Northern Virginia Hebrew Congregation (NVHC) is searching for our next Youth Engagement Coordinator to help build community and personal relationships with our youth and teens. This role combines Jewish teaching, leadership, and youth engagement to foster meaningful Jewish experiences for children, teens, and families within a vibrant Reform Jewish environment. This caring and passionate individual will build upon the success of Tamid (teen education program), guide our Sunday morning Madrichim (teen helpers), and collaboratively create programming for our various regional youth group chapters. Our Youth Engagement Coordinator will also recruit and engage kids to attend Jewish summer camp programs and other similar experiences.
At NVHC, we seek to build community through Judaism that matters. This individual will serve as an integral part of our full-time team to facilitate Jewish holidays, learning, social action, and more in conjunction with our education staff and clergy team. Responsibilities are outlined below. Please note that the description below is not comprehensive, and the applicant will have opportunities to grow based on synagogue needs and personal desires.
Teen and Youth Engagement
- Create, innovate, and implement a vision and programming for teen engagement that reflects the wants and needs of our temple youth, as well as the latest insights in youth engagement.
- Foster deep, meaningful relationships with our youth and teens.
- Foster a safe, meaningful, and fun environment for youth participating in every NVHC program.
- Evaluate goals and effectiveness of programs upon completion in order to improve future programming.
- Promote URJ summer camps and teen programs.
- Advise and promote participation in NFTY, BBYO, and other similar teen and junior youth group chapters.
- Manage teen and youth-related communications, including social media accounts, Slack, and weekly emails.
Education
- Serve as coordinator and mentor for our madrichim program (8th-12th grade Sunday morning teaching assistants).
- Participate in our Chalutzim (6th-7th grade) program on Sunday mornings, including ongoing development of curriculum in conjunction with clergy and the Director of Congregational Learning, supporting Judaics classes, and facilitating community building activities for this age group.
- Plan, innovate, and lead Tamid with support from the Director of Congregational Learning. Tamid is NVHC’s post-B’Mitzvah education program. This includes developing curriculum, teaching classes, developing the calendar of events, and acting as lead point person on Tuesday evenings and Sunday afternoons (when Tamid is in session).
Immersive Experiences
- Develop, chaperone, and manage logistics for immersive and fun youth and teen experiences. Examples include the URJ L’Taken Seminar, teen overnight trips, youth group outings, and regional youth group events.
- Participate with clergy, staff, and lay leadership in the planning and execution of immersive experiences for all ages.
- Promote participation in NFTY, BBYO, and other similar teen experiences.
- Spend summer connecting with NVHC campers as part of the staff of a URJ summer camp. NVHC has a long-standing relationship with many URJ summer camp programs, especially Camp Harlam.
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor’s Degree (Education or Jewish Studies preferred but not required).
- Experience with Jewish teen engagement, Hillel, or other synagogue-based education programs.
- Deep commitment to and passion for Jewish life and learning.
- Knowledge of Reform Jewish religion, practices, customs, and culture.
- Strong technological skills and proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, Google Suite, Zoom, and various social media platforms.
- Ability to have a flexible work schedule including evenings and weekends.
- Excellent communication, engagement, and relationship-building skills.
- Ability to relate to kids ages 8-18 and comfort working and building relationships with them.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience working at a Jewish summer camp program.
- Some foundation in Jewish formal or information education.
This is a 10-month (academic year) position at NVHC. The Youth Engagement Coordinator will spend the other two months on the staff of a URJ summer camp. Salary Range $45,000 - $50,000 (paid over a 12 month period), plus benefits and paid time off. Jewish and secular holidays observed.