Program and Engagement Associate at Hillel of Silicon Valley
San Jose, California, United States Part Time
Program and Engagement Associate
Hillel of Silicon Valley
Role Overview
Hillel of Silicon Valley is looking for a warm, dynamic, and creative team player to be its next Program and Engagement Associate. The Program and Engagement Associate works closely with the Assistant Director to oversee Jewish life taking place at the five main campuses (San Jose State University, Santa Clara University, De Anza College, Foothill College, and West Valley College) we serve and at the Hillel of Silicon Valley House. This is an exciting time of growth for Hillel of Silicon Valley, its students, supporters, and staff.
The job entails planning and staffing events and meetings which can take place at night and weekends as well. Must be willing to respond to students via phone calls, text messages, emails, and Facebook messages in a timely manner -sometimes just to chat, and often to follow up on some task or detail for a program. The Program and Engagement Associate must have excellent administrative skills, and also be approachable, personable, and sensitive. Informal or formal Jewish education background is highly desirable since the Program and Engagement Associate is a Jewish role model and educator for the students. The Program and Engagement Associate will work together with a wide variety of students, guiding them and encouraging them as they create programs, workshops, discussion groups, outdoor adventures, retreats, religious services, and more. A fundamental requirement is the ability to "empower" students with real responsibility. It is tremendously meaningful and satisfying work.
Hillel of Silicon Valley students are largely commuter working students. They enjoy the sense of community at Hillel but are not necessarily seeking it out when they arrive on campus. For many students, Hillel is their first contact with the organized Jewish community, and they tend to identify as more culturally than religiously Jewish.
The Program and Engagement Associate works closely with the Assistant Director to oversee the Hillel programs taking place on the five main campuses and overall Hillel of Silicon Valley programming.
What You’ll Do
Meet with students from different cohorts and demographics on campus to engage them, identify their interests and connect to opportunities.
Meet with students to help connect them with leadership roles in Hillel.
Map out a plan to strategically build one on one relationships with 180 students currently not engaged in Jewish life.
Plan and facilitate weekly student intern meetings.
Supervise student interns who are responsible for engaging their peers in Jewish life on campus.
Recruit for Alternative Break and Birthright Israel trips.
Empower others with real responsibility and cheer on your team
You are approachable, personable, and sensitive to others’ needs
Relate to students from diverse backgrounds and Jewish knowledge
Stay up to date with trends and culture
Specific tasks:
Student Empowerment
Guide and encourage students to take on leadership roles and develop programs within the community
Develop formal and informal training programs for student leaders
Advise Jewish student group boards with their regular meetings and student program planning
Be available for student-initiated private discussions, refer to counseling or to other resources on campus or in the local community
Responsible for implementing, facilitating, and guiding the Jewish Learning Fellowship, student internships and other student-driven projects
Engagement
Contact uninvolved students through personal calls, various social media platforms, Facebook, email, tabling on campus, one-one one conversations, and other efforts
Ability to relate to students from diverse backgrounds and Jewish knowledge
Identify uninvolved student populations and develop strategies for contacting and serving them
Identify potential student leaders and interns
Stay up to date with campus-wide trends and culture
Keep records of every interaction with new students
Establish and nurture one-on-one relationships with students
Guide students towards becoming more involved with Jewish community in a way that helps them advance on his/her own Jewish path
Track student participation in Schwipe, assist in gathering Measuring Excellence and other engagement data
Programs
Planning and evaluation of overall program strategies and offerings.
Support student-initiated programs
Help plan, staff, organize, and recruit for overall Hillel of Silicon Valley programs and initiatives, including but not limited to Shabbat dinners, Jewish holiday celebrations, cooking classes, social action projects and Jewish learning
Attend programs (including evening, weekends, and some Jewish holidays.)
Liaison to Jewish agencies and University organizations regarding partnerships and joint efforts
Assist in the recruitment for Taglit-Birthright Israel trips (recruitment is a year-long effort)
Publicity
Coordinate campus and community publicity, including flyers, newspaper articles, calendars, brochures, e-mails, social media posts (including Facebook events and Instagram), Facebook events, and website
Keep track of social media trends and adapt to students’ needs
Assist the Special Projects Coordinator with content for creating and publishing the weekly newsletter and sending using Constant Contact
Administration
Provide regular program and engagement reports
Maintain records for student information, programs and attendance
Ensure campus advisers are informed and included in Jewish student groups’ activities, status, and partner together to troubleshoot issues
Coordinate that Jewish student groups are properly registered at their campus and in full compliance with school requirements
Logistical Support
Provide logistical support for assigned programs including set up and clean up for Shabbat dinners and other events at the House, etc.
Recruit students for Hillel’s main fundraising event of the year (L’Dor V’Dor) and provide support to committee members.
Mentoring and Referral
Be available for student-initiated private discussions, refer to counseling or to other resources on campus or in the local community
Supervise Programming Interns
Program Coordination, Supervision, and Staff Development
Participate in weekly supervisory sessions with Assistant Director, as well regular meetings with other program staff and all-staff meetings as needed and scheduled.
Participate in relevant staff development opportunities as are able.