Description

Position Summary

Temple Beth El (TBE) is seeking an experienced Executive Director to provide organizational leadership and stewardship for our vibrant Reform Jewish congregation.

TBE is a growing, engaged congregation of more than 600 families who are diverse in age, background, Jewish experience, family structure, and perspective. As the largest synagogue in Madison, TBE strives to create a strong sense of belonging and connection for everyone who enters through our doors—building a community where people of all backgrounds and identities can participate meaningfully in Jewish life.

The Executive Director brings agility, sound judgment, and a collaborative approach to leading within a financially stable, evolving community: listening carefully, building consensus where possible, and communicating clearly and respectfully. Effective leadership at TBE pairs strong organizational management with genuine sensitivity to the relationships, traditions, and sense of community at the heart of congregational life.

The Executive Director serves as a strategic and organizational co-leader with the Rabbi, with primary responsibility for administrative and operational leadership. Working in partnership with the Rabbi, the Executive Director helps translate TBE’s Board-approved purpose, mission, vision, and values into day-to-day congregational activities. The Executive Director, Rabbi, and Board President collaborate with the Board to align people, resources, and priorities in support of TBE’s continued growth and effectiveness.

Reporting to the President of the Board of Directors on behalf of the Board, the Executive Director oversees TBE’s administrative and operational functions—including finance, human resources, membership administration, facilities, technology, and security. The Executive Director works closely with the Rabbi, Cantor, Director of Lifelong Learning, professional staff, and lay leadership to carry out these responsibilities. 

The Executive Director is a visible, engaged presence in the TBE community and participates in evening and weekend activities as appropriate to the role—connecting with lay leaders, attending Executive Committee and Board meetings, welcoming congregants at Shabbat services and other gatherings, and being present for the holy days, lifecycle events, and milestones that matter to our community.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership

• Maintain an organization-wide perspective—anticipating trends, risks, and opportunities across the Madison Jewish community, the broader Reform movement, and beyond.
• Balance respect for TBE’s history and traditions with openness to innovation and constructive change.
  Lead implementation of the congregation’s strategic plan, translating Board priorities into clear plans, timelines, and measurable progress.
• Help ensure that organizational decisions reflect TBE’s purpose, mission, vision, and values and advance a welcoming, inclusive, sustainable, and vibrant congregational community.

Partnership with Clergy and Lay Leadership

• Collaborate with the Rabbi, Cantor, and Director of Lifelong Learning so that operations effectively support worship, learning, lifecycle events, and community life. 
• Partner with the Board President on effective governance: clear communication, meeting preparation, follow-up, and coordination between Board and staff.
• Build productive relationships with lay leaders and volunteers, recognizing the central role volunteer leadership plays in synagogue life, and helping staff and lay leadership navigate cross-functional issues through clear roles and shared expectations.

Staff Leadership and Organizational Culture

• Recruit, develop, retain, and manage transitions among staff, consistent with TBE’s policies and lines of supervision and in consultation with clergy and lay leadership where appropriate.
• Provide clear expectations, effective supervision, constructive feedback, and opportunities for professional growth to staff within the Executive Director’s areas of responsibility.
• Promote clear, timely, transparent, and consistent internal communication so staff and lay leaders understand decisions, priorities, and changes that affect their work.
• Foster a collaborative, respectful workplace culture and oversee appropriate HR practices including compensation, benefits, performance management, and personnel records.

Financial Leadership and Development

• Oversee the development and management of the annual operating budget and ensure financial resources align with TBE’s strategic priorities, monitoring performance and providing clear, timely reporting to the Board, Treasurer, and other appropriate financial leadership.
• Ensure sound financial controls, reporting, compliance, insurance, payroll, and audit processes.
  Partner with the Board, staff, and lay leaders to develop and implement strategic development and fundraising plans that strengthen TBE’s financial sustainability and capacity for growth.
• Build and maintain relationships with donors, prospective donors, community partners, and other supporters, recognizing that philanthropy in a congregation is fundamentally relational and connected to members’ commitment to the community and its future.
• Support thoughtful approaches to congregational giving, including membership commitments, philanthropy, endowment and legacy giving, grants, and other sources of support, as appropriate.

