POSITION SPECIFICATION

Title: Senior Managing Director, Israel Education

Organization: The Jewish Education Project and RootOne

Location: New York, NY (Hybrid)

ABOUT THE JEWISH EDUCATION PROJECT & ROOTONE

The Jewish Education Project ("Jewish Ed Project") is a national organization that empowers Jewish pride, knowledge, and peoplehood by equipping educators across North America and beyond with the training, frameworks, and resources to reach more than 500,000 children each year. 

Since October 7, Jewish Ed Project has placed Israel education at the center of its work, creating Reimagining Israel Education, a national field-building initiative developed with the Jim Joseph Foundation and Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Philanthropies to build a new, research-based framework for Israel education.

RootOne is powered by Jewish Ed Project, seeded by a generous gift from The Marcus Foundation, and sustained by a growing community of philanthropic partners. It is a leading initiative dedicated to expanding participation in and strengthening the impact of immersive Israel travel experiences for North American Jewish teens. 

RootOne has become a driving force in teen Israel engagement. Through its voucher program and working with a broad network of organizations that focus on youth, RootOne expands access for thousands of Jewish teens each year while advancing the field through research, educational innovation, and thought leadership. 

ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY

Jewish Ed Project and RootOne seek a visionary, collaborative, and transformative Senior Managing Director of Israel Education to shape the future of Israel education across North America.

In the wake of October 7, Israel education has taken on renewed urgency as a cornerstone of Jewish identity, resilience, and the future of Jewish communal life. Through the Reimagining Israel Education initiative and beyond, Jewish Ed Project and RootOne are building a movement to ensure Jewish youth grow up proud, deeply connected to Israel and the Jewish people, and equipped to navigate today's world with confidence, resilience, and clarity. The Senior Managing Director will lead this next chapter by shaping a national Israel education strategy spanning early childhood through immersive teen travel.

Reporting jointly to the Chief Jewish Education Officer of Jewish Ed Project and the Executive Director of RootOne, and serving on their senior leadership teams, the Senior Managing Director will serve as a lead field builder for Israel education. Operating at the intersection of Jewish Ed Project and RootOne, this individual will leverage the strengths of a legacy educational institution and one of the fastest-growing initiatives in Jewish teen engagement to shape the future of Israel education.

Key Responsibilities Include:

Strategic Vision and Leadership: Building the Team and Setting the Course

• Lead and inspire a high-performing, interdisciplinary team across Jewish Ed Project and RootOne to advance a bold vision for Israel education that strengthens Jewish identity from early childhood through immersive teen travel and beyond.
• Develop and implement a cohesive educational strategy that creates a seamless continuum of Israel learning, integrating research, evaluation, and educational innovation to maximize impact.
• Partner with Jewish Ed Project’s CEO, Chief Jewish Education Officer, and RootOne’s Executive Director to define strategic priorities, drive organizational excellence, and shape the future of Israel education.
• Lead the design of comprehensive professional development, educational frameworks, and scalable learning models that equip educators to deliver impactful Israel education.

Thought Leadership, Partnership & Best Practice: Elevating the Field

• Serve as a thought leader and field builder in Israel education on behalf of Jewish Ed Project and RootOne; represent their shared Israel education mission through speaking, writing, convenings, and national and international partnerships.
• Advance the shared strategic vision in partnership with educators, youth organizations, trip providers, and communal leaders.
• Cultivate and maintain strong relationships with tour operators, educators, community leaders, and content providers.
• Leverage research, evaluation, and emerging trends to continually refine educational strategy, measure impact, and advance the field.

Program Implementation: Driving Impact

• Lead the design and execution of Jewish Ed Project and RootOne's educational initiatives, including the biennial Connect(ED) convening, the RootOne Educator Fellowship, and the RootOne Educational Strategy Committee —to strengthen the field of Israel education.
• Drive the evolution of Israel and Jewish education by developing innovative resources, piloting new approaches, and embedding research into program design across Jewish Ed Project and RootOne.  
• Establish standards of excellence for educational delivery across Jewish Ed Project’s educational network, RootOne's trip providers, and tour operators, using evaluation and outcomes data to strengthen Israel education and travel experiences.  
• Design and lead training for educators, trip staff, and professionals leading RootOne-affiliated Israel experiences, ensuring consistent, high-quality Israel education before, during, and in the weeks following travel.  
• Partner with RootOne's Director of Israel Partnerships and colleagues across Jewish Ed Project to deepen educational collaborations in Israel, advance teen integration, and curate educational assets that enrich the RootOne experience. 

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE

The ideal candidate is a visionary educational leader who brings a rare combination of strategic thinking, educational expertise, and the ability to translate bold ideas into lasting, field-wide impact. They are energized by the opportunity to shape the future of Israel education and strengthen the next generation's connection to Israel and the Jewish people.

• Strategic & Visionary Leadership — Demonstrated ability to establish strategic direction, inspire and develop teams, and influence organizations and partners around a shared vision for Israel education.
• Educational Leadership & Innovation — Demonstrated success leading Israel and/or Jewish educational initiatives, with deep content expertise, a track record of innovation, and significant experience designing and facilitating impactful professional learning for educators.
• Thought Leadership & Field Influence — Recognized leader in Jewish and/or Israel education with the ability to convene stakeholders, shape national conversations, and influence best practices across the field. 
• Team Leadership & Execution — Experience leading high-performing teams and complex initiatives, balancing strategic vision with strong execution while fostering collaboration and accountability.
• Data-Driven Strategy — Proven ability to leverage research, evaluation, and data to inform decision-making, strengthen educational outcomes, and drive ongoing innovation.
• Commitment to Israel Education — Passion for strengthening Jewish identity and advancing meaningful, Israel education for the next generation of Jewish youth.

EDUCATION: Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree preferred.

LANGUAGE: Proficiency in spoken and written Hebrew is an asset.

LOCATION & TRAVEL: This position operates in a hybrid environment with three days per week in the New York office. Regular travel throughout North America and Israel is expected.

COMPENSATION: Salary range of $200,000 to $220,000, commensurate with experience.

TO APPLY: Please submit a resume and thoughtful cover letter in confidence.

The Jewish Education Project and RootOne are equal opportunity employers committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace. We recruit, hire, and promote qualified individuals based on merit and without regard to any characteristics protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.