Manager, Israel & Overseas - Columbus

Manager, Israel & Overseas

The Israel & Overseas Manager is a key member of the Israel & Overseas (I&O) department, responsible for leading the planning, implementation, and growth of JewishColumbus's Shinshinim (Israeli teen emissaries) program and supporting community partnerships with Israel.

Reporting to the Director of Israel and Overseas, the Manager oversees the community-wide Shinshinim program, a central strategy for strengthening Israel engagement across Columbus. This role includes program leadership, stakeholder relationship management, curricular development, and strategic coordination to ensure alignment with JewishColumbus's mission and values.

The Manager works closely with schools, synagogues, the JCC, youth organizations, and community partners to integrate Shinshinim and P2G programs into meaningful educational and experiential programming. Through these efforts, the Manager helps foster people-to-people connections that deepen understanding of Israeli society and strengthen lasting relationships between the Columbus Jewish community and Israel.

Essential Functions

Shinshinim Program Leadership

Lead the planning, coordination, and ongoing management of the Shinshinim program, ensuring its successful integration across community institutions and programs.

Supervise and mentor two Shinshinim (Israeli teen emissaries), providing guidance in their personal, professional, and leadership development while supporting their well-being throughout their year in Columbus.

Provide professional guidance on program planning, curriculum development, and community engagement through regular meetings and ongoing mentorship.

Oversee program logistics including scheduling strategy, transportation coordination, and calendar management to ensure effective community engagement.

Recruit, train, and support host families, maintaining strong relationships and clear communication throughout the program year.

Serve as the primary liaison with The Jewish Agency for Israel regarding the Shinshinim program.

Community Engagement & Israel Education

Build and maintain strategic partnerships with schools, synagogues, youth organizations, camps, and community agencies to expand Israel engagement opportunities.

Guide the development and implementation of educational and experiential programming in collaboration with community partners

Lead and support major community-wide Israel-related events and commemorations, including Yom Ha'atzmaut, Yom Hazikaron, and October 7 remembrance programs.

Represent JewishColumbus and its Israel engagement initiatives in community forums, educational settings, and public programs.

Partnership2Gether (P2G) & Israel Partnerships

Play a key role in JewishColumbus's Partnership2Gether (P2G) initiatives connecting Columbus with Kfar Saba.

Lead the planning and implementation of certain P2G programs in collaboration with lay leaders, partner agencies, and the Kfar Saba team.

Develop project plans outlining goals, objectives, timelines, and budgets while coordinating with Israeli partners to support program success.

Support the coordination of P2G delegations visiting Columbus, including scheduling, community engagement opportunities, and host family coordination.

Program Management, Evaluation & Operations

Develop program goals, success metrics, and evaluation processes to assess impact and inform future planning.

Utilize data and technology tools to support program planning, engagement tracking, and recruitment efforts.

Continuously assess programs and strategies, providing insights and recommendations to strengthen community impact and support organizational learning.

Manage program budgets, invoices, reimbursements, and related documentation in alignment with organizational policies.

Support communications and outreach efforts related to Israel engagement programs, including maintaining program information across relevant communication channels.

Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in a relevant field such as Jewish Studies, Communications, or Marketing; a master's degree is preferred.

Minimum of 3–5 years of experience in Israel engagement or a related field

Strong written and oral communication skills and a deep understanding of the Jewish community and Israel's history, culture, and trends.

Demonstrated ability to mentor and supervise young adults, particularly teens living away from home, with a strong focus on well-being, growth, and accountability

Skill in building trust while establishing clear expectations, structure, and healthy boundaries

Sound judgment, emotional intelligence, and discretion when serving as a trusted point of support

Strong program coordination and execution skills, including scheduling, logistics, transportation, and calendar management

Ability to manage multiple moving parts simultaneously while maintaining attention to detail

Experience establishing program goals, success metrics, and evaluation processes, including impact reporting

Experience developing project plans that include goals, objectives, timelines, budgets, and roles • Competence in managing budgets, invoices, reimbursements, and program-related documentation • Willingness to take initiative while remaining aligned with organizational priorities and values

Flexibility and adaptability in a dynamic, relationship-driven environment

Creative thinker with strong organizational skills

Experience working with diverse populations, including those from international backgrounds or non-native English speakers.

Self-motivated and able to work independently and collaboratively.

Proficiency in Hebrew is a plus

Willingness to travel internationally (approximately 1-2 trips per year) and work evenings or weekends as needed.

Work Environment + Schedule

Hybrid work environment, with on-site presence required Tuesday through Thursday.

Evening and weekend availability required.

Some travel may be necessary for site visits, meetings, special programs, and professional development