Position Announcement: Executive Director for Kol Hadash, Northern California Community for Humanistic Judaism

Summary:
Kol Hadash is seeking an Executive Director to assume shared responsibility for the planning, execution, and follow-up of programming; nurturing and growing the organization; and representing the community together with the Board of Directors and other volunteers. The position is one-third time with a salary of $25,000 per year.

Background:
Kol Hadash (“New Voice” in Hebrew) was founded in 1987 under the congregational model of Humanistic Judaism founded by Rabbi Sherwin Wine. Kol Hadash celebrates Jewish identity and culture consistent with a humanistic philosophy without reference to supernatural authority. Kol Hadash is a member of the Society for Humanistic Judaism (shj.org for more information), an international group of Jewish Humanist organizations. We offer member-led unique High Holidays, Passover, monthly Shabbats, and other ritual observances, as well as speaker and video programs that reinforce Jewish and humanist values. Our community actively supports the advancement of social justice, science, and rational thought.

Members also lead special interest groups including a Discussion Group, Book Club, and “Lunch Bunch.” Our current membership is mostly post-retirement age. Kol Hadash is a 501(c)(3) non-profit based in Berkeley, California (kolhadash.org for more information).

Organizational Vision:
Kol Hadash aims to provide a Jewish humanist voice to the broader Bay Area Jewish and non-Jewish communities, and supports robust Jewish identity amongst atheist, agnostic, and/or previously unaffiliated Jews in the San Francisco Bay Area. We intend to grow so that our membership becomes younger and doubles in numbers (currently 37 households) over the next two years due to better marketing and expanded programming that appeal to younger households.

Duties:
The primary responsibility of the Executive Director is to assure smooth, gracious, professional, and sustainable operation of all aspects of the organization.

The duties, summarized below, may vary based on the background of the person selected, the level of volunteer engagement, and status of Covid-19 restrictions on in-person meetings. The Executive Director and the Board of Directors will work together to prioritize and assure that assigned tasks are consistent with the agreed-upon time commitment.
• Nurture and grow our organization using any of a variety of means (e.g., increase membership/participation, fundraising) such that it is financially and organizationally sustainable.
• Encourage participation of existing and prospective Kol Hadash members and volunteers.
• Work with the Board and volunteers to plan and carry out existing celebrations, observances, and programs; innovate appropriate new activities; and assure that all of our tasks and commitments are fulfilled.
• Fill in “in a pinch” on anything required when necessary.
• Liaise, and serve as our primary contact, in developing relationships with other Jewish, Humanist, and other communities.
• Maintain archived information and current records.
Additional details on individual programs, officers, committees, and volunteers are summarized in our Kol Hadash “Operating Manual,” which is available upon request.

Remuneration:
The Executive Director will be a one-third-time employee with a salary of $25,000/year. The Executive Director will work primarily out of their own home and supply their appropriate computer hardware and software, car/local transportation, and Internet service provider.

Qualifications:
Basic requirements:
• Knowledge of the history, culture, and observances of the Jewish people.
• Knowledge of, and commitment to, the philosophy of Humanistic Judaism.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Able to patiently, efficiently, and graciously coalesce input and opinions from a diverse group of members.
• Computer savvy, familiar with basic office software (e.g., MS Word, Excel), online communication via Zoom, and experience with social media.

The Ideal Candidate:
• Experience in non-profit management, fundraising, and event planning.
• Connections or background in the local or national Jewish community.
• Experience growing membership and participant base in a non-profit.
• Experience in developing and implementing strategic initiatives.
• Ability to manage, mediate, and resolve conflicts, coupled with an ability to promote constructive interpersonal communication and dynamics.

For further information or to apply: Email a cover letter, resume, and other supporting material to: Search Committee, Robyn Raymer, Kol Hadash President, at robynraymer@aol.com.

Screening of applications will begin January 18, 2021 and continue until a suitable applicant is hired.