Operational Effectiveness

• Ensure smooth day-to-day operations across administrative systems, facilities, technology, and vendor relationships, fostering inclusive and efficient decision-making.
• Ensure TBE’s practices align with its bylaws, policies, and legal and fiduciary responsibilities.
• Regularly assess organizational effectiveness and recommend improvements in structure, processes, staffing, technology, and allocation of resources.
• Provide leadership for security, emergency preparedness, and business continuity, working closely with clergy, lay leadership, staff, and community security partners as appropriate.
• Ensure effective coordination of the congregation’s major calendar priorities while also ensuring that TBE’s facilities remain welcoming, safe, accessible, and well maintained.

Congregant Experience, Membership, and Community

• Serve as an accessible, welcoming point of connection for congregants, directing questions promptly to the right staff, clergy, or lay leader when they fall outside the Executive Director’s role.
• Foster a culture where every congregant feels valued, recognizing that members contribute to TBE in many ways beyond giving.
• Provide organizational leadership and oversight for efforts to grow membership, particularly among younger individuals and families, while deepening relationships with existing members across generations and stages of life.
• Oversee effective membership administration, including systems and processes for welcoming prospective members, onboarding new members, maintaining accurate membership information, and supporting meaningful engagement and retention.
• Represent TBE and build productive relationships within the Madison Jewish community and beyond—including the Union for Reform Judaism, Secure Community Network, the Madison Police Department, and other relevant organizations, in consultation with the Rabbi.

Skills and Qualifications

Essential Qualifications and Experience

• Significant leadership and management experience in a nonprofit, religious, community, membership-based, or similarly complex mission-driven organization, including supervising and developing professional staff.
• Proven ability to lead and communicate confidently and calmly during challenging, sensitive, or rapidly changing circumstances.
• Strong financial literacy, with experience in budgeting, financial oversight, and organizational resource management.
  Experience developing and implementing organizational strategy, with strong project management, prioritization, and delegation skills.
• Demonstrated ability to build trust across diverse stakeholders, listen well, and make timely, thoughtful decisions—including when consensus isn’t possible.
• Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills, with sound judgment, integrity, and discretion—particularly when handling sensitive personnel, financial, or congregational matters.
• Comfort representing an organization publicly, and proficiency with contemporary office, communication, and database/CRM technology.
• Willingness to work a schedule that includes periodic evenings, weekends, Shabbat services, and holidays, with flexibility in recognition of those responsibilities.

Jewish and Congregational Knowledge

• Meaningful understanding of, and genuine interest in supporting, Jewish communal life and Reform Jewish practice.
• Familiarity with synagogue operations or another religious/community environment is strongly preferred; familiarity with the Reform Movement and the Madison Jewish community is a plus.
• Ability to work respectfully within a pluralistic Jewish community whose members differ in religious practice, background, and identity, with an appreciation for how the Jewish calendar and communal traditions shape synagogue operations.

Being Jewish is not a requirement for this position. Candidates from other backgrounds are encouraged to apply if they bring a strong commitment to learning about Judaism, Reform Jewish life, and the culture and traditions of Temple Beth El, and are ready to approach our religious practices and traditions with curiosity, respect, and sensitivity.

Reporting Relationship

The Executive Director reports to the President of the Board of Directors on behalf of the Board, and is accountable to the Board for implementing TBE’s purpose, mission, vision, values, policies, and strategic priorities.

Compensation Package

TBE offers a competitive compensation package commensurate with experience and qualifications. [Insert salary range, benefits, retirement contribution, paid time off, professional development support, and other applicable terms.] This is an at-will position.