The Organization Congregation B’nai Israel (CBI) is a 120-year-old progressive, USCJ-affiliated synagogue with over 500-member households in Northampton, Massachusetts. With a full range of youth and adult education programs, a licensed preschool, religious school, a food-justice farm, and traditional and alternative religious services, CBI. shares a campus with the Lander-Grinspoon Academy, a pluralistic K-6th grade day school.
CBI has defied national trends to enjoy robust growth. Our innovative programming and opportunities for social justice have drawn a widely diverse community Our dedicated, and intergenerational membership and lay leaders, in concert with visionary rabbinic and professional leadership create a synagogue community committed to exploration, moral integrity, spiritual vibrancy. CBI is currently in the quiet phase of a capital campaign to ensure the dramatic improvement our campus and physical infrastructure.
Northampton is located in the heart of the Five College area, known as an academic, artistic, musical, and countercultural hub. Our downtown center is vibrant and home to many independently owned businesses. CBI is located on an attractive Jewish campus including the CBI Abundance Farm, a unique attraction for family and community engagement.
The Position:
CBI’s Executive Director will oversee a strong and dedicated staff of 6 to 8 employees, respond to a variety of the congregation’s needs, and help to position CBI for continued growth in the years ahead.
The Opportunity:
In this leadership position, the executive director will play a central role in the Board’s strategic planning for the years ahead. There will be an opportunity to diversify CBI’s funding stream and enhance program growth in the years ahead. The successful candidate will oversee a major capital campaign and share in the effective management of fundraising, fiscal sustainability, administrative support, and synagogue facilities. Shared responsibilities will also include the oversight of CBI programming and support of several longstanding community partnerships.
The Ideal Candidate:
CBI seeks an individual with demonstrated leadership and nonprofit management skills and familiarity with community-based or membership organizations. The successful candidate will be able to cultivate donor relationships, seek new funding, and think strategically. In this position, the new hire will join an active and engaged Board of Directors in envisioning CBI’s future growth.
Excellent Communication Skills
CBI seeks a candidate with highly proficient written and oral communication skills, an articulate and thoughtful speaker who is comfortable with public presentations. The ideal candidate will enjoy working with the public and be adept at fostering collaboration among staff. Strategic Thinking: The successful candidate will bring strategic thinking skills and a record of significant management of programs, staff, and budgets.
Financial and Operational Management:
CBI seeks a candidate with considerable skill in both financial and operational management. They will have a firm grasp of nonprofit budgeting and work closely with the Board and the Financial Oversight Committee to ensure CBI’s long-term sustainability.
Executive Management:
The incoming executive director will foster an environment of trust, respect, and collegiality, prioritizing a culture that promotes teamwork, safety, dignity, and compassion. The individual will have the expertise to oversee programs and events, and the skills to manage a robust database. The successful applicant will comfortably manage staff recruiting, hiring, on-boarding, and coaching.
Congregational Engagement:
CBI’s ideal candidate will be able to demonstrate experience and familiarity with the workings of a Jewish community, be responsive to the needs of a diverse congregation, supporting staff and members in offering a robust array of educational programs and family-oriented activities.
Compensation and Benefits:
This is a full-time, salaried, on-site position offering employer paid health insurance, a pension plan with employer contribution, paid time off, family leave, congregation membership, reduction in preschool and religious school tuition if applicable, and professional development opportunities.
The salary range for this position is $85 - $100,000, commensurate with skills and experience.
Application Process:
The search is being conducted by an internal CBI Search Committee and all submissions are confidential.
Please apply online to: edsearch@cbinorthampton.org
Please include a resume and cover letter describing how your qualifications and experience match the needs of CBI, how you learned of the position and any other relevant information. All applications will be acknowledged. Applications will be accepted until the position has been filled, with priority given to those received by January 1, 2025.
Only electronic submissions will be considered.
Résumés will be reviewed as they are received with a final deadline to be determined.
CBI is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, veteran status or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. For all employment opportunities, people of color, Sephardic and Mizrahi Jews, women and gender nonconforming people, people with disabilities, immigrants, LGBTQIA+, and people who live or have lived in poverty are strongly encouraged to apply.