Executive Director

Our Mission Statement

Temple Israel is one congregation embracing all. We strive to kindle the passion in our community to connect to each other, connect to the sacred and connect to our world.

Who We Are

Temple Israel is a vibrant Reform synagogue located in Akron, Ohio, just 30 minutes south of Cleveland. For 160 years, we have served the Greater Akron community by providing an energetic environment for pursuing Jewish spirituality, education, friendship, community, connection, and multi-generational worship. We are a mid-sized congregation with a robust 355 families and a multi-faceted Religious School (K-12) with approximately 100 students, including a growing teen program. We are proud of our on-going work with diverse faith groups throughout our community and have dozens of active lay leadership committees, as well as a strong Sisterhood and Brotherhood. We are always poised at the nexus of important discussions, and have been honored to welcome a State Senator, U.S. House Representative, the Director of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and a 2026 gubernatorial candidate to speak at synagogue events within the past two years. Our annual budget for the 2024-25 fiscal year was just under $900,000.

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About the Akron Area

Akron is affordable and friendly, manageable in size yet with access to diverse cultural activities within a 30-minute drive. Cuyahoga Valley National Park and Blossom Music Center are minutes away. We are also located two miles from our local Jewish Community Center which houses the Lippman Jewish Day School, the Early Childhood Education Center, a Conservative congregation (Beth El), and Akron’s Jewish Federation. An Orthodox synagogue (Anshe Sefard) is also nearby. We are a tight-knit, welcoming community. It is common for Temple Israel, Beth El and Anshe Sefard to collaborate on events and programming.

Who You Are

You are a leader, fundraiser, collaborator, team player and adept manager who is passionate about our mission and excited to dive into this new role. You are a self-starter ready to roll up your sleeves to learn, innovate, and grow our synagogue. You look forward to building relationships with stakeholders at all levels – from congregants to donors. You are eager to bring new strategies to bear for growing membership, expand fundraising capacity, streamlining workflows and increasing outreach and impact. The successful candidate will be open to embracing this community as their own, be adept at navigating the complexities of interpersonal relationships, be comfortable leading and learning, be innovative and aware of and capable of implementing cutting-edge strategies for fundraising, community development and congregational life. You have a growth mentality and are always looking to the future to plan and build a better Temple Israel.

Overview

The Executive Director (ED) functions as the Chief Operating Officer, managing operations on a day-to-day basis, and working closely with clergy, lay leadership and all staff members. The ED has primary responsibility for assuring the economic, physical, and human resources necessary for congregational life to thrive at Temple Israel. The ED works closely with the Rabbi and is accountable to the President of the Board of Trustees. As this role is new to Temple Israel, the first two years of employment will emphasize development and fundraising as well as administrative/fiscal management. These foci will also stem from robust member recruitment and engagement. Appropriate benchmarks will be agreed upon before hire.

Schedule Expectations

The ED will be expected to be a visible leader, present for High Holiday services and events, Shabbat services, and other evening and weekend events as they occur. This includes but is not limited to galas, fundraisers, Donor Circle events, Religious School and community-wide gatherings. As a representative of the synagogue, the ED will be expected to be an outward-facing presence in the larger Akron community, as well as the Akron Jewish community. The ED may be expected to attend regional and national conferences for NATA, the URJ and other organizations, and should be aware of critical professional development opportunities as they arise.

Specific Responsibilities:

Development and Fundraising

Create an institutional model of fundraising that is replicable and well defined, and creates a path for continued financial growth.

• Work closely with Board leadership and staff to develop and execute a comprehensive fundraising plan to include campaigns, legacy giving, grants, giving levels and other philanthropic means to ensure the future viability of Temple Israel.
• Work in conjunction with the clergy, staff and lay leadership to develop and capitalize on programming opportunities in the synagogue and community at large.
• Manage stewardship process in order to maintain relationships with stakeholders.
• Identify, pursue and apply for grants that further the mission of the congregation.

Membership Recruitment, Engagement and Retention

• Work in partnership with clergy and lay leaders to create a relational-based membership experience beginning with recruitment.
• Serve as the congregation's CRM expert.

Financial Management

• Work equitably with members and prospective members on their financial obligation options to the congregation with compassion and confidentiality.
• Work in concert with the Treasurer to address communications and services regarding lapsed members, resignations, nonpayment of commitments.
• Manage contracts with vendors and independent contractors.

