Gratitude and Good Wishes to Mike Uram

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October 31, 2022

Dear Pardes Community Members and Friends,

Rabbi Mike Uram, who has led Pardes North America for nearly two years, is leaving Pardes to take a new job as the Chief Jewish Education Officers of Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA) where he will serve as rabbi and educator-in-residence, increasing Jewish content in all the various areas of JFNA’s work. Part of what made this job so attractive to Mike is that it will allow him to teach groups of people in ongoing ways, serving as the rabbi to a number of different JFNA constituent groups. This kind of rabbinical work that is embedded in communities is something Mike missed after leaving Penn Hillel.

The building of Pardes North America really began with a vision developed by many of us on the Pardes team, with the initial seed gift from the AVI CHAI Foundation. Not only was money raised, but Pardes North America hired new staff, expanded its programming and engaged alumni and stakeholders to build new momentum. Rabbi Mike Uram joined the team in January of 2021 and really helped take PNA into its next phase: building powerful partnerships, expanding the staff and faculty, and leveraging the power of Mahloket Matters to communities throughout America. Mike also developed the mission and theory of change that now inform the work of PNA and positions Pardes for building the next phase of its work in North America, as detailed in our new Strategic Plan.

Mike will stay on with Pardes until the end of November to oversee a smooth transition of all of his current job responsibilities and will continue to be a friend and supporter of Pardes from his new position at JFNA. Meanwhile, we will be ensuring the continuity of our work in North America during this interim period, and will be engaged in a search for new professional leadership.

I am so grateful to Mike for his generative leadership and for taking our work in North America to a new level. We wish Mike continued hatzlachah and many brachot in his new role.

Sincerely,

Rabbi Leon Morris
President of Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies

Assistant Director of Alumni Engagement and Activation

Start date: ASAP

We are seeking a charismatic, creative, and action-oriented Assistant Director of Alumni Engagement and Activation to lead this initiative. This individual will play a key role in bridging the gap between the immersive Jerusalem-based Pardes experience and the ongoing life-long learning opportunities we offer in North America.

Key Responsibilities:

Implement and Iterate Alumni Engagement Strategies:
- Enhance the current “menu” of opportunities for Pardes alumni to both “give” to
  and “receive” from, Pardes.
  - Give: Empower alumni to take action, create initiatives, and leverage
    Pardes as a platform for leadership and innovation.
  - Receive: Encourage alumni to engage in continued learning through
    classes, retreats, Shabbatonim, cohorts, and other programs.
- Ongoing internal evaluation of efficacy of strategies and implementing iterative
  updates to enhance outcomes.
Program Development and Management:
- In collaboration with the wider team, develop and implement ideas for online and in person classes, including holiday programs, one-off shiurim, and limited series.
- Oversee the execution of programs including but not limited to: email
  correspondence and registration, coordinating with marketing, Zoom production,
  and post-program evaluation.
- Ensuring cross-departmental collaboration specifically with the engagement and
  development teams
- Serve as the project manager for select alumni cohort learning programs,
  ensuring smooth operations and successful outcomes.
Community Building and Leadership:
- Foster strong, relational connections with alumni, encouraging their active
  involvement in the Pardes community.
- Identify and cultivate connections with key alumni leaders. Lead efforts to inspire alumni to take on leadership roles within their communities, promoting Pardes’ values and educational mission.
- Cultivate and steward and existing external partnerships with organizations and
  initiatives as it relates to our Pardesnik engagement and activation work
Alumni Coaching and Mentorship:
- Provide coaching and mentorship to alumni interested in developing initiatives, such as micro-grants or local events, and support them in realizing their ideas. This may include group coaching within cohorts.
Targeted Recruitment and Outreach:
- Engage in focused recruitment and outreach efforts to involve specific alumni in relevant Pardes offerings.
- Collaborate with the wider team to manage recruitment for various programs,
  including necessary follow-up and evaluation.

Qualifications:

Proven experience in alumni relations, community engagement, or a related field.
Strong organizational and project management skills, with the ability to handle multiple tasks simultaneously.
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with a talent for building and maintaining relationships.
Creativity and initiative in developing new programs and strategies to engage alumni.
Passion for Jewish learning and a deep connection to the mission of Pardes.
Ability to work independently and as part of a collaborative team.
Willingness to travel as needed to engage with alumni across North America.

Preferred Qualifications:

Pardes alumna
Experience working in Jewish education or community leadership.
Familiarity with the Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies and its programs.
Based in New York City

Benefits:

Competitive salary commensurate with experience: $70,000-$85,000
100% health insurance coverage for the employee (dependent coverage available)
403b retirement plan with Nationwide with up to 5% contribution by employer
Paid time off & Paid holidays (Jewish and secular)
FSA
Group Life and Personal Accident Insurance
Parental leave
Remote and hybrid working option and flexible hours
Opportunities to travel domestically and to Israel to collaborate across the team
Opportunity to contribute to a dynamic and growing organization with a meaningful mission.

How to Apply:
Interested candidates should submit a resume and cover letter detailing their qualifications and passion for this role. All applications should be sent to Assistant Director of Programs at Monica at monica@pardes.org.

Cover letters should answer the following questions

What makes you passionate about this role and work?
What concrete professional or personal experiences have prepared you best for this role?
What is one project, strategy or initiative that this job description stimulates in you?
How do you ensure great teamwork and successful collaboration?
PLEASE NOTE:

Applications are due by October 8th and interviews will be the week of October 28th. We thank all applicants for their interest; however, only those candidates selected for interviews will be contacted.

Pardes North America provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants in all organizational facilities without regard to race, color, religious creed, sex, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, pregnancy, childbirth, (or related medical conditions, including, but not limited to lactation), physical disability, mental and/or intellectual disability, age, military status or status as a Vietnam-era or special disabled veteran, marital status, registered domestic partner or civil union status, gender (including sex stereotyping and gender identity or expression), medical condition (including, but not limited to, cancer-related or HIV/AIDS-related), genetic information, or sexual orientation in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws.