Executive Director Hillel at The George Washington University Role Overview
The
Executive Director of GW Hillel will lead one of the nation's oldest and most politically engaged Jewish campus communities, serving over 4,500 Jewish students just blocks from the White House and in the heart of Washington, DC. This unique location places GW Hillel at the intersection of Jewish communal life and national and international political discourse, requiring navigation of complex situations that impact GW’s campuses and beyond.
You will work with dedicated student leaders, committed staff, an experienced Board of Directors, university and community partners, and one of the world's strongest alumni networks to advance GW Hillel's mission, where Jewish identity, Israel advocacy, and campus activism intersect with federal policy and media attention.
This role demands strategic leadership encompassing vision-setting, organizational culture development, administrative excellence, and serving as the primary voice of Jewish life on GW’s campuses and within Washington's influential Jewish community network.
What You’ll Do
Strategy & Vision:
- Inspire and lead a pluralistic, diverse Jewish life on campus.
- Continuously seek to grow and evolve GW Hillel through the development and implementation of an intentional strategic direction and programs that align with the mission and vision, engage and inspire the Board of Directors and other partners in these efforts, and is educationally grounded.
- Integrate Jewish wisdom and education into all aspects of GW Hillel using Hillel International’s guidelines and insights from key partners.
- Develop strategies to expand the Jewish student community, accommodating a range of backgrounds and interests and connecting with other relevant Jewish organizations.
- In partnership with GW leaders, manage university crises as they relate to the Jewish student community in real-time with a clear understanding of how any decision affects the broader GW community - while also ensuring Jewish life is valued, protected, and integrated into the broader campus ecosystem
- Navigate complex situations with political acumen and cultural sensitivity, leveraging proven experience in leading Jewish organizations through periods of heightened public attention and community tension.
- Ensure that all Jewish students feel welcome, safe, and inspired at GW Hillel.
Fundraising and Financial Management:
- Envision, sustain, and expand GW Hillel’s successful fundraising campaigns, with a focus on building endowments to support long-term priorities.
- Oversee the robust multi-faceted annual development plans, which includes stewardship of gifts and cultivation of donor relationships.
- Personally engage in fundraising with major donors and grant organizations, including leading solicitations, and support the Board of Directors in this effort. Continually work to develop additional revenue sources.
Operations, Staff, & Board Management:
- Partner with GW Hillel’s Director of Finance and Operations to oversee the recently constructed 21,000 sq ft Gewirz Center, the home of GW Hillel, and work with the other staff and key university partners to ensure smooth operations, including support of building tenants, room rentals, dining, custodial, and other services, building maintenance and management, as well as security.
- Inspire, develop, supervise, and mentor a professional staff team that delivers on a vision of pluralism, inclusivity, and student leadership development to deepen students’ relationships with, understanding of, and own ideas about Jewish life, Jewish learning, and Israel.
- Support a staff culture of camaraderie and excellence with an “all-hands on deck” approach.
- Foster a positive work environment, delegate effectively, and support staff in their work assignments, priorities, and professional growth.
- Serve as the primary liaison between the Board of Directors and GW Hillel, ensuring effective communication and partnership to support the board in fulfilling its governance responsibilities and to fully engage all board members in supporting the organization with their time, talents, and philanthropy.
Stakeholder and External Relations:
- Serve as GW Hillel’s primary spokesperson to the organization’s constituents, the media, and the general public, thoughtfully engaging the community in the importance of Hillel’s mission and purpose.
- Exhibit exceptional organizational and communal leadership by cultivating relationships with all stakeholders, including the Board of Directors, student and university leaders, Jewish community leaders in DC, and beyond, as well as alumni, parents, and other family members nationwide and worldwide.
Engagement and Relationship Building:
- Help define the values, prioritization for, and desired impact for the staff’s development of a robust student engagement strategy that successfully engages all types of Jewish students and connects with other opportunities at and beyond the university.
- Continuously evaluate and adapt to the changing needs of Jewish college students, navigating campus climate and issues related to exploring Jewish identity and remaining focused on student transformation that goes beyond the numbers of students engaged.
