Executive Director

Central Florida Hillel

Role Overview

Shape Jewish campus life at the University of Central Florida Hillel.  We seek a visionary leader who embraces challenges, enjoys shaping a team, and strives to partner with staff and students to create a meaningful Jewish life. With one of North America's largest Jewish student populations (6,000+), a great facility, and the support of a strong Jewish community, we have the capacity to continue to reach and engage with more Jewish students each year. The right Executive Director will harness these assets to write the next chapter of our story—one that matches the scale of our ambitions with a sustainable, meaningful impact. This role encourages creative thinking and offers the opportunity to execute a bold vision that can reimagine Jewish campus engagement through conversations with students, staff, and campus partners. If you're energized by the prospect of continuing to elevate and transform one of the leading Hillels in the country, this transformative leadership opportunity awaits.

What You’ll Do

Strategy & Vision:

• Inspire and organize pluralistic, diverse Jewish life on campus, supporting students with various Jewish backgrounds and interests.
• Lead strategic planning efforts with the Board, managing financial responsibilities within the approved budget.
• Cultivate relationships with campus departments, campus religious organizations, and the local community.
• Foster connections between UCF Hillel, the International Hillel movement, and other national initiatives and programs.

Fundraising & Financial Management:

• Implement a comprehensive annual development plan in partnership with our Development Director, overseeing donor relations and engagement.
• Personally engage in donor solicitation, manage relationships with granting organizations, and identify/bring in innovative revenue streams for program growth and expansion.
• Identify and manage grant application activity for the organization.
• Oversee the facility,  budgeting, financial management, processing bills, contributions, and payroll.
• Manage the facility, oversee UCF tenant relationships, address operational needs, and oversee improvements and maintenance.

Student Engagement:

• Establish a warm, welcoming community that promotes student leadership and personal growth.
• Work collaboratively to create programming with other religious organizations on campus.
• Work with staff to establish Hillel as a safe space for students, providing security and addressing antisemitism and anti-Israel activities on campus.
• Encourage pluralism by embracing all expressions of Jewish religious practice.

Leadership & Development:

• Inspire, hire, develop, and mentor a professional team that fosters pluralism, inclusivity, and student leadership development.
• Cultivate a positive work environment, delegate effectively, and support staff in personal and professional development.
• Develop and maintain close collaborative relationships with Board and committee members.

Stakeholder & External Relations:

• Maintain and strengthen relationships with stakeholders, including the board, student and University leaders, Jewish community leaders in Orlando and South Florida, alumni, donors, and parents nationwide.
• Collaborate with campus organizations to enhance student engagement across diverse programs and platforms.

What You’ve Accomplished

• Demonstrated leadership in nonprofit or higher education settings, with a track record of innovation and sustainable growth. Experience in Hillel or organizations focused on Jewish communal work is an asset.
• Managed teams of professionals, enabling them to reach their full potential.
• Implemented sound financial management practices, including budgeting, cost controls, and regular reporting to an oversight committee or board.
• Contributed to the development and training of board leadership.
• Participated in fundraising campaigns, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding donors. 
• Built relationships with key stakeholders and influential leaders, especially within education or nonprofit spaces.

What You’ll Bring to the Job

• Minimum of 8 years of professional experience, with at least three years in a leadership role in a Jewish or secular nonprofit, higher education, or related organization.
• Bachelor's degree required; Master's degree or higher preferred.
• Proven success in strategic planning, team management, fiscal oversight, and development.
• Strong communication and organizational skills, attention to detail, and a commitment to excellence.
• Ability to create a space for diverse perspectives and ensure all student voices are heard.
• Creative problem-solving and inspiring presence.
• Proactive communication and collaboration across offices and agencies.
• Expertise in leading conversations about Judaism and Israel in an approachable way.
• Appreciation and passion for working with college-age students and stakeholders in a university setting.

What You’ll Receive

• A competitive nonprofit salary ranging from $140,000 to $160,000, depending on experience
• Comprehensive benefits package
• Relocation assistance available
• Support from Hillel International’s Campus Support Director.
• 100% paid professional development opportunities, including conferences and regional meetings
• 100% paid travel regionally and abroad, particularly to Israel

About Central Florida Hillel

Central Florida Hillel (CFH) is a cornerstone of the Orlando Jewish community, enjoying robust local support and recognition. CFH serves one of North America's largest Jewish campus populations—approximately 6,000 Jewish students.

Our facility is uniquely positioned inside a premium 600-bed student apartment complex directly across from campus. Not only is the campus residence a place where our students can both live and congregate, but the financial arrangement between Hillel and the residence hall is both unique and financially supportive to  Hillel. For the students, the Residence offers a resort-style outdoor pool, beach volleyball courts, a rooftop bar, a sun deck with an outdoor movie theater, a relaxing sauna, and a kosher restaurant.

Our host institution, the University of Central Florida (UCF), has transformed from its 1963 founding as Florida Technological University into the second-largest university in the United States, serving almost 70,000 students. UCF's commitment to innovation has earned it recognition from U.S. News and World Report as one of the nation's most innovative schools.

Join our team and help shape the Jewish future at this exceptional campus community at the forefront of Jewish student engagement.

Life in Orlando

Orlando's Jewish heritage spans over a century, and approximately 50,000 Jews now call this vibrant metropolitan area home. The Jewish community's cultural heartbeats in Maitland, where key Jewish organizations form a connected ecosystem of Jewish life. Explore more at www.shalomorlando.org

Nestled in Florida's sun-drenched center and neighboring iconic attractions like Walt Disney World and Universal Studios, Orlando has secured its position as America's #1 travel destination.

Charming neighborhoods like Lake Eola, Mills 50, Winter Park, and Thornton Park invite residents with their farm-to-table restaurants, craft breweries, cozy cafés, vibrant farmers' markets, and dynamic nightlife—all making Orlando living surprisingly affordable and deeply satisfying.

Orlando's economic landscape continues to flourish, leading Florida, along with Miami,  in job creation. The city's international airport—one of the nation's busiest—provides direct connections to major U.S. cities and countless global destinations, making travel effortless for residents and visitors alike.

Jewish residents of the Orlando area have access to two community centers,  Jewish Day Schools, many synagogues offering options for a diverse Jewish community, Shalom Orlando (a variation of a Jewish Federation), and a Holocaust Education and Resource Center. The Jewish community is vibrant, extensive, and diverse.

Florida's financial advantages, including zero state income tax and generous homeowner benefits, make the "Sunshine State" increasingly attractive for relocation. Residents enjoy:

* A pulsing downtown cultural scene, including the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts

* World-class entertainment at Disney, Universal, and beyond

* Easy access to Cape Canaveral's space coast

* The country's second-busiest convention center

* Breathtaking beaches on both the Atlantic and Gulf coasts, all within a 45-minute to two-hour drive

Experience the perfect blend of professional opportunity, cultural richness, and recreational paradise in Orlando—where Jewish community life thrives under year-round sunshine.