Temple Beth El in Portland seeks Executive Director

Located in Portland, Maine, and founded in 1947, Temple Beth El (TBE) is a major regional center of Conservative Judaism north of Boston and the largest Conservative Jewish congregation in Maine with a membership of approximately 300 families. TBE encompasses the synagogue, a religious school (Kadima Beth El), a community cemetery, and relationships with various partners and building tenants including the Levey Day School and the Orthodox congregation Shaarey Tphiloh. The synagogue owns a 21,000 square-foot building built in 1948 and is staffed by approximately 7 FTEs including a full-time Rabbi, Executive Director (ED), an Events/Operation Manager, part-time educators, administrative associates, custodial staff, communications specialists, etc., plus an outsourced bookkeeping service that handles day-to-day financial operations and reporting.

Temple Beth El (TBE) is currently seeking a skilled, committed, and creative individual with a passion for serving a mission-driven community to fill the critical role of Executive Director (ED). We are excited to identify an experienced and collaborative leader who can serve a multi-constituency congregation; organize, inspire, and motivate staff; foster a culture of respect and inclusivity; and continue the tradition of outstanding professionalism necessary for success in this role. The ED will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of the organization as it transitions from our retiring Rabbi to a new spiritual leader. This individual will also assist the Board in further evolving sound organizational operating and financial principles for long-term sustainability.

The right Executive Director candidate must possess a solid understanding of synagogue life, experience in managing staff, operations, and finances for a membership organization, and the temperament to interface effectively across diverse generations, perspectives, and traditions. They will demonstrate a genuine interest/passion for Jewish life and community. TBE’s next ED must also effectively integrate “best practice” principles in guiding the synagogue through inevitable changes in the environment so that it may continue to thrive.

Successful candidates will preferably be college-educated but will be seriously considered if equivalent skills can be demonstrated. Ideally, this individual will have a minimum of 5 years of leadership/managerial experience. They will have the quantitative and analytical skills to support sound decision-making as well as computer skills, social media savvy, and the ability to communicate clearly in writing and in person.

Temple Beth El has retained the services of ZurickDavis to assist in this search. A full description is available at the current engagements tab of www.ZurickDavis.com. We invite interested parties to send a cover letter and resume to: TBE-ED-2413 [at] zurickdavis.com For additional information, please contact Myranne Janoff or Amanda McCarthy (Amanda.McCarthy [at] zurickdavis.com) at 781.938.1975. We also welcome and appreciate confidential referrals of potential candidates or sources through our web capture tool or by email or phone. All contact with our office will remain confidential.