Assistant Director

University of Connecticut Hillel

Role Overview

UConn Hillel is seeking a dynamic, engaging, and innovative Jewish professional to join our team as Assistant Director. We’re looking for a creative leader with strong organizational and Jewish literacy skills, an entrepreneurial spirit, and a passion for building community. As Assistant Director, you’ll shape vibrant Jewish life at UConn by leading programs, student engagement, and leadership development. You’ll bring together the many moving parts of our programs and projects—ensuring that staff, students, and initiatives are connected and thriving. Working in partnership with a talented staff team and inspiring student leaders, you’ll help advance UConn Hillel’s mission: to connect Jewish students to one another and to their Judaism, to empower the next generation of Jewish leaders, and to nurture a welcoming, thriving Jewish community on campus.

What You’ll Do

• Supervise, mentor, and support the engagement team while guiding student leaders and interns through retreats, coaching, and leadership development.
• Work with student leaders and staff to envision, co-create, and implement high-impact programs and Jewish experiences - including Shabbat and holiday celebrations, the Hummus Experience, FYSH (First Year Students of Hillel), and other signature initiatives.
• Serve as a Jewish educator and role model, bringing Jewish learning, values, and creativity into all aspects of campus life and student engagement.
  Oversee marketing, social media, and internal communications to ensure alignment across the team. Manage the program calendar and support clear, consistent information flow throughout the organization.
• Manage student engagement tracking and the data management system as part of Hillel International’s Measuring Excellence initiative, helping staff and students make thoughtful, data-informed decisions.
• Build partnerships across campus and the broader community through collaborations, interfaith initiatives, sponsorships, and campus-wide events. Lead team meetings, coordinate major programs like Welcome Week and Family Weekend, oversee the program budget, and pursue grant opportunities.
• Participate in ongoing Jewish learning and professional development. Attend programs regularly, including evenings, Shabbat, and Jewish holidays.

What You’ll Bring to the Job

• 3–5 years of professional experience (Hillel experience strongly preferred), ideally in Jewish, experiential, or higher education settings.
• A bachelor’s degree required; an advanced degree is a plus.
• A passion for working with emerging adults, helping them grow as Jewish leaders, and a deep belief in the potential of every student.
• Strong Jewish literacy and a desire to serve as a Jewish role model and educator in a pluralistic setting.
• Proven ability to supervise, motivate, and empower others, while managing multiple projects and keeping a team aligned.
• Excellent organizational, written, and verbal communication skills; able to engage effectively with students, parents, colleagues, alumni, and campus partners.
• A creative, entrepreneurial mindset with a proactive, collaborative, and solutions-oriented approach.
• Strategic thinking skills with attention to detail, deadlines, and follow-through.
• Familiarity with campus culture and a commitment to creating an inclusive, welcoming, and vibrant Jewish community.
• Openness to feedback, reflection, and ongoing learning—both personally and organizationally.

What You’ll Receive

• Competitive salary in the non-profit marketplace. The salary range for this role is $75,000 - $85,000. 
• A comprehensive benefits package, including health insurance, retirement plan, Life, AD&D, and Long Term Disability (LTD) insurances, generous vacation/sick time, and parental leave.
• Great professional development, mentoring, and skill-building opportunities. 
• Travel regionally and abroad, particularly to Israel as relevant.
• While this role is a fully onsite position, there is work-from-home flexibility during winter and summer semester breaks.

About UConn Hillel and Storrs, CT

UConn Hillel provides a friendly, warm, and pluralistic environment in which students can shape their college experience by connecting socially, culturally, and spiritually to their Judaism. Hillel operates out of a beautiful 8,500 square foot facility in the center of the flagship Storrs campus and near the Kosher dining hall. With almost 2,000 Jewish college students, Hillel offers students the means to explore and celebrate their Jewish identity in a dynamic and comfortable environment. Each year, Hillel connects students to their community, their peers, and their heritage through an array