Associate Director

The Associate Director of the Center for Jewish Studies (CJS) serves as an integral part of the Center's leadership team. The Center for Jewish Studies is the intellectual, instructional, and programmatic home for Jewish Studies at the University of Minnesota. The Center is a research hub that also offers an undergraduate curriculum (major and minor in Jewish Studies) and engages in extensive community outreach programming. This role requires excellent management and communication skills, and it is expected that the Associate Director has broad expertise in the field of Jewish studies. The Associate Director oversees day-to-day operations of the Center, manages CJS communications in consultation with the Director, assists in the planning and administration of conferences, symposia, and community outreach activities, assists the director in fundraising activities, manages the undergraduate curriculum, and teaches one undergraduate course in both the fall and spring terms.

The Associate Director is a full-time, continuous 12-month position reporting to the Director of the Center for Jewish Studies, with flexibility to work remotely on days when an on-campus presence is not required. The on-campus office location is 216 Pillsbury Dr. on the Twin Cities East Bank.

Primary Responsibilities:

Administrative Leadership (50%)

• Manage daily operations of the Center, including responding to inquiries from CJS faculty, students, campus partners, community partners, and community members.
• Supervise the CJS Outreach Coordinator, collaborating and communicating closely about daily operations, budgetary matters, communication strategies, as well as the planning and administration of long-term projects and CJS programming.
• Collaborate with the Outreach Coordinator and with CLA External Relations in maintaining and updating the CJS website, providing content as needed.
• Coordinate with the Director on the appropriate management of CJS budget and fiscal affairs.
• Serve as co-chair (with the Director) of the Jewish Studies steering committee.
• Collaborate with the Director on the planning and organization of conferences, symposia, and lectures, including the annual Community Lecture series (a high-profile series of 6-8 lectures each year by visiting scholars, held off-campus).
• Collaborate with the Outreach Coordinator in the writing and production of the Community Lecture Series brochure.
• Assist the Director in constituting the Community Advisory Board, communicating with the Advisory Board, and conducting Advisory Board meetings.
• Develop the content, write, edit, and produce the CJS Annual Magazine, including soliciting articles from faculty and graduate students, writing profile pieces about faculty members, and showcasing the achievements of the faculty, graduate students, and undergraduates.
• Build and strengthen relationships between the Jewish Studies program and departments and units across the university.
• Assist the Director in development activities, including producing fundraising literature and organizing meetings with donors and potential donors.
• Serve as a knowledge resource, with the Director, to College and University administrators as well as other units seeking advice and consultation on matters related to Jewish history, culture, identity, and observance, as well as antisemitism.
• Engage in outreach activities that promote the vitality and visibility of Jewish Studies locally and in the wider scholarly community.
• Assist the Director in developing and administering internal program reviews.

Undergraduate Enrollments, Curriculum & Advising (17%)

• Serve as Director of Undergraduate Studies with primary responsibility for advising undergraduate majors and minors in Jewish studies.
• Coordinate advising practices with appropriate CLA and University offices (e.g., advising, Honors, Learning Abroad) to facilitate student progress and enhance student learning.
• Ensure student APAS reports are current and accurate.
• Evaluate transfer courses (in TES), in consultation with CJS faculty, for acceptance toward the Jewish studies major or minor.
• In collaboration with the Director, develop strategies for building enrollments in Jewish Studies courses.
• Serve as CJS Honors representative.
• Serve as a resource for undergraduate students seeking internships locally and nationally.
• Work closely with relevant departments and programs (Hebrew, Classical & Near Eastern Religions & Cultures, Religious Studies, History, the Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies) to coordinate course offerings and timings to optimize student participation in Jewish Studies courses.
• Oversee the cross-listing of courses with other departments.
• Assist CJS faculty with the creation of new courses.
• Ensure Jewish Studies courses and program requirements appear accurately in curriculum management systems (Coursedog, APAS, Schedulebuilder).
• Monitor and respond appropriately to enrollment issues; manage enrollment to ensure that seats in Jewish Studies course remain available to students.
• Administer CJS student scholarship, fellowship, and awards processes, including organizing and overseeing the CJS faculty scholarship awards committee and managing the scholarship budgets.
• Manage and conduct CJS required annual course assessments.
• Serve as the liaison to the UMN Learning Abroad program and to the Rothberg International School at Hebrew University, working to facilitate UMN students studying abroad (including in Europe at universities with strong programs in Jewish Studies, such as in Germany, the Czech Republic, and Hungary).
• Work with UMN Admissions to conduct outreach to prospective students in high schools in the Twin Cities and in other regions that the Office of Admissions targets, including in Jewish Day Schools.
• Conduct outreach to student organizations as well as to other UMN Twin Cities colleges with students potentially interested in Jewish studies, including Hillel and Chabad.
  

