Director, Inclusive Jewish Programs for Neurodivergent Children - Adults

OurSpaceLA offers a full spectrum of Jewish experiences that enable children, teens and adults with special needs, unique and diverse abilities (who are neuro-divergent) to actively embrace Judaism as a meaningful way of life. Participants learn about Shabbat, Jewish holidays, customs, traditions, prayer and values. They celebrate holidays, life-cycle events, and other important milestones. The variety of program opportunities offered enables participants to create lifelong friendships and together they are empowered to become active and contributing members of the larger Jewish community.

OurSpaceLA is a program of Valley Beth Shalom, a warm, welcoming, vibrant Conservative Synagogue in the city of Encino, with more than 1,200 families and nearly 75 years of meaningful Jewish engagement. VBS is seeking a dynamic, outgoing, and strategic special education and Jewish professional to serve as the Director of the OurSpaceLA program, focused on growth and innovation.

Essential duties and responsibilities include the following:

• Administer and plan all weekly, monthly and annual programs, including calendaring, organizing facilities, materials and resources, budgeting and fundraising for special events
• Develop a curriculum that follows an informal Jewish experiential, educational approach for the OurSpaceLA Shaare Tikva classes, the Artistic Spectrum of Jewish Learning Adult Program, the bi-monthly Kolot Tikva choir, and events for the monthly B’Yachad Bet social group
• Re-open a weekly Tuesday afternoon Learning Space Class for children with learning differences
• Support families and participants through the b’nai mitzvah process and help to create a meaningful service/ Jewish life-cycle experience for all
• Hiring, training, supervising, and evaluating the OurSpaceLA staff and volunteers
• Conduct regular staff meetings, training and briefings
• Recruit, train, supervise and evaluate volunteers in the OurSpaceLA program
• Responsible for recruitment and intake of participants for all programs
• Represent OurSpaceLA in community committees, functions and programs to enhance its visibility and attract families and resources
• Coordinate, and lead the monthly Sunday morning or weekday evening Parent/Grandparent meetings. This includes helping parents navigate the systems, learning about resources available to them, connecting them with therapists, advocates, Jewish camps, and bringing in professionals when needed.
• Make a positive difference in the lives of students/participants who are neurodivergent and their families
• Build relationships with participants and families
• Fundraising, grant writing and evaluation to ensure operational sustainability
• Build and maintain strong relationships and partnerships with funders, donors, and agencies
• Work closely with year round Jewish programs to allow for participants to engage in and embrace living a Jewish life outside of OSLA
• Instill a love of Judaism that remains with them wherever their life journeys take them

Qualifications & Skills:

• M.S. Degree in Special Education or related field that includes a range of knowledge about Neurodiversity/ Special Need, Unique and Diverse Abilities.
• Experience with informal and/or formal education and teaching children, teens and adults with special needs.
• Ability to hire teachers and coordinators with a variety of backgrounds in special education and/or other related fields such as OT, PT, Music, Art and Dance Therapists, Speech and Language professionals, Mental Health professionals, and/or hire people with teaching credentials in Early Childhood Education with an emphasis on the Reggio Emilia Approach, or trained in Floortime as well as those with Judaic/Hebrew background, experience and certification.
• Understand various communication devices and systems that are increasingly being used
• Ability to communicate with Regional Centers, Behaviorists, Support Staff, Therapists, OT, Speech and Language Pathologists, Assisted Technology and Facilitated Communication professional, etc.
• Basic Fundraising skills and ability to write grant proposals and reports
• Excellent customer service skills and ability to make people feel heard and valued
• Professional and tactful interpersonal skills with the ability to interact with a variety of personalities
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Strong leadership and supervisory skills
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail

Compensation: $40,000-75,000, depending on part time or full-time
Reports to: Senior Rabbi & Executive Director
Hours: 20-40 hours per week, Part-time or Full-Time, Some evenings and most Sundays required
Direct Reports: Part-Time Administrator