Director of Scholarship

Job Description

The Director of Scholarship will play a critical role establishing Sacred Spaces as a thought leader working at the intersection of abuse prevention and Jewish learning.

The first year of this position will include partnership with the Director of Education on resource development as well as close mentorship with field experts, including regular feedback and opportunities for reflection and dialogue. In Year Two and beyond, the Director of Scholarship will leverage Sacred Spaces’ resources and knowledge as well as publications, education, and engagement strategies to engage the Jewish community in nuanced and complex conversations that explore the intersection of Jewish theology and abuse prevention and response. As a researcher, writer, and communicator, the Director of Scholarship will help make Sacred Spaces work accessible and engaging for the broader community. As a facilitator, convener, and educator, the Director of Scholarship will help leaders engage with this important content.

This is an exciting opportunity for an individual interested in joining a small group of innovative professionals as they work to create large-scale change in the Jewish community. The ideal candidate will be a skilled Jewish educator and adept researcher, exploring three core questions in Sacred Spaces work: How is this Jewish? How is this informed by existing research and best practices in the field? How is this user-friendly and accessible? They can design and deliver educational resources to engage a wide variety of audiences. They are a strategic thinker, experimenting with new methodologies to share Sacred Spaces’ expertise. They are a reliable project manager with excellent planning and time-management skills.

Responsibilities

Writing & Curriculum Development

• In Phase 1, partner with the President and the Director of Education in finalizing the materials and content for Sacred Spaces foundational resources, Aleinu and Keilim.
• Collaborate with Education & Consulting teams to ensure curriculum and services are in conversation with Jewish text and tradition.
• Edit Sacred Spaces’ public-facing communications to ensure consistency in educational tone and content.
• Draft newsletters, articles, op-eds, and blogs to communicate our educational content.

Convenings, Fellowships, Other Educational Opportunities

• In Phase 2, design, recruit for, and implement ongoing leadership trainings and convenings for Jewish communal professionals. The Director will take an active role in creating and testing Sacred Spaces’ leadership strategy, which may include fellowships, cohorts, think tanks, semester-long course partnerships with rabbinical seminaries, etc.
• Partner with the Director of Education to develop and implement additional education and training programs, determine key audiences, and outline a plan for increased impact of education activities.
• Serve as a facilitator and/or program faculty.

Research & Thought Leadership

• Develop a strategy and implement thought leadership modalities to expand Sacred Spaces’ reach in the community, which may include producing 1-2 test segments of a podcast, hosting panel discussions with leading experts in the field, writing position papers and other publications on issue specific topics such as peer-on-peer abuse, etc. This area of the role will grow over time as Phase 1 of the work is completed.
• Prioritize how and where to deploy the CEO, senior leaders, consultants, board, and program staff through writing, podcasts, speaking engagements, conferences, etc. to elevate Sacred Spaces as a leading voice in the field.
• Guide Sacred Spaces’ strategy for leveraging thought leadership pieces, publications, and open access resources to generate energy and engagement of an expanded audience.
• Monitor the field and emerging research for effective practices, new challenges, and insights to incorporate into Sacred Spaces’ curriculum and resources.
• Explore other innovative opportunities to bring Sacred Spaces’ expertise to new audiences.

Qualifications

• Exceptional written, oral, interpersonal, and presentation skills and the ability to interface with senior management, staff, and the public with attention to detail and ability to convey nuanced ideas.
• Significant research skills with the ability to synthesize complex material into digestible information for the broader public.
• 5+ years experience with curriculum design and facilitation. You are an impactful education who is able to communicate complex information in an approachable manner and can design content to fit the needs of program participants.
• Deep understanding of Jewish text and theology, including fluency and scholarship ability with Jewish text and practice. Rabbinic ordination or advanced degree in Jewish studies is desirable but not required.
• Self-reliant; a creative and innovative problem-solver with a positive, can-do attitude.
• Ability to adjust to dynamically changing priorities, manage multiple projects, innovate, learn new tools and processes, and pitch in where needed.
• Engaged, collaborative, and proactive; a team leader who can positively and productively impact both strategic and educational initiatives.
• Willingness to travel 7-10 times per year.
• Experience with Jewish communal non-profit organizations and/or deep knowledge and familiarity across North American Jewish denominations, with openness and respect for diversity of values, culture, and Jewish practice. Experience working with Orthodox institutions and communities is strongly desired.

Sacred Spaces believes strongly that all applicants, including Sephardi and Mizrahi Jews, Black, Indigenous, or Other People of Color, people of all abilities, people of all religions, and LGBTQI people should be considered fairly for employment opportunities regardless of identity. We are most interested in finding the best candidate for the job, and we recognize that the best candidate may have different qualifications from those listed above. This position could also be an opportunity for someone with experience in one of these areas to build skills in another area. If you believe you are poised to excel at this important work, we encourage you to apply!

Application Process

Please send an email with the subject “Director of Scholarship,” including resume, cover letter, and a writing sample created in the past five years to Jobs@JewishSacredSpaces.org. We use the term “writing sample” broadly to refer to something you have already written and are not creating special for this application. We are most interested in examples of research or white papers, articles, curricula, facilitator’s guides, text-based learning source guides, or publications in which you were the sole or lead drafter; if you have something different that you want us to see, feel free to submit; please be clear on what you contributed to the submission. If you’re uncertain about what to submit, you may reach out and ask. The cover letter should include descriptions of positions with relevant experience and demonstration of successful expertise in the core demands of the position. Deadline to submit an application is March 19, 2025. Applications received after the deadline will be reviewed on a rolling basis if the position has not been filled.

The full hiring process additionally includes:

• Round 1: Brief one-way video screen.
• Round 2: Select candidates will be invited to a Zoom interview with Sacred Spaces’ team member(s).
• Round 3: Select candidates will be invited to complete a short written assignment. Candidates who complete this assignment will receive a $400 honorarium in recognition of their work. We estimate that the assignment will take between 4-6 hours.
• Round 4: Following our review of these written assignments, a select number of candidates will be invited for a final-round interview. Finalists provide names and contact information for reference checks and resume verification. After a candidate receives a conditional offer, they are invited to interview any Sacred Spaces staff or a board member before accepting the position, and background checks are conducted as a final step.

As part of Sacred Spaces’ commitment to equity, interview questions are standardized, with some custom questions for candidates who progress through the application process and written assignments are deidentified. Applicants are scored using a common rubric based on the job description. Sacred Spaces endeavors to communicate clearly with candidates at each stage of the process. If at any point you have a question about the application process or the status of your application, please feel welcome to email Jobs@JewishSacredSpaces.org.

Accommodations

Sacred Spaces aims to create an accessible application process. Please let us know of any accommodations you require in order to fully participate in the application process. Accommodations requests can be made to Jobs@JewishSacredSpaces.org or by calling (412) 219-3155.

This job description is intended to convey information essential to understand the scope of the position. It is not intended to be an exhaustive list of skills, efforts, duties, or responsibilities associated with the position.

Thank you for considering employment at Sacred Spaces. We look forward to receiving your application!