Personnel and Building Management

• Maintain personnel records, including PDO's, in accordance with State and Federal law.
• Manage and oversee rental spaces and day-to-day building maintenance.
• Supervise all staff excluding Rabbi, Cantor and the Director of Education.
• Lead regular staff meetings.

Security

Oversee software and hardware needs as they pertain to cyber security and building security ensuring they meet the highest standards and are up-to-date.

• Assure availability of security personnel for all designated gatherings.
• Liaison with local law enforcement and Jewish Akron.

Community Connection

• Work with clergy and lay leaders to maintain, foster and build Temple Israel’s role in a vibrant and close-knit congregational, philanthropic and programmatic landscape, including with other area synagogues, Jewish Community Centers and Jewish Federations.
• Work with clergy and lay leaders to maintain, foster and build Temple Israel’s relationships with other faith-based organizations, including area mosques and churches.

Qualifications

Temple Israel understands that restrictive job requirements may exclude excellent candidates from applying to jobs for which they are qualified. We take an equitable and holistic screening approach. If you feel you have demonstrated experience and expertise relevant to performing this role, please do not hesitate to apply!

• Generally requires a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree.
• Additional relevant experience may substitute for a degree.
• Demonstrated success writing grant applications.
• Demonstrated success leading fundraising programs, events and donors.
• Experience supervising staff including or comparable to facilities and administrative staff.
• Proven ability to foster a supportive, respectful, and collaborative dynamic among staff team and complex priorities.
• Experience working with and collaborating with lay leadership and varied stakeholders.
• Familiarity with Google Business, Microsoft Office, Excel, common databases and financial software. Experience with Shul Cloud would be beneficial but not necessary.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills.
• Comfortable being an organized self-starter and adept multitasker.
• Experience working collaboratively with staff and lay leadership.

Preferred Skills

• Familiarity with Reform Judaism.
• Familiarity with the Reform Jewish landscape of resources and affiliated organizations.
• Comfortable learning new technologies – both hardware and software – quickly, and on top of industry standards.

Job Summary/Objective

This describes the current position and is not an employment contract. We reserve the right to modify job duties and responsibilities at any time.

Title: Executive Director

Reports To: Board President working closely with the Rabbi

Location: Akron, Ohio

Status: Full Time

Start Date: Immediately

Salary Range: $80,000-$90,000

Benefits Summary

In addition to meaningful and rewarding work, Temple Israel provides an excellent and competitive compensation and benefits package including a health insurance stipend, PTO, holidays, Temple membership for family, Religious School.

Temple Israel’s Commitment to Fairness and Respect

Temple Israel values a diverse workforce and an inclusive culture. We encourage applications from all qualified individuals without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, marital status, citizenship, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. We are an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. At Temple Israel, we honor and value the uniqueness of each and every human being. Our strength as an organization that provides community, education and support is directly tied to our commitment to treat individuals with dignity and to build and maintain a community of full participation, inclusive of the voices, needs and contributions of all.

In the interest of transparency, fairness and equity, Temple Israel is listing a public facing salary band. This band is benchmarked to external market factors and our own internal pay structure. New hires, in most cases, can expect an offer between the minimum and midpoint of the band, commensurate with the position and relevant experience.

Our Recruitment Process

Application - Candidates will complete an initial application and will submit a cover letter and resume.

Confirmation of Consideration – Candidates will receive a call to confirm interest in their candidacy.

Panel Interview - Candidates moving to this stage will meet with the Search Committee via Zoom in a more detailed interview to assess skill set.

Final Interview - Candidates invited to this final interview stage will engage in an interview with the Search Committee, Rabbi and select staff and congregants. Candidates at this stage will have confirmed that they are willing to move to the Akron area and must interview in-person. After confirming their interest and with their permission, references will be contacted at this point.

To apply, please submit a cover letter and resume to jobs@templeisraelakron.org.

Please include information noting prior achievements in fundraising, as well as experience managing people and working with lay leaders.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $80,000.00 - $90,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Employee discount
• Flexible schedule
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Professional development assistance
• Tuition reimbursement

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift
• On call
• Weekends as needed

Ability to Commute:

• Akron, OH 44333 (Required)

Ability to Relocate:

• Akron, OH 44333: Relocate before starting work (Required)

Work Location: In person

Salary : $80,000 - $90,000