Director of Cultural Arts

JCC Association of North America; New York (NY); On-site; USD 80,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental and Vision coverage

Pension/403B retirement plan

Generous time off and member benefits

Job summary

Jewish Community Center of Staten Island seeks a Director of Cultural Arts to lead and expand a dynamic arts and culture portfolio rooted in Jewish learning and creative expression.

The role oversees the Dr. Esther Grushkin Center for Arts & Culture, collaborates across departments, and manages staff, budgets, and partnerships to engage people of all ages in culturally rich experiences on Staten Island.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree is required; advanced degree preferred.
• Experience in designing or managing arts and cultural programming.
• Knowledge of Jewish history, culture, and Israel; comfort facilitating learning in cultural settings.
• Strong organizational, communication, and leadership skills; experience supervising teams.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and flexibility to work evenings/weekends.
• Genuine passion for the arts, Jewish life, creativity, and community building.

Responsibilities

• Design and oversee a calendar of arts and culture programs for adults and families.
• Oversee the Dr. Esther Grushkin Center for Arts & Culture and Lifelong Development programming.
• Lead planning and execution of the semi-annual Grushkin Gala fundraiser.
• Build partnerships with local artists, organizations, synagogues, and schools.

Skills

Leadership

Program development

Community partnerships

Event planning

Public speaking

Cultural knowledge in Jewish life

Education

Bachelor's degree

Advanced degree in arts administration or related field

Job description

Location and Job Title

Director of Cultural Arts
Joan and Alan Bernikow Jewish Community Center of Staten Island
1466 Manor Road
Staten Island, NY 10314

Principal Responsibilities

The Director of Cultural Arts is a visionary cultural leader responsible for developing, curating, and implementing a dynamic range of arts, culture, and educational programs that reflect Jewish values, creativity, history, and contemporary Jewish life. This role oversees the Dr. Esther Grushkin Center for Arts & Culture and collaborates with departments across the JCC to ensure cultural arts serve as an inspiring gateway to Jewish connection for people of all ages and backgrounds. The Director supervises arts staff, teaching artists, Israeli emissaries, interns, and volunteers, while working closely with community partners, educators, and the Center for Lifelong Development.

About You

You are a passionate cultural arts professional who will design innovative programs, nurture community partnerships, and expand the JCC's cultural impact. You strive to make Jewish life accessible through creative experiences, deepen cultural literacy, and bring diverse Jewish and Israeli voices to the community. You enjoy leading teams collaboratively, inspiring creativity in others, and working with colleagues to build a vibrant and inclusive cultural hub.

What You'll Do

Program Leadership & Implementation

• Develop and execute a robust calendar of arts and culture programs for adults, including lectures, concerts, film screenings, exhibitions, theater events, trips, workshops, author talks, and holiday celebrations.
• Oversee programming for the Center for Lifelong Development and lead programming for the Dr. Esther Grushkin Center for Arts & Culture, ensuring offerings are engaging, accessible, and rooted in Jewish learning and creative expression.
• Coordinate select family programs, including the annual Richmond County Orchestra event.

Jewish Educational Integration

• Embed Jewish values, history, tradition, and cultural narratives into programming through arts education, storytelling, and experiential learning.
• Collaborate with youth, family, senior, and education departments to provide meaningful learning opportunities through the arts.

Community Partnerships & Outreach

• Build and maintain relationships with local artists, arts organizations, synagogues, schools, community partners, and Israeli cultural institutions.
• Serve as a cultural ambassador, expanding visibility and participation in Jewish arts and culture throughout Staten Island and beyond.

Team Leadership & Operations

• Supervise staff, teaching artists, Israeli emissaries (shlichim), and volunteers connected to the Dr. Esther Grushkin Center for Arts & Culture.
• Oversee program budgets, artist contracts, logistics, and scheduling with strategic and fiscal responsibility.
• Collaborate with the Communications Department to promote cultural programming and grow audiences.
• Lead planning and execution of the semi-annual Grushkin Gala fundraiser.
• Oversee and sustain an active Arts & Culture Advisory Committee made up of dedicated volunteer community members.

Israel & Global Jewish Culture

• Champion Israeli arts and culture through innovative programming that highlights Israeli society, creativity, diversity, and contemporary life.
• Host Israeli artists, performers, and educators, and integrate global Jewish cultural traditions (Sephardi, Mizrahi, Ethiopian, Ashkenazi, Russian-speaking, and more).
• Work with partners in our sister city, Binyamina, Israel, to coordinate delegations, cultural exchanges, and Maccabi-related teen experiences.
• Support ongoing teen programming in collaboration with Israeli emissaries in local schools, at the JCC, and within Early Childhood Education.

SALARY

$80,000-$90,000 Annually, Commensurate with Experience

BENEFITS

The JCC of Staten Island is committed to keeping you and your family healthy and happy through a comprehensive benefits program. Offerings include: subsidized options for Medical; offerings for Dental and Vision coverage, FSA and Dependent Care. We also offer free LTD, STD, Life Insurance, a Pension, 403B, generous program discounts, free membership, ample time off and much more!

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree or professional experience in arts administration, Jewish education, cultural programming, museum/theater/arts management, or related field preferred.
• Demonstrated experience in designing or managing arts and cultural programming.
• Knowledge of Jewish history, culture, and Israel, with comfort facilitating learning in cultural settings.
• Strong organizational, communication, and leadership skills, with experience supervising teams.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and work a flexible schedule, including evenings and weekends.
• Genuine passion for the arts, Jewish life, creativity, and community building.

Salary:

$80000

Agency Information

ABOUT US
The Jewish Community Center of Staten Island was founded in 1929 with the goal of creating a home for the Jewish community by offering social, recreational, and educational activities. Over time, that mission expanded to help anyone who walked through the doors of any of our facilities. The JCC has become a true community center--not just for the Jewish community, but for the entirety of Staten Island.
Programs serve the needs we see in our community and are constantly expanding to meet new demand. We serve people of all walks of life, from young children to seniors and everyone in between. The JCC is proud to offer services that help improve the quality of life for people on Staten Island and beyond. We strive to help those in need as well as provide recreational and educational opportunities for our members.

The JCC of Staten Island is dedicated to encouraging harmony throughout the community by providing facilities and programs that are open to all regardless of race, religion, creed, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or political affiliation. Everyone is welcome at the JCC.