Manager of Jewish Life and Learning

Bentley University, Hillel Council of New England

Role Overview

Make your mark on Jewish student life by joining Hillel Council of New England (HCNE) as the Manager of Jewish Life and Learning at Bentley University. As a community builder, you’ll inspire students to be partners in creating a vibrant and welcoming Jewish community on one of our fastest growing campuses just outside of Boston. 

In addition to working primarily with students as part of a thriving student affairs division at Bentley, where you will serve as the Jewish Lead Staff within the Spiritual Life team, you will also work closely with our supportive student-facing team members across all of our campuses, support large-scale, regional programs and recruit for immersive experiences and cohort-based programs for our multi-campus Hillel.

The ideal candidate will be a self-starter and skilled multi-tasker who will partner with students, colleagues, campus administrators, faculty and staff, parents, and alumni to promote robust Jewish life at Bentley and drive Hillel’s mission, values and goals.

The Director of Jewish Student Life reports jointly to the HCNE Assistant Director and the Bentley Director of Spiritual Life.

What You’ll Do

• Serve as an advisor for the Hillel student organization on Bentley’s campus and lead the student board implementing a wide range of programs, including weekly Shabbat dinners and holiday celebrations, social opportunities, and Jewish and Israel learning opportunities.
• Oversee and support student visioning and implementation of a calendar of dynamic Jewish engagement opportunities and programming, including meaningful partnerships with other organizations on campus, including Greek Life and other religious organizations.
• Guide students as they explore their Jewish identities and build a warm, welcoming, and inclusive Jewish campus community.
• Work proactively to address antisemitism through education and advocacy. Support the university’s response to antisemitic incidents through partnership with the bias incident reporting team (BIRT).
• Build relationships with students from diverse backgrounds through meaningful conversations and by creating connections to opportunities to participate in Jewish life on campus, as well as interfaith programs and events.
• Provide individual counseling and spiritual support for Bentley community members, both within and beyond the Jewish tradition, as needed. Provide compassionate and open-minded spiritual care for those across a wide spectrum of spiritual practice and identity.
• Share and educate about Jewish religious and cultural observances opportunities, including annual High Holidays email to the university, communication about religious observances policy to students, and ensuring the university calendar reflects all holidays.
• Collect and manage campus data for student engagement as part of our regional student engagement strategy, using Hillel’s participant tracking database (HEART).
• Develop and strengthen strategic relationships with university administrators, faculty, staff, and community stakeholders, furthering learnings and utilizing strategies learned through Bentley’s participation in the Hillel International Campus Climate Initiative.
• Work as part of the Multifaith team as an active participant in all relevant interfaith and multicultural programs and training as appropriate, attending Spiritual Life staff meetings as well.
• Work as part of the student-facing staff team at HCNE, attend staff meetings, professional development, and regional programs where possible, depending on availability.
• Liaise with other campus departments for division-wide and campus-wide initiatives as determined by the Director of Spiritual Life. This may include Orientation, Diversity and Inclusion training, Enrollment and Family and Alumni events, Residential Life, and Dining Services.

What You’ll Bring to the Job

• 2-3 years of relevant experience
• Self-motivation and the ability to work independently.
• A commitment to creating an inclusive, vibrant and pluralistic Jewish community.
• Ability to effectively engage students at all levels in Jewish life and to serve as a resource in a pluralistic setting.
• An inclusive and pluralistic approach to spiritual leadership: the incumbent must be able to work enthusiastically and compassionately with people from diverse backgrounds and the full range of spiritual practices/beliefs.
• Ability to work flexible hours to engage students and attend events.
• An approachable, dynamic, engaging personality with outstanding interpersonal skills.
• Strong oral, written and non-verbal communication skills.
• An ability to manage logistics and multiple tasks with competing deadlines.
• A knack for creative problem-solving.
• Energy, a sense of humor, resilience and flexibility.
• A team-oriented approach to work, a strong work ethic, a sense of humor, an ability to take risks and learn from situations when things don’t turn out the way you thought they would. You’re comfortable in your Jewish identity.

What You’ll Receive

• A competitive salary in the non-profit marketplace. The salary range for this role is $55,000 - $60,000.
• A comprehensive benefits package, including health and dental plans, 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.
• A supportive team of colleagues in a growing organization.
• Flexible work hours and the ability to work remotely when not on campus.

About Hillel Council of New England

Hillel Council of New England (HCNE) is a multi-campus Hillel currently serving twelve campuses with small Jewish populations in Massachusetts. HCNE’s mission is to connect Jewish students on campuses across to each other and to the local and global Jewish community. Our vision is to inspire students to explore their Jewish identity and strengthen their connection to Judaism and the Jewish people. We achieve this by meeting students where they are on their individual journeys, and by providing them with meaningful experiences and support on campus, in New England, and around the world.

About Bentley University

Bentley University is more than just one of the nation's top business schools. It is a transformative lifelong-learning community that inspires and prepares ethical students to use their business know-how to make a positive difference in the world. With a blend of business, technology and the arts and sciences, Bentley provides students with critical thinking and practical skills to help them collaborate effectively in different settings and prepare them to lead successful, rewarding careers. The university enrolls approximately 4,200 undergraduate and 1,000 graduate and PhD students. Bentley was founded in 1917 and is set on 163 acres in Waltham, Massachusetts, 10 miles west of Boston.

About the Bentley Spiritual Life Center

The Bentley Spiritual Life Center proactively supports the spiritual well-being of the Bentley Community. Through a commitment to curiosity and kindness, we seek to empower students on journeys of self-discovery and meaningful engagement with the rich diversity of perspectives and traditions present in our community. By fostering internal reflection and external dialogue, we empower students to lay foundations for lives characterized by purpose, authenticity, creativity, and connection. 

Through tailored support for our various religious communities on campus, we ensure equitable and inclusive experiences that nurture a sense of belonging for all students. As a secular university, we prioritize religious literacy and intercultural competencies, offering opportunities for students to forge interfaith friendships, explore new practices, and collaborate on service projects as a united, diverse community. 

Together, we strive to create a vibrant and supportive environment where all members of the Bentley community can explore, grow, connect and thrive spiritually.