Executive Director – HUC-JIR Research Center, Cincinnati, OH

Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion

Cincinnati, Ohio

The Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion (HUC-JIR) seeks a visionary and entrepreneurial leader to serve as the Executive Director (ED) of the Cincinnati Campus Research Center. The inaugural Executive Director will have the opportunity to pioneer a new chapter for HUC-JIR in its historic home as they work to assess, develop, and represent a unified campus structure and program. Building upon this world-renowned institution of learning and scholarship, the Executive Director will leverage its unique resources to convene scholars, students, and Jewish leaders who will advance scholarship and generate new ideas that will energize American Judaism.

Founded in 1875, HUC-JIR cultivates scholars, leaders, and change-makers transforming Jewish communities worldwide. HUC-JIR educates leaders for service to the Reform Movement and the Jewish people as rabbis, cantors, educational leaders, nonprofit professionals, and pastoral counselors, and offers graduate programs to scholars and clergy of all faiths. With campuses in four cities on two different continents Cincinnati, Jerusalem, Los Angeles, and New York HUC-JIR’s centers of learning serve as an inclusive, sacred, and respectful environment for intellectual and spiritual exploration.

For the last 150 years, Hebrew Union College–Jewish Institute of Religion has spearheaded the work of uncovering, understanding, and communicating the power and relevance of the Jewish story. With the closure of our small residential degree and ordination programs in Cincinnati, HUC-JIR is refocusing the Cincinnati campus as a center for research and educational engagement: strengthening the impact of the American Jewish Archives (AJA), Klau Library, Skirball Museum, and HUC Press; and creating new educational opportunities for students and faculty from our other campuses, visiting scholars, North American Jewish congregations, and Reform movement partners to study on the historic campus. With a goal of developing and advancing a dynamic research agenda for the Cincinnati Research Center, the Executive Director will address several key priorities, including the assessment and elevation of the campus’ archives and centers, exploring partnership opportunities that will enable the development of robust programs, and strengthening ties with the Cincinnati community region.

Key Opportunities and Challenges for the Executive Director

As the Cincinnati Campus enters a new chapter, the ED will be expected to address the following key opportunities and challenges:

  1. Assess the existing units and programs to help HUC reach its new ambitions as a leading research center
  2. Revitalize and amplify the Cincinnati campus and its unparalleled institutions of Jewish research and culture
  3. Forge new and impactful partnerships with community and academic stakeholders
  4. Shepherd the HUC and surrounding community through a time of evolution
  5. Enhance fundraising and resource generation for the Cincinnati campus

Applications, Inquiries, and Nominations

Screening of complete applications will begin immediately and continue until the completion of the search process. Inquiries, nominations, referrals, and CVs with cover letters should be sent via the Isaacson, Miller website for the search: https://www.imsearch.com/open-searches/hebrew-union-college-jewish-institute-religion-cincinnati-campus/executive-director. Electronic submission of materials is strongly encouraged. The expected compensation range is $165,000-180,000.

Jaime Morgen, Debbie Scheibler, and Cara Meyers

Isaacson, Miller

1000 Sansome Street, Suite 300

San Francisco, CA 94111

Phone: 415.655.4900

Hebrew Union College is an Equal Opportunity Employer, drug-free workplace, and complies with ADA regulations as applicable.

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