Executive Director/Chief Operating Officer

Executive Director/Chief Operating Officer
Stephen Wise Temple & Schools
Los Angeles, California
 

About the Position

The Executive Director serves as the Chief Operating Officer of Stephen Wise Temple and Schools, reporting directly to the Senior Rabbi, and working in close collaboration with our Temple President and Head of School. He or she will have a strong working relationship with members of our Clergy, school administration, professional staff, lay leadership, and our membership.

The ED/COO helps to ensure that all those who interact with Wise have a warm, welcoming, and “user-friendly” experience. The ED/COO is responsible for directing all aspects of the Temple and Schools administrative, compliance, financial, and business operations, as well as overseeing key staff, and the operational maintenance of our physical facility including managing a comprehensive long-term master campus plan and ensuring that all operations are conducted consistently with Reform Jewish values. The ED/COO’s work will encompass evening and weekend hours from time to time and the Executive Director will be present for religious services and special events when a large number of our members and families participate.


About You

You want to make a difference. You love collaborating with people and have a strong desire to make meaning and change the world. You have a strong background in nonprofit leadership with experience working with private schools as well.

You know how to lead and get things done. You think strategically and know how to develop tactics that will support the institution's overarching mission. You excel at keeping your eye on both the big picture and the details. You are good at engaging others and have excellent "congregant service" skills. You believe in our mission, vision, values, and goals and can communicate easily and effectively with people in all walks of life, from clergy to congregants and donors.

About Us

Celebrating our 60^th year in 2024, Stephen Wise Temple is one of the largest Reform Jewish synagogues in the country and incorporates three schools. With 1,600 member families and more than 150 employees, Wise is known for its extensive educational, worship, and community service programs, designed for individuals and families of all ages and backgrounds. We are a diverse, “big-tent” community that welcomes all who wish to make meaning and change the world with us.

Our 11-acre campus sits atop the Mulholland Corridor of the Santa Monica Mountains. We will be opening our brand new, cutting-edge Aaron Milken Early Childhood Center in 2024.

The core competencies we are looking for in a candidate include:

• Strategic Thinking: Demonstrates the ability to think strategically around major issues such as compliance, personnel management and human resources, operational and system efficiencies, communications, retaining and growing Temple and School membership and enrollment, development, master facilities planning, catering/events, dues collections, and membership growth.
• People Management: Excellent supervision and management skills, providing support and continuous monitoring of goals and deadlines for key staff in the performance of their duties. Ability to effectively recruit, retain, develop, and inspire staff, from direct reports to all reaches of the organization.
• Financial Management: Able to read and interpret financial statements, plan and participate in the annual budget process, review the preparation of all financial reports, and make recommendations for all facets of the organization’s financial health, from raising revenue to monitoring and lowering operating costs to planning for the long-term sustainability of the organization.
• Ministering to the Community: As a key staff member in our religious educational institution, role-models the tenets of our faith on a daily basis to our members and the broader Temple community; participates in transmitting the expectations and values of our faith, playing a critical and essential role in the Temple’s ability to minister to the daily needs of our students and members.

• Familiarity with Jewish ritual, holiday and lifecycle traditions, previous synagogue membership a plus;
• Bachelor’s degree (advanced degree such as MBA or JD preferred);
• At least 10+ years working in the nonprofit and/or private education field(s), with at least 5 years experience at an executive level;
• Capability with computer skills relevant to the position, including Microsoft Office applications, Google suite, and web-based technology (including CRM, WOS, and online payment and communication tools), and ability to learn new, relevant computer applications and tools;
• Strong written and oral communication skills.

• Salary Range: $200,000 to $220,000 per year.
• Benefits: Medical, dental, vision, and long-term disability insurance; 4 weeks paid vacation; professional association membership and travel to annual conferences; retirement plan with employer contribution; free synagogue membership, religious school tuition, and a generous discount on school tuition for employee’s children; free attendance at synagogue programs; paid Jewish and civil holidays.
• Relocation Assistance: Negotiable

To apply for the position, click here.

Our HR partner, Symmetry HR Outsourcing, is assisting us in this search.

Applications will be kept in confidence and reference checking will only be performed with permission of the candidate.