- Connect individually and meaningfully with students, providing mentorship to support their ongoing Jewish journey.
- Ensure Hillel is a supportive space for students and provides tools to address any antisemitic and anti-Israel activity on campus.
- Establish authentic relationships with other campus and community organizations to engage student leaders and foster increased participation across various programs and platforms.
- Ensure the organization embraces an appreciation and understanding of all expressions of Jewish religious practice, regardless of personal beliefs.
- Engage with parents and family members, and establish yourself as a trusted resource for them while their child is away at college.
What You’ve Accomplished
- A minimum of 8 years of work experience in a leadership capacity, with staff management responsibilities.
- A minimum of 5 years of work experience in the Jewish or secular nonprofit, higher education, or mission-driven organization sectors is preferred.
- A minimum of 5 years of fundraising and financial management experience for a non-profit organization in a professional or volunteer capacity.
- Past Hillel management experience is advantageous but not mandatory.
What You’ll Bring to the Work
- Warm, sincere, and authentic leadership with a strong internal drive for success and excellence.
- Willingness and openness to inspire and lead structural changes in response to evolving trends, student preferences, and needs.
- Proactive communication and collaboration across offices and agencies.
- Strong planning and organizational skills, including attention to detail, multitasking, and prioritization.
- The capacity to create space for diverse perspectives and voices of students and staff.
- Proven fundraising and financial management success.
- Strong relationship-building skills with a nuanced understanding of Judaism, Israel, and antisemitism, while standing firm and proud as a supporter of Israel.
- A joyful spirit for the work and a deep commitment to Jewish community building.
- Deep appreciation for the unique needs of college students.
- Passion for the mission of Hillel and the development of the next generation of Jewish leaders.
- An understanding that part of the Executive Director's work responsibilities occur outside of traditional work hours. Therefore, your presence may be required both on and off campus, particularly during Jewish holidays, at community events, and occasionally on Shabbat, in this role.
- A commitment to pluralism that provides a truly inclusive “large tent” where all people, no matter their level of Jewish involvement, feel welcome at GW Hillel.
This role offers a unique opportunity to shape the future of Jewish student life at George Washington University. It requires a commitment to inclusivity, innovation, and creating a supportive environment for students across all aspects of their lives, including their religious and personal beliefs.
What You’ll Receive
- Competitive salary in the non-profit marketplace. The salary range for this role is $150,000 - $180,000, depending on skills, qualifications, and experience.
- Health insurance, retirement plan, life insurance, long-term disability (LTD), vacation/sick time, and parental leave
- Paid opportunities for professional development, peer engagement, mentoring, and skill-building
- A supportive and committed board of lay leaders, faculty, staff, and alumni
- Mentorship by a fellow Hillel Director
- Strategic support from a dedicated Campus Support Director at Hillel’s Schusterman International Center
- Opportunities to attend global conferences for personal and professional development throughout the U.S. and Israel
- Relocation assistance may be available.
About GW Hillel
Hillel at The George Washington University proudly serves more than 3,000 Jewish undergraduates and 1,500 Jewish graduate students of GW. Since its founding in the 1930s, GW Hillel has remained one of the most active and rapidly growing Jewish campus communities in North America, offering a wide array of opportunities for Jewish students of all backgrounds and interests to connect with Jewish life at GW.
GW Hillel is affiliated with Hillel International. Hillel International enriches the lives of Jewish students so they may enrich the Jewish people and the world, and envisions a world where every student is inspired to make an enduring commitment to Jewish life, learning and Israel.
Applications & Nominations
Don’t check off all the boxes or meet every single requirement? We have learned that potential candidates hesitate when applying for a job unless they meet every requirement. Hillel is committed to promoting inclusivity, valuing diversity, and fostering equity in the workplace. If this opportunity excites you, but your background may not be a perfect match, we still encourage you to apply.
Applications will be reviewed immediately upon receipt, with priority consideration given to those received by July 28, 2025.
If you have questions about this role, please contact:
Jennifer Sosnow – Director, Executive Talent Management, Hillel International.
jsosnow@hillel.org
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.
