Operations Manager

About Us:

The New Synagogue Project (“NSP”) is a membership synagogue located in Petworth, D.C. Our mission is to build a spiritually vibrant, radically inclusive Jewish community that reflects our vision for a world of justice, equity, and liberation. Our community is built by and for religious, secular, and atheist Jews, families with kids, partnered and single people, queer and trans people, disabled and chronically ill people, D/deaf and hard of hearing folks, interfaith families, Jews of color and white Jews, and anyone interested in exploring and experiencing Jewish life. We are a multiracial community committed to dismantling racism and white supremacy.

As the Operations Manager, you will work closely with the Synagogue Director as well as the Rabbi and many lay leaders to drive the administrative and facilities functions of NSP, to ensure NSP continues to offer high quality programs with smooth operations to support our 700+ members.

About You (You have most of the following traits):

• You are able to carry projects forward with minimal supervision, and have a knack for detail, data, and logistics.
• You’re dead set on crossing every ‘t’ and dotting every ‘i’ to make sure events run smoothly and joyfully from start to finish, and you’re flexible and adaptive to unexpected circumstances.
• You’re eager to take initiative; when you see a problem, you think through a solution and implement or propose it swiftly.
• You have excellent communication skills and are able to communicate clearly and transparently with both individuals and groups through email and over the phone. And you go out of your way to foster connections between people, help solve problems, and work collaboratively.
• You are comfortable managing the operations of a facility, including keeping managing supply inventory, managing relationships with contractors, and keeping the building organized.
• You’re comfortable learning and teaching yourself new technology platforms, such as Breeze, our database tool.
• You’re familiar with G Suite (GoogleDrive, Gmail, Google Meet, etc.) and have experience with spreadsheets (Excel/Google Sheets), Microsoft Word, including mail merge, Zoom, a database/CRM tool, a website editor such as WordPress, and an email communications platform such as MailChimp.
• You have at least 3 years of professional experience in fields such as administration, logistics, facilities management, planning, or events coordination. Experience in volunteer-driven settings is a plus.
• You have experience managing staff and volunteers, particularly in the context of events.
• You are familiar with Jewish religious life and culture or are interested in learning. (You do not need to be Jewish.)
• You are passionate about furthering the mission of NSP, as a radically inclusive, liberation-focused synagogue, and committed to anti-racism and accessibility values.

About the Role:

This is a full-time role requiring 40 hours/week, reporting to the Synagogue Director. It is currently a remote position with some in-person responsibilities in Washington, DC but will transition to a full-time in-person position in the Petworth neighborhood of DC in early 2027. This role requires in-person presence at the Jewish High Holidays and regular special events and other holiday programming.

The position will require occasional weekend and evening hours. The position will have flex hours during the week to accommodate the evening and weekend work.

This role requires the use of a cell phone and laptop, as well as access to the internet and a driver’s license. The role requires regular lifting of up to 40 pounds, as well as occasional driving if the candidate has a car. The position includes a technology stipend of $20/month.

NSP mandates COVID vaccination for all staff, as well as any attendees of in person events. Learn more about NSP’s COVID policy here.

The person in this position will be responsible for:

• Managing NSP’s new facility (soon to be under renovation, estimated move early 2027)
  • Hiring and coordinating with third-party service providers and contractors, including for construction, regular maintenance, and emergency repairs
  • Overseeing access controls and other building systems, and troubleshooting facilities and technology problems
  • Managing building staff, including scheduling
  • Managing facilities rental process
  • Organizing supplies and maintaining supply inventory
• Administering daily operations and logistics that support fundraising, financial operations, human resources, and membership, including:
  • Data management including keeping membership dues and donation information current, managing the annual pledge renewal process, and running regular database reports
  • Processing checks and checking the PO Box (located in Park View, DC) weekly (until our mail moves to the new location)
  • Contractor/vendor onboarding, invoice processing, and expense tracking
  • Managing NSP’s human resources and benefits platforms
  • Training & supporting volunteers’ and staffs’ use of the database, and managing NSP’s G Suite programs
  • Identifying needs, priorities, opportunities, and pathways to continually improve NSP’s systems and policies as we continue to grow, and partnering with other NSP staff and leaders to design and implement solutions, as time allows
• Managing events and programming planning and logistics, including:
  • Overseeing NSP’s calendar of events, tracking event planning timelines and ensuring milestones are met to ensure well-attended programs with clear communication and smooth logistics
  • Managing Event Staff (PT position) to ensure onsite logistics run smoothly
  • Event planning and coordination for special events, such as High Holidays, Purim, Hanukkah, Annual Retreat, and Annual Membership Meeting, in partnership with volunteers
  • Working with staff, leaders, and volunteers to ensure volunteer roles for in-person events are filled and volunteers are supported with instructions and training as needed
  • Administrative support and oversight for volunteer-led programs
  • Responding to individual access requests and coordinating ASL interpretation, CART captioning, ramps, and other access equipment & personnel needed to make Synagogue programming and operations accessible to all who wish to join
• Coordinating communications, including:
  • Managing the email communications calendar and coordinating with social media manager to promote upcoming events and programs
  • Responding to member inquiries via email or determining who should respond
  • Designing and sending twice weekly events newsletters
  • Keeping MailChimp email lists up-to-date
  • Updating NSP’s website