Director of Engagement and Innovation at Hillel Ontario

Hillel International; Toronto; On-site; CAD 85,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Hillel International seeks a Director of Engagement and Innovation to lead a bold engagement strategy for Jewish students in Ontario. This role focuses on fostering Jewish identity through innovative programs and community-building initiatives, reaching both engaged and underserved student populations.

Benefits

Flexible work hours

Opportunities for professional development

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in student engagement or program innovation.
• Experience managing staff and mentoring early-career professionals.
• Strong program design and project management skills.

Responsibilities

• Design and lead a cross-campus engagement strategy rooted in Jewish joy.
• Create large-scale flagship experiences like immersive holiday events.
• Support local teams with vision, resources, and strategy.

Skills

Program design

Project management

Student engagement

Collaboration

Innovative thinking

Education

Experience in Jewish communal work

Background in working with young professionals

Tools

CRM systems

Job description

Director of Engagement and Innovation at Hillel Ontario

Job Title: Director of Engagement and Innovation
Reports to: Chief Campus Officer

Term: Full- time, 4-year grant-funded position. Renewal subject to funding.

About Hillel Ontario

Hillel Ontario serves 14,000 Jewish students across nine universities—the largest regional Hillel in the world. In a time of rising antisemitism and increased need for connection, Hillel has become a hub for safety, community, and Jewish pride. In 2024 alone, student engagement increased by over 40%, and we continue to grow.

But growth isn't enough—we need innovation.

We’re hiring a Director of Engagement and Innovation to think bigger, go broader, and help every Jewish student—from the highly involved to the previously unengaged—find their place, their people, and their pride.

The Opportunity

We are looking for a bold, creative leader to build a cross-campus strategy that prioritizes:

• Jewish joy and belonging as a gateway to identity, community, and activism.
• Underserved and unengaged students as a key growth opportunity.
• Big, fresh, flagship programs that make students say, “I have to be there.”
• Along with a Manager of Post-Graduation Initiatives, support for graduate students and others who are part of their networks and communities ages 21–27) who complete university or college before finding what’s next.

This is not a traditional role. You’ll bring vision and strategy to life by collaborating with campus teams, launching large-scale social experiences, piloting new micro-communities, and building post-grad Jewish pathways. From sports tournaments and parties to professional mixers and mentorship hubs, you’ll shape how Jewish life feels across Ontario—for students and recent grads.

What You’ll Do

Cross-Campus Engagement & Innovation

• Design and lead a bold, multi-campus engagement strategy rooted in Jewish joy, pride, and connection.
• Identify and engage underserved student groups (e.g., commuter students, arts students, unengaged Jews) through compelling, relevant, low-barrier, meaningful programming.
• Create large-scale, province-wide flagship experiences (e.g., immersive holiday events, student Shabbaton festivals, sports tournaments, themed parties).
• Work with a Manager of Post-Graduation Initiatives to oversee a brand-new portfolio focused on graduate students and others who are part of their networks and communities (ages 21–27) including mentorship, community-building, and career-aligned engagement.
• Supervise a new professional hire dedicated to this demographic, helping them launch high-impact mixers, mentorship programs, and meaningful Jewish experiences.
• Develop pathways for post-grad Jewish life, easing the transition from student to young professional with intention and care.

Collaborate Across Campuses

• Partner with campus directors and engagement staff to pilot new initiatives and bring programs to life.
• Support local teams with vision, resources, and strategy to help them think beyond the traditional Hillel playbook.

Track Impact & Iterate

• Use Hillel Ontario’s CRM and student surveys to evaluate engagement, track participation, and guide decision-making.
• Learn from what works (and what doesn’t) and keep evolving to meet the moment.

Who You Are

• A strategic doer and a creative builder.
• Passionate about Jewish identity, celebration, and community.
• Deeply curious about Gen Z and young professionals—what drives them, what excites them, what they need.
• Someone who gets that Jewish joy is as powerful as Jewish activism.
• A collaborative leader who can think big, move fast, and inspire others to do the same.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in student engagement, program innovation, or Jewish communal work.
• Experience managing staff and/or mentoring early-career professionals.
• Strong program design and project management skills.
• Background or interest in working with young professionals and recent graduates is a major asset.
• Comfort with data and digital tools (experience with CRM systems is a plus).
• Willingness to travel and work evenings/weekends as needed
• Familiarity with Toronto’s Jewish landscape, including key organizations and individuals

About Hillel International

In 1923, Rabbi Benjamin Frankel started Hillel with humble means, a noble mission and a breathtaking vision: to convey Jewish civilization to a new generation. Today, Hillel International continues to enrich the lives of Jewish students and is the largest Jewish campus organization in the world at nearly 1,000 colleges and universities across North America and around the world. As Hillel evolves as an organization, the mission remains steadfast: to create lasting connections with every Jewish student that foster an enduring commitment to Jewish life, learning, and Israel and train them to become the next Jewish leaders.

Hillel is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to creating an accepting and inclusive environment for all.

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