Director of Youth Engagement
Hiring for a July 1, 2026 start date. To apply, send your resume and cover letter to DYEsearch@wct.org.
About the Role
Woodlands Community Temple has a long-standing reputation for excellence in engaging our youth. The Director of Youth Engagement will build upon this success by keeping our pre- and post- b’nai mitzvah experiences fresh, innovative, and relevant to the lives of our young people. This person is responsible for the important task of building lasting relationships with and among our young people, helping them to find a path of Jewish engagement that meets their particular interests and needs, mentoring teens to bring to fruition their own vision for youth programming, and ensuring that Woodlands is a place that welcomes teens wherever they are on their Jewish journey.
WE ARE: A vibrant, inclusive 400-family Reform congregation in White Plains, NY that welcomes innovation, values compassion, and where members and professionals work in partnership with one another. We want every Woodlands kid to develop a comfortable and confident Jewish identity through a diverse menu of engagement opportunities and experiences rooted in Jewish culture, ritual and values.
YOU ARE: Driven to impart Jewish learning and values to the next generation, love working with and mentoring teens, dedicated to experiential education, and capable in the classroom. You have the knowledge and skills to lead, but also a willingness to collaborate and a desire to innovate.
This is a 10 month (academic year) position at Woodlands Community Temple with summers open for other employment opportunities. We encourage the Director to join the staff of a URJ summer camp or similar Jewish youth program. For the right candidate, there is an opportunity for this position to be a CLASP Fellow, serving both Woodlands and a local URJ camp.
The Director of Youth Engagement will report directly to the Director of Congregational Learning (DCL). As Director of Youth Engagement your responsibilities will include:
Teen Engagement
- Create, innovate, and implement the vision and programming for teen engagement that reflects the wants and needs of our temple youth, as well as the latest insights in youth engagement.
- Develop individualized pathways to Jewish engagement both within and outside of our temple in order to help each young person find a way that is most authentic for them.
- Foster deep, significant relationships with our youth.
- Coordinate and facilitate a madrichol leadership program that helps our teens build leadership skills. This is done in consultation with the Director of Congregational Learning.
- Advise WoodSY, the Woodlands youth group, which functions as a “for teens, by teens” leadership opportunity within the youth community.
- Cultivate a safe and meaningful environment for youth participating in each and every program.
- Evaluate goals and effectiveness of programs upon completion in order to improve future programming.
- Maintain our alumni network by communicating with WCT post-high school students in coordination with clergy and senior staff.
- Promote URJ camps and teen programs.
- Promote participation in the New York Area Region of NFTY, and participate in events along with teens from WCT. Build a relationship with NFTY-NAR leadership and other area youth professionals. Take an active role building NFTY presence within the temple and regionally.
Immersive Experiences
- Develop, chaperone, and manage logistics for immersive experiences created at WCT or available via outside agencies such as, but not limited to, annual teen retreats and trips, 3rd/4th grade late night, 5th/6th day trip, 8th grade retreat, 9th grade sexuality retreat, L’Taken, Civil Rights Journey, and Immigration Journey.
- Assist clergy, staff, and lay leadership in the planning and execution of immersive experiences for all ages.
Religious School
- Develop and teach the 7th grade program, which includes the Mitzvah Challenge, “What It Means To Become B-Mitzvah” curriculum, Comparative Judaism, and Holocaust Education in partnership with the Director of Congregational Learning.
- Creatively develop and run the Monday night high school Academy program with support from the Director of Congregational Learning. This includes envisioning curriculum, teaching classes, advising staff, developing the calendar of events, and acting as lead point person on Monday nights.
- Build team identity and relationships with 3rd through 6th grades as a way to foster future engagement via retreats planned with support of the DCL, school board, and faculty.
Ritual & Worship
- Work with the WoodSY Religious and Cultural Vice President to develop and execute teen services for Erev Rosh Hashanah and Kol Nidre.
- Participate in leading family services on the High Holy Days.
- Participate in congregational Friday evening and lifecycle services including but not limited to grade level Shabbat dinners/services for Academy students, Graduation Shabbat, Shavuot/Confirmation services, Simchat Torah services, Yom HaShoah services, and Shabbat HaMorim.
- Empower teens to participate in and help lead regular community worship with support from the clergy, as well as to create and lead youth worship opportunities.
Marketing & Communications
- Develop and execute marketing plans, using all available vehicles including but not limited to social media, print, WCT website, experiential, one-to-one contact, and Makom for all youth and community engagement programs.
- Manage the WoodSY social media platforms. Oversee the postings of the WoodSY VP of Communications to ensure appropriate, timely postings in accordance with temple social media policy.
- Maintain communication channels with temple teens and their families to keep them informed of programs and engaged as a part of the community. This includes a monthly email of upcoming events both from the temple and greater Jewish community (i.e., NFTY and URJ) and WhatsApp groups.
- Maintain email lists for teens, teen parents, madrichol, college students, and recent college graduates.
Administrative Responsibilities
- Attend weekly staff meetings, monthly school board meetings and monthly Board of Trustees meetings.
- Responsible for management of youth activities budget with oversight by Director of Congregational Learning, including appropriate planning and oversight of WoodSY and other youth and community programming expenses and fundraising.
- Maintain attendance records at youth events and work with professional staff and lay leadership to analyze attendance and utilization for future planning and cost control.
- Seek out and attend professional development opportunities by the Jewish Education Project, Jewish Federation, URJ and other organizations.
Qualifications
- Minimum 2 years of experience working with young people through religious school teaching, Jewish camp experience, or other Jewish educational programs.
- BA required; Masters degree or advanced study/certification in education/ Jewish education, experiential learning, or related areas is a plus.
- Computer skills, knowledge of social media, and Google Suite.
- Knowledge and appreciation of, and respect for, the mission of the Reform Jewish movement.
- Understanding of the developmental needs of children and teens.
- Ability to communicate appropriately with professional staff, lay leaders and parents.
- Strong organizational and interpersonal skills.
Salary Range $43,000 - $48,000 (paid over a 12 month period) plus benefits