Jewish Life Advisor - Butler University

Acslhe; Indianapolis (IN); On-site; USD 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

A prestigious university in Indianapolis is seeking a Jewish Life Advisor to support the Jewish student community. This role includes promoting Jewish education, advocating for Jewish needs, and collaborating with admissions to grow the Jewish community. The ideal candidate will have at least a Bachelor's degree, experience in higher education or non-profit settings, and strong community-building skills. This is a unique opportunity to enhance Jewish life on campus with a focus on inclusivity.

Qualifications

• Experience in higher education or non-profit setting required.
• Strong training in Jewish tradition and diversity.
• Ability to support a diverse Jewish community.

Responsibilities

• Initiate programs to educate the campus on Jewish traditions.
• Collaborate with campus partners advocating for Jewish student needs.
• Partner with Admissions to outreach to potential Jewish students.

Skills

Community building

Organizational skills

Communication skills

Event organizing

Education

Bachelor's Degree

Master’s Degree (preferred)

Job description

Butler University’s Center for Faith and Vocation seeks an energetic, innovative, and relationship-oriented Jewish Life Advisor. This is a new opportunity on Butler’s campus that will support the Jewish student community beyond the role our Butler Hillel serves on campus by creating educational opportunities about Jewish identity for wider campus, promoting Jewish accommodation needs to the institution, building bridges to prospective local and regional high school students, and furthering the depth of our interfaith programming with the expertise and vision with a new colleague tied directly to the practices, cultures, and communities of Judaism.

Primary Responsibilities

Program Jewish Education and Interfaith Opportunities for Butler Community

• Initiate programs and events that educate the campus and community on Jewish traditions, cultures, and communities that are not already occurring in Jewish life on campus, such as educating campus on High Holidays observance, interfaith or broad reaching Passover Seders, and educational programming on Jewish identities and cultures.
• Support Hillel leadership and staff as a campus liaison and partner in planning regular programs, celebrations, and observances that outreach to, and educate, the wider campus student body and faculty/staff.
• Provide guidance, input, and leadership on matters of Judaism and interfaith initiatives, such as service projects, film screenings, lectures/seminars, coursework, and other collaborations.
• Other duties as assigned.

Promote and Implement Jewish Student Needs and Accommodations

• Collaborating with campus partners in advocating for the needs of students who identify as Jewish – inclusive of holiday observances, dietary accommodations, and other needs that arise.
• Providing spiritual care and mentoring tailored to the diverse Jewish identities on campus.
• Regularly coordinate with and collaborate with Butler University Hillel student leaders and the Hillel Program Coordinator for Jewish Life.
• Build relationships with Jewish institutions within Indianapolis to further develop opportunities and resources for Jewish life on Butler’s campus, creating relationships with synagogues and Jewish institutions with which students can connect.

Support Admissions in Growing the Jewish Community

• Directly partner with Admissions to outreach to potential Jewish students and families locally and regionally.
• Coordinate and connect prospective students to current Jewish students.

Qualifications and Requirements

The successful candidate will be collaborative, innovative, and professional with an ability to establish and maintain relationships with students, families, and colleagues. They should be a community builder with expertise in Judaism and familiar with higher education contexts. Experience organizing events and implementing programs.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree and a minimum of 2 years working in a higher education or non-profit setting is required, graduate work or professional training in relevant fields and Master’s Degree preferred.
• Evidence of strong training in the Jewish tradition with knowledge of various schools of thought and the tradition’s diversity more broadly.
• Experience organizing events and implementing programs.
• Experience facilitating learning and/or teaching.
• Ability to support and advise a diverse Jewish community that includes religious/secular, ethnic, racial, gender, and sexuality diversity, as well as class differences.
• Excellent organizational, interpersonal, and communication skills.
• Skills in negotiating difficult conversations and navigating differences.
• Aptitude in fostering an inclusive Jewish space on campus.
• Schedule flexibility to allow for some evening or weekend hours for special events.

Preferred Qualifications

• Graduate work or professional training in a relevant field, Master’s degree preferred.
• Proven experience in supporting and advising a diverse Jewish community that includes religious/secular, ethnic, racial, gender, and sexuality diversity, as well as class differences.
• Leadership experience in youth and young adult work.
• Understanding of technology, including student learning platforms, social media, and other online tools.

Butler University is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive and equitable environment for all employees. We welcome applications from all individuals, regardless of age, gender, gender identity, sex, race, religion, color, disability, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, national origin, or any other legally protected category.