The Jewish Educational Center (JEC) is a longstanding, multi-division Jewish communal institution serving nearly 1,000 students and thousands of community members through its schools, synagogues, mikvaot, cemetery, early childhood programs, camps, and recreational services. For more than 80 years, the JEC has played a central role in shaping Jewish education and communal life in New Jersey.
The Executive Director role sits at the center of this complex organizational structure, with responsibility spanning multiple divisions, professional teams, and operational systems. Success in this role requires the ability to manage complexity, bring coherence to organically grown structures, and support mission-driven work through strong operations.
Position Overview
The JEC is seeking an Executive Director who can bring clarity, structure, and alignment to an organization that has grown organically over time. This role is internally focused and operationally driven, with primary responsibility for ensuring that the institution’s people, systems, and operations function cohesively and effectively across all divisions.
Core Responsibilities
Organizational Leadership and Operations
Oversee day-to-day operations across all JEC divisions, including schools, synagogues, mikvaot, cemetery operations, day care, camps, and shared services.
Manage finance, facilities, security, IT, and maintenance staff.
Introduce and refine systems, processes, and structures that improve efficiency and accountability.
Strengthen internal communication and cross-departmental coordination.
People Management and Institutional Alignment
Supervise and support operational and administrative staff, fostering accountability, professionalism, and collaboration.
Help cultivate a work culture grounded in trust, respect, shared responsibility, and alignment with Torah values.
Support leadership development and talent growth within the organization.
Strategic and Financial Stewardship
Partner with professional leadership on budgeting, financial planning, and long-term sustainability.
Translate strategic priorities into executable operational plans.
Work closely with the Director of Development to ensure fundraising efforts are supported by strong operational alignment.
Ideal Candidate Profile
The ideal candidate will bring a combination of leadership maturity, operational competence, and mission alignment. The JEC is open to candidates with varying career paths, including those stepping into an Executive Director role for the first time, provided they bring the right skills, judgment, and capacity for growth.
Desired Qualities and Experience
Significant leadership experience in a complex organization, ideally within education, nonprofit, or mission-driven settings.
Demonstrated ability to manage operations, people, and systems with clarity and effectiveness.
Financial acumen and comfort working with budgets, forecasts, and organizational resources.
Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work collaboratively with diverse stakeholders.
Alignment with the values and mission of a Torah-centered Jewish educational institution.
Timing and Compensation
The target start date is no later than July 1, with openness to an earlier start for the right candidate. Compensation will be competitive and commensurate with experience and scope of responsibility.
