The Associated Talmud Torahs (ATT) has supported Orthodox Jewish day schools in the Chicago area for nearly 100 years, serving as a unifying central educational partner. ATT acts as the connective tissue between schools by fostering collaboration among principals, lay leaders, and teachers. ATT strengthens schools to meet the needs of their diverse student populations, advocate for financial resources, and promote ongoing growth for educators.
ATT focuses on four specific pillars: Funding Liaison; Professional Development; REACH; Teacher Welfare/Support.
ATT’s Board seeks a new executive leader to implement the recent strategic plan, with the following characteristics:
- Lived experience in the Orthodox world: familiarity with full spectrum of practice, beliefs
- Agile: positive growth mindset - open to listening, learning, adapting, integrating change
- Partnership and “assertive collaboration” mentality: clear that community unity is core and respectful of all parts of the continuum and able to network/navigate well; accept constructive criticism, divergent opinions; ability to say no when best for overall system
- Confident, but humble: comfort in forging trusting relationships with internal ATT staff and Board, school lay leaders, JUF, and other funders
- Solid organizational skills: visionary, strategic, process-oriented, respected management
With clear strategic priorities in place, ATT plans to hire an experienced, wise, and respected leader who envisions a long-term career at the helm of this important educational umbrella organization.
A competitive salary and benefits package will be offered commensurate with experience.
ATT Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
Job Type: Full-time (in-office and remote-work): 3531 Madison St, Skokie, IL
Reports To: ATT Board of Directors (for formal and informal evaluations)
Supervises: Superintendent of Education, Director of Professional Development, Executive Director of REACH, Director of Development, Financial Controller, Director of HR, Office Manager
Summary:
- Serve as face of the organization and its mission to all stakeholders.
- Direct financial strategy, oversee the budget, ensure transparency, and communicate with the board to succeed in 4 strategic pillars.
- Create and manage overall operating budget to grow and succeed in 4 strategic pillars.
- Build internal capacity to bolster services offered to day schools, per the strategic plan.
- Partner with day schools, to support efforts, secure Federation funding, brainstorm ideas and solutions for them to succeed.
- Supervise fundraising activities and cultivate relationships to support the work.
- Develop and oversee marketing strategy and messaging to the community at large.
Principal Responsibilities:
- Institutional Advancement: Serve as face of the ATT in fundraising, developing and cultivating relationships with the Board, launch and oversee a council of school lay leaders for operational issues, and other external stakeholders. Guide the process to bring in the necessary funds to balance the budget and expand and grow the four pillars. In addition to personal solicitations, collaborate with program staff to utilize their knowledge and skills in planning, grant-writing and presentations. Work closely with senior leadership and the development and finance committees to plan, solicit, cultivate, and monitor donations from Federation, major individual donors, community, and foundations.
- Executive Leadership and Management: Manage the internal workings of the organization toward achieving the current strategic plan goals and culture. This includes the direct supervision, growth, development, and performance of the senior leadership team. Supervise the office manager. Plan and coordinate Board meetings and functions with Board President(s) and committee chairs, serve as ex-officio member of the ATT Board.
- Strategic Communications: Develop effective marketing, communications strategy to cultivate and steward relationships with schools, national and local community organizations.
Qualifications: Skills, Experience, and Knowledge Requirements:
- 10 years of strong professional and nonprofit organizational leadership, with goal-setting/results orientation, flexibility, networking, collaboration and decision, focus, calm
- Strong interpersonal relationship skills, strategies to maintain unity of diverse community
- Passion about education required; executive background in day schools optional
- 5 years of proven fundraising experience and success
- Effective supervision/staff management – accountability, support, and work/life balance
- Strong oral and written communication skills, internally and externally
- Advanced degree and/or relevant ordination preferred
