Northshore Assistant JSU Director

Who We Are: 

NCSY, a program of the Orthodox Union, connects with Jewish teens through innovative, cutting-edge social and recreational programs to develop a positive Jewish identity. NCSY inspires Jewish teens through informal Jewish education, retreats and summer programs. NCSY empowers teens through leadership development and guidance to become passionately committed leaders of the Jewish community and instruments for positive change and renewal.   

The Orthodox Union (OU) is one of the largest Orthodox Jewish organizations in the United States. Founded in 1898, the OU supports a network of synagogues, youth programs, Jewish and Religious Zionist advocacy programs, programs for the disabled, localized religious study programs, and international units. The OU maintains a kosher certification service, whose circled U symbol, Ⓤ, is found on the labels of many kosher commercial and consumer food products. 

Position Overview:  

The Assistant Director supports the Director and works closely with regional leadership to oversee JSU chapter activities, including running clubs in local schools, starting new ones, and organizing educational and social programming. They manage chapter events, recruit teens and advisors, maintain strong relationships with teens and parents, and help coordinate regional and Jr. NCSY programs. Responsibilities also include logistical planning, communication, financial tracking, and regular collaboration with the Director. Additionally, the Assistant Director plays a key role in summer program recruitment and ongoing teen engagement throughout the year.

Key Responsibilities:

JSU Chapter Activities

•         Plan and organize weekly JSU clubs to inspire Jewish pride and identity in the North Shore area public high schools for which you are responsible, working with the local teacher sponsor and teens to ensure the club’s viability in the school and to arrange scheduling with the school and teens. (Current JSU schools are Niles North, Evanston Township, Glenbrook South, Highland Park, Vernon Hills, Buffalo Grove, Rochelle Zell, and Aptakisic Jr. High)

•         Start 5 new JSU global campus JSU clubs (can be in other cities, not restricted to Chicago) and support/run these clubs throughout the year.

•         Help start new 5 JSU clubs in middle/junior schools and High Schools in the area. Including but not limited to NBJH, Shepard, Caruso, Attea, Twin Groves, etc.

•         Advertise and recruit for clubs, utilizing print materials posted within the schools, homeroom announcements within the schools, and emails to club participant lists to reach your target attendance number. 

•         Plan educational materials, programs, and activities for your JSU clubs. This can be developed from the North Shore team, or you can use resources from the education website, or other staff members. 

•         Pick up food and other refreshments to bring with you to each JSU club meeting.

•         Develop relationships with the participants in JSU clubs so that those teens can be exposed to Jewish life outside their club time.

•         Work to develop JSU programs outside of the club and recruit teens to those programs, including but not limited to Shabbat Experiences, JSU Scoop, Jewish Scholars Program, Holiday programs, Relief Mission Trips, Leadership conferences, and regional Shabbatons.

•         Attend all local programming and events, helping to plan, recruit, and prepare for each one.