Av.)
Coordinate High Holiday programming
Revitalize Middle School and High School Youth Boards; manage and meet with each group once per month.
Utilize high school students to create and run programs for younger children
Work with local synagogues in organizing community-wide events
Work with other committees within YIEB to provide youth programming alongside other shul functions and events
Provide an open and inviting home to the synagogue youth including hosting Shabbat and chagim
Communication

Create a yearly calendar of events that is publicized in a variety of ways including, but not limited to, the shul website, shul calendar, newsletter, weekly email, flyers, What’s App, and social media.
Publicize individual events and market the events at least four weeks in advance, where possible.
Develop materials to promote events and foster relationships through a range of mediums from in-person conversation to social media
Create visually appealing, streamlined flyers and posters for marketing purposes
Maintain regular communication with synagogue administrative supervisors (such as Youth Chair(s) and the Rabbi)
Manage communication channels with parents
Coordinate with all external partners including, but not limited to NCSY, Bnei Akiva, Torah Links, Federation/Jteen, AIPAC, and PJ Library
Management and Administration

Manage the annual budget for all Youth programming
Staff programs and events with older youths, volunteers, or teachers from the community
Develop a handbook and calendar for Youth activities
Together with the Youth Committee and synagogue staff, evaluate programming on an ongoing basis to ensure that the Youth program is meeting its goals
Track group leader working hours
Submit payroll chart within a week of the last Shabbat of each month to the YIEB Shul Office
Liaise with the Security Committee to ensure proper security protocols are met with all youth programming and events (including wearing a security earpiece on Shabbat, helping to run drills and train group leaders)
Requirements:

Minimum of two years proven success leading a youth program in a synagogue or similar, including accountability for developing and delivering programs on own initiative
Experience in teaching and/or informal education
Torah knowledge sufficient to deliver youth programs within an Orthodox synagogue
Excellent written and verbal English communication skills
Ability to communicate and work with a wide range of people
Computer literacy, including Microsoft Office, email, Canva (or similar), and social networking
Ability to create visually appealing, streamlined flyers for marketing purposes
Strong leadership skills, dynamism, enthusiasm, and charisma
Demonstrated ability to engage youth
Capacity to act as a role model by engaging with youth in a manner that is professional and consistent with Jewish values
Excellent organizational skills including time and stress management
Willingness to learn and receive feedback
This position reports to the Youth Chair(s) and works alongside the Youth Committee and the Rabbi. The role is estimated to require an average of 23 hours per week (including Shabbat mornings and afternoons, Sundays and weekdays and nights.) Salary is commensurate with experience.