Assistant Director

Minnesota Hillel

Role Overview

Make your mark on Jewish student life by joining Minnesota Hillel as the Assistant Director. You will drive Hillel forward by thinking big and implementing with excellence on a day-to-day basis. As you lead people and programs, you’ll help every student on campus connect to Jewish life, learning, and Israel. Reporting to the Executive Director, the Assistant Director provides day-to-day leadership for student engagement strategy, staff management, and program execution, ensuring that Minnesota Hillel’s work is aligned with our mission and vision.

This role is ideal for a strong manager and connector: someone who can translate big-picture vision into operational, data-driven excellence, build systems that support staff and students, and cultivate meaningful relationships that lead to sustained student involvement. The Assistant Director will oversee key engagement and leadership pipelines, supervise early career professional staff, and ensure that Minnesota Hillel continues to meet students where they are while moving them toward deeper connection, leadership, and Jewish commitment.

What You’ll Do

• Design and execute an engagement strategy with the Executive Director to connect more than 70% of Jewish students at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities and our multi-campus ecosystem to Hillel’s mission.
• In partnership with the Executive Director, craft and implement a plan for programming and pluralistic Jewish education.
• Innovate and expand upon our student leadership structure to support robust program activities, Shabbat, holiday celebrations, and meaningful Jewish experiences.
• Supervise, mentor, and support the growth of two early-career staff members.
• Create and maintain strategic partnerships with the University community, including Student Affairs and Admissions, parents, alumni, and lay leaders.
• Staff Shabbat and holiday programming as required, assisting with discussions, rituals, and celebrations.
• Take the lead on recruiting and staffing Minnesota Hillel’s Perspectives trip to Israel.

On a Day-to-Day Basis You Will

• Recruit, supervise, and lead the student engagement team and other leadership council teams.
• Mentor and advise student leaders, supporting them in creating high-quality, student-driven programs and communities aligned with Minnesota Hillel’s mission and pillars.
• Connect with prospective students and their families, educating them on Jewish life at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities and schools across the state.
• Lead and create meaningful graduate student programming.
• Participate in ongoing Jewish learning and professional development.
• Staff and support alternative breaks and Taglit-Birthright Israel, including pre- and post-trip programs.
• Support the Development team and Executive Director in core fundraising activities, including donor relations, strategic fundraising conversations, and special events.
• Oversee the collection of our engagement data in partnership with Hillel International.

What You’ve Accomplished

• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree a plus.
• 5+ years of professional experience in Jewish communal work, higher education, experiential education, camping, or a related field. 
• Excellent supervision skills and demonstrated success managing staff, interns, or student employees.
• Proven track record in student engagement, leadership development, and community building.
• Creating structures and opportunities that assist and empower students to take initiative and ownership of their communities.
• Experience translating strategy into systems, structures, and measurable outcomes.
• Management of multiple projects while maintaining quality.
• Building relationships with leaders within education or the nonprofit space.

What You’ll Bring to the Job

• Knowledge of what makes people tick - you can connect people’s passions and interests to Hillel’s mission.
• Comfort in managing teams as well as working independently and collaboratively.
• An entrepreneurial spirit - things may not always go according to plan, but you understand that ambiguity is part of developing great new opportunities.
• Strong written and verbal skills, effective at communicating with a variety of stakeholders, including students, parents, alumnae/i, and university partners.
• ​​Ability in navigating complex conversations related to Jewish identity, community, and Israel.
• Excellent organizational, communication, and project-management skills.
• Strategic mindset paired with operational rigor—you can see the big picture and manage the details.
• A commitment to pluralism and comfort with your Jewish identity, so you may act as a role model and mentor for emerging Jewish adults.
• Owning your unique Jewish knowledge and experiences and inspiring others to be on a Jewish journey.

What You’ll Receive

• Competitive salary in the nonprofit marketplace. The salary range for this role is $75,000 - $85,000
• A comprehensive benefits package, including health insurance, retirement plan, Life, AD&D, and Long Term Disability (LTD) insurances, Flexible Spending accounts, generous vacation/sick time, and parental leave
• Great professional development, mentoring, and skill-building opportunities
• Travel regionally and abroad, particularly to Israel 
• Plenty of Hillel swag

About Minnesota Hillel

Minnesota Hillel is a vibrant Jewish student center serving multiple campuses across the state, offering a pluralistic and welcoming environment for Jewish life, exploration, and leadership development. Our work is grounded in meaningful relationships with students and brought to life through innovative programming centered on Shabbat, Jewish learning, Israel, social action, and community-building. As a member of the Minnesota Hillel staff, you will help create a true home away from home for students, one that celebrates diverse Jewish identities, fosters belonging, and empowers students to grow as leaders and lifelong learners. 

Minnesota Hillel is located in Minneapolis, directly across the street from the University of Minnesota–Twin Cities, placing staff at the center of a dynamic and highly livable metropolitan area. The Twin Cities offer an exceptional quality of life, with a strong sense of community, nationally recognized arts and culture, professional sports, and a diverse, award-winning food scene. From the iconic Minnesota State Fair to miles of lakes, parks, and bike trails, the region seamlessly blends urban energy with easy access to nature.

Minnesota Hillel is affiliated with Hillel International. Hillel International enriches the lives of Jewish students so they may enrich the Jewish people and the world, and envisions a world where every student is inspired to make an enduring commitment to Jewish life, learning and Israel.