Director of Strategic Engagement

Full-time, Exempt
Reports to: CEO
Span of Control: 3 direct reports

The Role:

Change maker. Risk taker. Insatiably curious. People-centric leader.

Does this describe you? If so, we hope you will keep reading and consider joining the best team at the “Best Damn Hillel in the Land.”

OSU Hillel is in the midst of a transformation. The newly created Director of Strategic Engagement will be at the helm of the student-facing evolution. In this role, you will lead the student life team, building a culture of innovation, creativity and data-driven decision making. You will champion a test and learn approach, where team members are encouraged to fail forward and embrace a growth mindset. You will leverage data in new ways, drawing correlations, evaluating ROI and ensuring we clearly understand who we are reaching, who we aren’t and why. You will partner closely with the CEO and OSU Hillel leadership team to make Hillel a destination for Jewish students on campus.

We are looking for a leader who embraces pluralism and takes the responsibility of creating a sense of belonging for every Jewish student at OSU seriously. Additionally, the physical and emotional safety of our students is our priority. We are in unprecedented times and learning more everyday about how to accomplish our mission in the safest way possible. You should be nimble, agile and ready to expect the unexpected.

Furthermore, you should enjoy people leadership. Investing in talent, helping people grow to their full potential and creating a positive work environment that is collaborative and where your team loves coming to work each day is critical. We are fortunate to have an incredible team at OSU Hillel and you will have privilege of mentoring and coaching staff to make each individual and the collective team even better.

Why OSU Hillel?

There has never been a better or more important time to join Hillel at THE Ohio State University. We are the third oldest Hillel, celebrating 100 years in 2025, with a rich and dynamic history. With new leadership, we are at the helm of a new frontier and we hope YOU will help us chart the course. OSU Hillel aspires to be the best Hillel in the country and we are looking for the best and brightest talent to join our amazing team. We are innovative. We are inclusive. We challenge the status quo and strive to be at the forefront of trends within the Jewish and non-profit communities. Work for an organization where your time and talent will be valued, and your voice will be heard. 

What You’ll Do

Lead the Student Life Team

• Supervise three members of the student life team, including a Springboard fellow, Israel fellow and IACT coordinator.
• Set clear, stretch goals for each team member and for the collective team, reflective of success metrics for student engagement.
• Meet weekly with each team member to ensure they have full support to achieve their goals and remove barriers.
• Create a collaborative, strong team dynamic with a “win together, fail together” mentality.
• Lead with Jewish and organizational values at the forefront of decision making; inject Jewish values and wisdom into leadership approach.
• Provide regular performance feedback so that staff members always know where their performance stands. Discuss any pivoting that needs to occur in real-time and in the spirit of supporting their professional growth and success.
• Work with team to manage a programming budget of ~$700,000 annually.

Data Collection, Analysis and Communication

• Partner with database administrator and consultant to build new database and identify flags that will enable effective student data collection.
• Determine which data will enable the organization to make better decisions and track on an ongoing basis.
• Work with database administrator and student life team to build automated reports that will enable the organization to measure success over time.
• Review reports regularly and to draw correlations and measure ROI of programs/initiatives.
• Build a quarterly system to report analysis (findings and resulting strategies) to key stakeholders – CEO and leadership team, board of trustees, student leaders and staff.

Build a Culture of Innovation

• Empower staff and students to ideate regularly, providing appropriate time, space and resources to drive creativity.
• Encourage calculated risk taking and independent decision making where appropriate.
• Reward team for innovative behaviors: bringing forward new, unique ideas; making mistakes and sharing their reflections/learnings; bringing “outside-in” perspective based on benchmarking and research from other similar organizations or peers.
• Build a team that can articulate the impact of the innovation and how it’s enabling organizational growth.

Be an Organizational Leader

• Serve as a part of the OSU Hillel leadership team. Be viewed as a leader across the business – with students, staff, community members, donors and other key stakeholders.
• Support building a culture of philanthropy throughout the organization. Every leadership team member is expected to participate in fundraising conversations and initiatives.
• Understand and communicate the impact of our work in a way that resonates in a compelling way with donors and community members.
• As a part of the Student Life team, we expect every team member to:
• Hold at least 5 relationship-building meetings/ a week to develop 1:1 relationships and gain a deeper understanding of our various target audiences. 
• Be a part of the staff rotation for Shabbat and holiday programming, ensuring each and every student feels warmly welcomed into Hillel’s “doors.” 
• Be an active leadership presence for key events and initiatives throughout the year as determined in partnership with the CEO.
• Support recruitment for immersive experiences such as Birthright Israel, Onward, Fact Finders and Jewish Learning Fellowships
• Participate in ongoing Jewish learning and professional development.

What You’ve Accomplished

• 5+ in education, ideally within a Jewish setting
• Experience as a professional in a Jewish nonprofit organization is preferred
• Bachelor’s degree required, Master’s degree preferred. Candidates with Jewish experiential education and the relevant experience are also encouraged to apply.
• Proven success in:
• Management of multiple projects while maintaining quality
• Developing and/or implementing a strategic plan, including reporting and tracking data 
• You understand the needs of a highly diverse, social student population, and know how to navigate a large campus environment. 
• Managing a team, including hiring, excellent supervision skills and ability to coach others to achieve outcomes 
• Creating structures and opportunities that assist and empower students to take initiative and ownership for their communities 
• Communicating needs and vision clearly in an ever-changing environment

What You’ll Bring to the Job

• Keen organizational and management skills that will continue to unify our team
• Demonstrated confidence working within higher education and campus settings
• Self-motivated, driven, and a deep willingness to take risks, be creative and bold, and a forward thinker. You can think outside the box for the sake of strengthening the organization in partnership with all stakeholders.” 
• You are willing and happy to get your hands dirty. You aren’t afraid of a little scrappiness and love to problem-solve on your feet! 
• An awareness of your unique Jewish knowledge and experiences and ability to serve as a role model inspire others to be on a Jewish journey
• An eye for brand and marketing. You know how to tell a story/speak to an audience and , ideally, have experience utilizing current social media platforms (Instagram, Facebook TikTok, etc.)

What You’ll Receive

• Competitive salary in the nonprofit marketplace. The salary range for this role is $65,000-$75,000.
• A comprehensive benefits package that includes health insurance, a retirement plan, life insurance, and long-term disability coverage.
• 15 vacation days per year.
• 10 medical leave days each year.
• Flexible work hours.
• A work community that values professional growth and personal balance.
• Paid Jewish holidays or alternate days for those holidays worked. 
• Opportunities to travel regionally and abroad, particularly to Israel.
• Additional OSU Hillel benefits, like lighter winter and summer hours, the opportunity to present on passion projects, free meals at our café and access to a free fitness center! 
• Plenty of Hillel swag.