Embark Program Manager

Job Description

Job Description

About the Role:  

Embark is Mem Global's rabbi-led cohort program for couples in interfaith and mixed-heritage relationships. Within the larger Mem Global ecosystem, Embark offers couples a warm, meaningful entry point into Jewish life and connects them to the wider network of Mem Global communities and programs as their journey continues. 

This work could not be more important. Interfaith couples are a central part of the Jewish future: Pew Research Center's 2020 study found that 72% of non-Orthodox Jews who married since 2010 have a spouse who is not Jewish. Yet many of these couples still struggle to find a place where both partners feel genuinely welcomed. The decisions they make together about holidays, community, and how to raise a family will shape Jewish life for generations. Embark meets couples at exactly that moment, with rabbis who lead with curiosity, warmth, and respect for both partners. 

Embark takes a national view of this work and is growing quickly. We plan to run 40 cohorts in 2027, grow to 60 in 2028, and reach 100 cohorts by 2030, building a presence in communities across North America. That growth depends on strong systems, smart recruitment, and someone who can hold many moving parts together. The Program Manager is that person: the operational backbone of Embark, working alongside our Executive Director and a growing network of Embark Rabbis to make sure every cohort is well recruited, well run, and well documented as we scale. 

About Mem Global:  

Mem Global is where Jewish young adults in their 20s and early 30s come to connect, explore, and create meaningful Jewish experiences with their peers. As the umbrella brand for our global suite of programs, Mem Global supports young adults as they bring Judaism to life through thousands of peer-driven gatherings across 25+ countries each year. We're all about creating spaces where Jewish young adults can lead, embrace, learn, and build the kind of community that will build a strong and vibrant Jewish future for all of us. 

Mem Global is the largest organization serving Jewish young adults, with over 15,000 programs worldwide annually. We have 84 employees, 72 US-based and 12 internationally, and many more contractors and educators who carry our mission forward. Mem Global has five hubs around the US: Charlotte, Encinitas, Chicago, Washington, DC, and New York City. For more on our culture and programming, check out our Instagram: @mem.global.  

Who You Are and What You'll Do:  

This role is for a mission-driven self-starter who loves both the details and the big picture. Here is who we are looking for and how you will spend your time. 

• Work environment: You are passionate about our mission, thrive in a fast-paced environment, and take ownership of your work with an entrepreneurial spirit. You don't wait for direction to solve problems, seize opportunities, or get projects done. You take initiative. You are intrinsically motivated, comfortable with self-direction, and excited by the opportunity to both execute and innovate. You are detail-oriented, adaptable, and efficient, able to juggle multiple priorities while ensuring successful programs. You sit in a different geographic area than the Executive Director, but know when to check in and how to collaborate.  

• Our Program's Mission: You believe in creating deeper access points for couples in interfaith/mixed-heritage relationships and have a strong enthusiasm for young adult Jewish engagement.  

• You have strong organizational, data management, logistics planning, networking, recruitment, and project management skills while managing many moving parts. 

• You are creative in your work and bring a sense of welcoming and excitement to the work you do and the people you engage with. 

• You'll work with Embark Rabbis to provide recruitment strategies, manage enrollment logistics, data tracking, and engage in regular communication with the rabbis leading Embark cohorts. 

Communication and Outreach:  

You will make sure the right couples hear about Embark and feel invited in. This means leading recruitment, keeping our messaging clear and consistent, and helping Mem Global colleagues share Embark with confidence. 

• Drive recruitment and brand engagement for Embark programs through partnerships, stakeholder communications, attending conferences, social media, and paid advertisements. 

• Partner with the Executive Director and marketing team on messaging that establishes Embark as the leading rabbi-led interfaith cohort program in North America and beyond. 

• Manage participant communications, including email, newsletters, and WhatsApp communities. 

• Work with our marketing team and Executive Director to maintain and update the website to ensure accurate program information, registration links, and content creation. 

• Serve as Embark's internal advocate: partner with other Mem Global program teams to share Embark with their participants and equip staff to speak about the program confidently so everyone who could benefit knows it is an opportunity for them. 

Program Implementation and Logistics:  

You will keep every cohort running smoothly behind the scenes, from vendors and contracts to data, reporting, and evaluation, so our rabbis can focus on the couples in front of them. 

• Work in partnership with the Embark Rabbis to research, secure, and manage vendor relationships for transportation and event services, negotiating cost-effective and risk-free contracts. 

• Manage and update contracts and program finances, including staff documents, contractor payments, and travel reimbursements. 

• Create weekly registration reports for the Executive Director and other relevant team members in order to stay on top of program recruitment numbers and reports. 

• Work with an external evaluator to ensure pre- and post-retreat surveys are successfully administered by Embark Rabbis. 

• Support the Executive Director with onboarding new Embark Rabbis and conduct regular check-ins to collect program insights, photos, and feedback. 

• Ensure Rabbis receive the proper physical and digital materials and assets needed throughout their program. 

Program Enrollment:  

You will own the participant journey from application to arrival, making registration, scholarships, and accommodations simple and welcoming, and using enrollment data to spot trends as we grow. 

• Process program registration and applications through Salesforce and Evareg. 

• Manage the scholarship program, including tracking scholarship recipients, overseeing communication with those receiving a scholarship, and processing refunds when needed. 

• Oversee participant program accommodations and coordinate in partnership with their Embark Rabbi as needed. 

• Manage participant data within Salesforce and Monday.com, ensuring seamless tracking and reporting. 

Embark Ambassador:  

You will be a visible face of Embark, in person and online. This role requires travel 4 to 6 times per year to observe cohorts, join team gatherings, and represent Embark at national conferences: 

• Serve as a public representative of Embark, engaging with participants, rabbis, and external partners. 

• Partner with the Executive Director to provide updates on program growth, impact, and key learnings. 

• Attend and observe Embark cohorts around the country through periodic on-site visits throughout the year. 

• Travel to team gatherings around the country, including StaffyCon, NattyCon, and other staff convenings, when they are held. 

• Attend annual conferences around the country to promote the Embark brand and mission. 

Programmatic Leadership and Support for Mem Global Special Projects:  

As Embark scales, new ideas and new models will be essential. In addition to core program responsibilities, you will work directly with Embark's Executive Director to support, develop, and grow new initiatives. This may include: 

• Piloting innovative engagement strategies and testing new program models. 

• Evaluating existing processes to improve efficiency and impact. 

• This role requires a proactive problem-solver who can work autonomously to test new ideas, iterate quickly, and help shape the future of our work. 

What You Bring:  

The ideal candidate pairs strong operational skills with a genuine love for welcoming people into Jewish life. 

• You have a bachelor's degree in communications, data management, logistics, Judaic Studies, or a related field, or an equivalent four years of additional, relevant, full-time work experience. 

• You have three to five years of full-time professional experience, preferably in immersive experiences, program coordination, communications, event planning, and/or Jewish communal work. 

• You bring strong written and verbal communication skills, meticulous attention to detail, and experience managing social media (Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter). 

• You have intermediate fluency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Forms) and familiarity with WordPress, Salesforce, Monday.com, and Constant Contact (preferred). 

• You have demonstrated success in event management, vendor relations, and project management. 

• You are comfortable handling financial transactions and data tracking with accuracy. 

• You can confidently represent the program to stakeholders, including participants, rabbis, and community members. 

• You thrive in a fast-moving environment, balancing multiple projects at once while maintaining high energy and productivity. 

• You are a natural relationship builder who cultivates strong partnerships across diverse stakeholders. 

• You embrace our Identity Statements and consisten