JewishColumbus Is Hiring A Manager Israel & Overseas

The Israel & Overseas Manager plays a pivotal role in strengthening Jewish community ties with Israel through program leadership, community engagement, and international partnerships.

Position Overview

The Israel & Overseas Manager is a key member of JewishColumbus’s Impact Department, responsible for leading the planning, implementation, and expansion of the Shinshinim (Israeli teen emissaries) program and fostering community partnerships with Israel. Reporting to the Director of Israel & Overseas, the Manager oversees the community-wide Shinshinim program, which is central to enhancing Israel engagement across Columbus. This role involves program leadership, stakeholder relationship management, curricular development, and strategic coordination to align with JewishColumbus’s mission and values.

The Manager collaborates closely with schools, synagogues, the JCC, youth organizations, and community partners to embed Shinshinim and P2G programs into meaningful educational and experiential opportunities. Through these efforts, the Manager aims to foster person-to-person connections that deepen understanding of Israeli society and strengthen enduring relationships between the Columbus Jewish community and Israel.

Essential Functions

Shinshinim Program Leadership

• 🔹 Lead the planning, coordination, and ongoing management of the Shinshinim program, ensuring successful integration across community institutions and programs.
• 🔹 Supervise and mentor two Shinshinim, providing guidance in their personal, professional, and leadership development while supporting their well-being throughout their year in Columbus.
• 🔹 Offer professional guidance on program planning, curriculum development, and community engagement through regular meetings and mentorship.
• 🔹 Oversee program logistics, including scheduling, transportation, and calendar management to facilitate effective community engagement.
• 🔹 Recruit, train, and support host families, maintaining strong relationships and clear communication during the program year.
• 🔹 Serve as the primary liaison with The Jewish Agency for Israel regarding the Shinshinim program.

Community Engagement & Israel Education

• 🔹 Build and maintain strategic partnerships with schools, synagogues, youth organizations, camps, and community agencies to enhance Israel engagement opportunities.
• 🔹 Guide the development and implementation of educational and experiential programming in collaboration with community partners.
• 🔹 Lead and support major community-wide Israel-related events and commemorations, including Yom Ha’atzmaut, Yom Hazikaron, and October 7 remembrance programs.
• 🔹 Represent JewishColumbus and its Israel engagement initiatives in community forums, educational settings, and public programs.

Partnership2Gether (P2G) & Israel Partnerships

• 🔹 Play a key role in JewishColumbus’s Partnership2Gether (P2G) initiatives connecting Columbus with Kfar Saba.
• 🔹 Lead the planning and execution of select P2G programs alongside lay leaders, partner agencies, and Israeli counterparts.
• 🔹 Develop project plans outlining goals, timelines, budgets, and coordinate with Israeli partners to support program success.
• 🔹 Assist in coordinating P2G delegations visiting Columbus, including scheduling, community engagement, and host family arrangements.

Program Management, Evaluation & Operations

• 🔹 Develop program goals, success metrics, and evaluation methods to measure impact and guide future initiatives.
• 🔹 Utilize data and technology tools to support engagement tracking, planning, and recruitment.
• 🔹 Continually assess programs and strategies, providing insights and recommendations to enhance community impact and organizational learning.
• 🔹 Manage program budgets, invoices, reimbursements, and related documentation in line with organizational policies.
• 🔹 Support communication and outreach efforts related to Israel engagement, maintaining information across communication channels.

Qualifications

• 🎓 Bachelor’s degree in Jewish Studies, Communications, Marketing, or a related field; Master’s preferred.
• 📝 3–5 years experience in Israel engagement or a related area.
• 🗣️ Strong written and oral communication skills, with a deep understanding of the Jewish community and Israeli culture, history, and trends.
• 🤝 Proven ability to mentor young adults, especially teens living away from home, with an emphasis on well-being and growth.
• 💼 Skills in building trust, setting expectations, and maintaining healthy boundaries.
• 🤔 Sound judgment, emotional intelligence, discretion, and the ability to serve as a trusted support point.
• 🗂️ Strong program coordination skills, including scheduling, logistics, transportation, and calendar management.
• 🔄 Ability to manage multiple concurrent tasks with attention to detail.
• 📊 Experience in establishing goals, metrics, evaluation, and impact reporting.
• 💻 Competence in developing project plans with clear objectives, timelines, budgets, and roles.
• 💰 Budget management experience, including invoices and reimbursements.
• 🌍 Experience working with diverse populations, including international backgrounds or non-native English speakers.
• 🚀 Self-motivated, proactive, and able to work independently and collaboratively.
• 🗣️ Proficiency in Hebrew is a plus.
• ✈️ Willingness to travel internationally (about 1–2 trips/year) and work evenings or weekends as needed.

Work Environment & Schedule

• 🏢 Hybrid work setting with on-site presence required Tuesday through Thursday.
• 🕒 Evening and weekend availability necessary.
• 🌍 Some travel may be required for site visits, meetings, special programs, and professional development activities.