Executive Director

Adat Ari El Synagogue
Executive Director Position

Adat Ari El was founded in 1938 as the first Conservative Synagogue in the San Fernando Valley. Over nearly a century, our community has evolved into a dynamic model for a large, 21st-century synagogue campus. We are an inclusive, loving, and secure second home for 600 family members of our congregation, which blends the eternal values of Torah with modern insight. We share meaning and desire to improve ourselves and the world through Jewish life. Adat Ari El is proud of a powerful tradition of communal support and member engagement, whether in times of celebration or sorrow.

Adat Ari El has an active congregation and campus life. We proudly offer: daily minyanim; Shabbat and holiday services; an award-winning pre-school; and an engaging Jewish Learning Community that includes a religious school for grades K-12, BBYO youth group, and a wide range of adult-learning classes. Our campus also hosts Shabbat services for another Jewish congregation, as well as a weekday secular public charter school.

Adat Ari El seeks a new experienced Executive Director to help us thrive from generation to generation.

Position Overview

The Executive Director reports to the Synagogue President of the Board of Directors, with a dotted line to the Senior Rabbi. The Executive Director will have full responsibility for leading all non-religious operations of Adat Ari El. Key responsibilities include: oversight of business operations and internal controls to ensure financial health and compliance; human resources management and development; oversight of program directors to ensure their success; and facilities and campus maintenance. In addition, the Executive Director will support the culture of the synagogue by role modeling values, exhibiting leadership skills, and developing staff members.

The Senior Rabbi and clergy look to the Executive Director to ensure the financial and operational health of the community, and to support the clergy’s vision for the religious aspects of the community.

The Executive Director participates in development and implementation of synagogue strategies, ensures efficient operational procedures, provides expertise and ensures optimal internal and external customer service.

Detailed Job Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership
● Foster a collegial, respectful workplace culture in adherence with nonprofit best practices and legal requirements, fully grounded in Jewish values and teamwork.
● Partner closely with clergy and lay leadership to align operations with the synagogue’s religious and programmatic priorities.
● Oversee implementation of strategic priorities; this will include oversight of program areas to ensure strong design, organization, and implementation across teams and priority areas.
● Collaborate with the Board on any future strategic plan development of the organization, including evaluating the structure of the Strategic Planning Committee and serving as a member when it is convened.

Finance and Business Operations
● Primary accountability among the staff on all financial matters of the synagogue, and provide Board and Clergy leadership with clear, data-informed insights.
● Support the Vice President of Finance’s regular financial reporting to the Board of Directors, providing accurate financial documentation and explanations of any budget variances.
● Work closely with the controller to ensure that all staff are adhering to their budget.
● Oversee the work of Financial staff to ensure timely collection of dues and tuition; accurate payment of expenses; accurate cashflow monitoring; and revenue and expense forecasting.
● Establish budgeting, accounting, billing and financial reporting protocols in partnership with the controller, and oversee the ongoing implementation of those protocols.
● Implement a business model for sustained and incremental growth: steward positive relationships with current tenants; manage endowment funds; and seek new paths for financial growth, such as new tenant opportunities, and favorable lease agreements.
● Compliance with all appropriate state and federal regulations and policies.

Fundraising and Development
● Collaborate with clergy and lay leaders to design and implement fundraising campaigns and initiatives.
● Strengthen donor relationships and build relationships with prospective donors.
● Assist in planning community appreciation events.
● Explore funding opportunities from philanthropic institutions and produce grant proposals.

Supervision and Management
● Provide day-to-day, onsite supervision and training of administrative and facilities staff; supervision and development of senior professional staff of Early Childhood Center and Jewish Learning Community in partnership with the Senior Rabbi.
● Provide mentorship and training to develop staff skills, promoting high standards of excellence, collegiality, compliance, and communication for the synagogue staff with an emphasis on a cohesive and unifying work environment.
● Respect staff expertise and experience, and work in partnership with them on their strategic priorities.
● Oversight of program staff: understanding how staff implement their programs, and building accountability and communication across all departments and program areas.
● Implement staff evaluation and goal setting process to ensure organizational success and program excellence.

Board Relations
● Prepare regular reports to the Board on Executive activities, staffing needs and accomplishments, campus operations, and general organizational health.
● Support the Board and organization in governance, best practices, board roles and responsibilities to increase overall effectiveness.
● Serve as a bridge between the Board and staff on the purpose of Adat Ari El, and how individual portfolios contribute to its realization; and ensuring staff understand Board and executive decisions and can align their work with institutional priorities.
● Cultivate strong, trusting relationships with members of the Board.

Membership & Community Relations
● Serve as a welcoming and trusted presence for members and prospective families, and be the point person for member questions, requests, and concerns.
● Focus on steady increase of membership in partnership with the Board and Clergy, including building the pipeline from the Early Childhood Center through all stages of Jewish life.
● Partner with committees and schools on engagement, recruitment, and retention.
● Cultivate relationships with congregants identified as having leadership potential.
● Supervision of all synagogue communications including marketing, website, weekly newsletter, and event promotion.
● Serve as a public representative of Adat Ari El throughout the Los Angeles Jewish community and in a broader network of synagogues.

Facilities & Security
● Oversee building operations, maintenance, and capital improvements.
● Manage scheduling, contracts, rentals, and vendor relationships.
● Supervise security planning and coordination for services, programs, and holidays.
● Engage with outside insurance brokers to establish best business practices, necessary lines of insurance, set policy limits, and manage the risk.
● Management of contracts and agreements with tenants and community partners.
● Ensure compliance with safety codes and maintain an environment that is safe, clean, and welcoming.

The Ideal Candidate

We are looking for a warm and communicative leader, who has the vision, energy, and proactive leadership skills to navigate our daily needs and help us with future growth with a keen sense of changes in Jewish affiliation. The ideal candid
ate loves being a part of a team, and respects all types of work and functions of synagogue operations, and will identify strengths, weaknesses and opportunities and assist our community in moving forward to achieve our goals while maintaining our rich heritage. If you love being a part of a Jewish synagogue and believe it enriches individual lives and the Jewish people, we invite you to help lead ours.

Additional qualifications include:

● Bachelor’s degree required; MBA or comparable advanced degree strongly preferred.
● 5-10 years experience as Executive Director or executive level management of a synagogue, or executive-level management of a community nonprofit organization with a large budget.
● Professional experience in the Jewish community.
● Ability to embrace multiple constituencies, both groups and individuals, who make up the Adat Ari El family.
● Skilled in Human Resource matters
● Fundraising and grant writing experience
● S/he will excel in budgeting, forecasting and financial reporting.
● Significant experience with standard information technology systems, e.g. Microsoft Office suite, CRM databases, financial systems, HR platforms.
● Excellent communicator, writer and public speaker.

The Recruitment and Evaluation Process

The salary range is $175.000 - $200,000 plus benefits, commensurate with experience.

Go to www.adatariel.org for more information about our synagogue and community.