Director of Community Engagement, Temple Emanu-El (Dallas)

Reports To: Director of Congregational Engagement
Hours – Full Time

Position Summary:
The Director of Community Engagement is an integral member of the Education & Engagement team, an active partner with other Temple professionals, clergy, lay leaders, and members of our community. This position oversees three areas of engagement: 20s-30s (Atid) community, college-age constituents, and outreach (to connect with marginally involved congregants, unaffiliated individuals, and interfaith couples/families in the public space, and to welcome them into Temple). This position helps these individuals find meaning through Jewish living; they connect people to small groups, classes, and activities; they fortify their commitment to Jewish identity and connection to Temple.

Who you are:
• You have a passion and talent for people and are excited about engaging and developing Jewish lay leaders.
• You are an effective networker who easily develops and maintains relationships with a diverse set of people (a variety of ages, stages, and identities).
• You are an active listener and can move from listening to process planning to implementation.
• You are open to new and creative ideas and are excited by what the future of Jewish life holds for an increasingly diverse population.
• You possess strong written and verbal communications skills, the ability to manage multiple projects at one time; you take initiative, you are organized.
• You have experience in community organizing and 1-1 conversations or are willing to be trained in this skillset.

Areas of Responsibility, Each of Equal Importance:
Young Adult Engagement – (ATiD Dallas is the name of our 20s/30s initiative)
• In partnership with clergy and lay leaders, create and oversee various portals to engage young adults (ages 21-39) in our community that offer meaning, purpose and deep connection to the values of our tradition.
• Develop dynamic and relational engagement strategies that reach broadly throughout the greater Dallas young adult Jewish community.
• Partner with Moishe House, Jewish Federation, other area synagogues and Jewish organizations to foster community collaboration and connect individuals with opportunities that match their interests.
• Seek out, engage and inspire young adults who have yet to connect to the Dallas Jewish community.
• Identify, cultivate and develop young adult lay leaders; empower the ATiD steering committee members to lead and grow the ATiD community. Provide staff leadership for Young Adult Leadership Accelerator (beginning 2021-2022).
• Continually evaluate Temple’s approach to young adult engagement considering regional and national trends, in partnership with lay leadership and clergy.
• Work closely with Temple’s Director of Member Relations to connect and engage with prospective young adult members.

Outreach into the Greater Community & Judaism in Public Spaces–
• Provide staff leadership, energy, and vision to develop Jewish activities in public spaces.
• Understand Temple’s role in the broader Dallas Jewish community and develop strategies to reach unaffiliated or marginally affiliated Jews and their families.
• Cultivate connections with national and local professional groups that are learning about trends in synagogue life and membership, demographic changes, and creative engagement opportunities.
• Reinforce that Temple’s engagement continues to be welcoming for and inclusive of people in interfaith relationships.

College Engagement
• In partnership with the Director of Youth Engagement, cultivate teen lay leaders to assist in college connection as they transition out of high school. Track graduating seniors and develop relationships with them as they move beyond high school.
• Ensure that Temple has accurate contact information for graduates, in partnership with Temple’s Database Administrator.
• In partnership with college and parent lay leaders, develop initiatives to guide students and their families through a holistic connection and transition to Jewish living at college. This could include creative learning opportunities, small group connections, and collaborating with regional Hillel staff.

General Information about Education & Engagement Team Members:
The work of education and engagement is the primary function of all staff members, clergy, and lay leadership at Temple, as we strive to help every Temple member (and prospective member) develop a connection between other congregants, friends, family, Jewish community, Jewish people, the world, and God. Staff will help connect members with aspects of synagogue life that meet their spiritual and communal needs, through our core values of Prayer, Learning, Israel, Social Justice and Community. Members of the Engagement & Education Team are partners with clergy, lay leadership, and each other. We value each other’s opinions, respect each other’s time and pitch in during crunch times. Together we strive to make Temple a place of sacred encounters.

Education & Engagement Team Members Share Responsibility For:
Holiday & Shabbat Celebrations –
• Staffing of Shabbat and holiday services are distributed and shared among members of Temple staff. Work with appropriate staff and clergy to support Shabbat worship when agreed upon with your supervisor.
• Collaborate with volunteer committees, clergy liaison and other staff to plan and implement various holiday celebrations throughout the year. Specific holiday responsibilities are distributed and shared among members of Temple staff.
Leadership & Relationship Cultivation –
• Communicate and interact regularly with other teams and a wide array of members to build relationships and engage individuals in congregational life and leadership responsibilities.
• Coordinate with lay leaders, clergy, and staff to set goals in your areas of responsibility and translate them into action.
• Contribute toward the identification and cultivation of future Temple leaders.
Website and Communications –
• Utilize Temple, community communication and marketing tools to maximize access to Temple and community member participants.
• Maintain engagement opportunities and other pertinent information on the Temple website.
• Oversee and work with lay leaders, utilizing social media platforms that capture and promote experiences at Temple Emanu-El.
• Maintain social media and email presence for responsibility areas, including the ATiD website, Facebook, and Instagram.