Teaching (33%)

• Teach two courses each year, one in the fall term and one in the spring term, with topics to be determined by expertise and program need and in consultation with the Director. In some years, this may include the required introductory course JWST 1034/3034 Introduction to Jewish History and Cultures.

Required Qualifications:

• BA/BS degree plus at least four years of relevant experience, or master's degree plus at least two years of relevant experience
• Demonstrated experience developing syllabi and teaching at the collegiate level, including the ability to teach large introductory courses in Jewish studies
• Experience advising/mentoring
• Experience working with online learning management systems (such as Canvas)
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Excellent administrative and management skills

Preferred Qualifications:

• PhD in Jewish Studies or a related field
• Administrative experience in a higher education context
• Demonstrated familiarity with the wide range of disciplines within Jewish Studies
• Superior interpersonal skills, including conflict-resolution skills
• Experience with program evaluation and assessment
• Experience with budget management
• Experience working with curriculum management systems

The Center for Jewish Studies is a premier center for scholarship, education, and dialogue about Jewish history and culture. With 21 faculty and affiliate members, the Center is an intellectual hub for scholars from diverse fields. Home to an undergraduate program in Jewish studies, the center sponsors classes and conferences, supports emerging scholars, partners with the community on learning and cultural activities, and brings to the community outstanding scholarship in the field of Jewish studies. We are dedicated to exploring the important questions about Jewish history and culture from antiquity to the modern age, in fulfillment of our mission: to foster a new understanding of Jewish culture and history while also fulfilling the educational mission of the liberal arts to promote critical thought, reflection on values, and analysis of sources.

Pay Range: $62,000-$70,000; depending on education/qualifications/experience

Time Appointment: 100% Appointment

Position Type: Faculty and P&A Staff

Please visit the Office of Human Resources website for more information regarding benefit eligibility.

The University offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes:

• Competitive wages, paid holidays, and generous time off
• Continuous learning opportunities through professional training and degree-seeking programs supported by the Regents Tuition Benefit Program
• Low-cost medical, dental, and pharmacy plans
• Healthcare and dependent care flexible spending accounts
• University HSA contributions
• Disability and employer-paid life insurance
• Employee wellbeing program
• Excellent retirement plans with employer contribution
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) opportunity
• Financial counseling services
• Employee Assistance Program with eight sessions of counseling at no cost
• Employee Transit Pass with free or reduced rates in the Twin Cities metro area

While our salary ranges provide a framework, it is important to note that most of the
time, the initial pay may not reach the maximum of the range. This approach ensures
that compensation reflects the value and unique contributions of each candidate while
maintaining equity within our organization. As part of our commitment to fair and
equitable compensation, please be aware that the salary offered to incoming candidates
will be based on their individual credentials and experience.

Applications must be submitted online. To be considered for this position, please click the Apply button and follow the instructions. You will be given the opportunity to complete an online application for the position and attach a cover letter and resume.

All applications must include the documents listed below. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

• CV
• Cover letter that addresses your understanding of the Jewish Studies field and its future direction
• Names and contact information for three references

Deadline for applications is 11:59 PM on Friday, July 10, 2026.

Additional documents may be attached after application by accessing your "My Job Applications" page and uploading documents in the "My Cover Letters and Attachments" section.

To request an accommodation during the application process, please e-mail employ@umn.edu or call (612) 624-8647.

The University recognizes and values the importance of diversity and inclusion in enriching the employment experience of its employees and in supporting the academic mission. The University is committed to attracting and retaining employees with varying identities and backgrounds.

The University of Minnesota provides equal access to and opportunity in its programs, facilities, and employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, age, marital status, disability, public assistance status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. To learn more about diversity at the U: http://diversity.umn.edu

Any offer of employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a background check. Our presumption is that prospective employees are eligible to work here. Criminal convictions do not automatically disqualify finalists from employment.

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC)

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC), is among the largest public research universities in the country, offering undergraduate, graduate, and professional students a multitude of opportunities for study and research. Located at the heart of one of the nation's most vibrant, diverse metropolitan communities, students on the campuses in Minneapolis and St. Paul benefit from extensive partnerships with world-renowned health centers, international corporations, government agencies, and arts, nonprofit, and public service organizations.

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