Job Details
Job Category: Professional/Administrative
Position Title: Director of Jewish Life
Full Time/Part Time: Full Time
Division: Office of the President
Department: President's Office
Work Arrangement type: On-Site (Hamilton, NY) – expected to work fully at the designated campus/office location.
Hiring Wage/Salary Range: $80,000 - $85,000
Professional Experience/ Qualifications:
- Demonstrated experience in Jewish traditions.
- Demonstrated ability to work effectively as part of a team.
- Ability to work effectively and collaboratively in an interfaith environment.
- Demonstrated effective organizational and communication skills.
- Demonstrated ability to work collegially with a diverse group of students, faculty, staff, and community members.
- Flexibility and willingness to perform other duties as assigned.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience working in a college or university setting with a primary student audience is preferred.
- Post-graduate work in Jewish Studies, and/or professional experience working with Jewish college students in a multi-faith environment, preferred.
- Rabbinical background is a strong plus.
Education:
A Bachelor’s degree is required.
A Master’s or Doctorate is preferred.
Offer Determination:
When extending an offer, Colgate University considers factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, candidate’s work experience, education/training, key skills, internal peer equity, as well as market and organizational considerations.
Other Information:
Work visa sponsorship is not available for this position.
Benefits:
Colgate University offers a competitive benefits package, with most benefits effective on the date of hire. Highlights include: medical, dental, vision, retirement contributions, paid time off, paid family leave, health & wellness, continuing education and professional development. We also offer unique perks, such as free parking, gym discounts, bookstore savings, athletic tickets, and access to cultural and recreational facilities. Explore the full benefits package on our Benefits page.
Department Statement:
The Director of Jewish Life oversees all aspects of Jewish life on campus and serves as a part of a multi-faith chaplaincy team. The Office of the Chaplains is coordinated by the Dean for Memorial Chapel with oversight from the Office of the President and the Dean of the College Division. The Office fosters inter-religious understanding and goodwill. The members of the chaplaincy staff work with each other, students, faculty, staff, community religious organizations, and the larger university community to achieve these goals.
Accountabilities:
As Director of Jewish Life, this position is primarily responsible for all aspects of Jewish life on campus in support of campus-wide events and celebrations, multi-faith engagement, and student life programming. The Director of Jewish Life is rooted in the Jewish tradition and is visibly engaged in the whole life of the University. As an active member of the University chaplaincy staff, this position serves as a religious professional (advisor and mentor) to all students regardless of their religious commitments, providing high-quality, timely, and confidential pastoral care and counseling. In addition to supporting work in the Office of the President, this position is expected to participate fully as a member of the Dean of the College staff, advancing divisional priorities particularly around inclusive excellence, meaningful reflection, and inclusive community. Areas of focus include responsibility for:
Jewish Life
- Provide collaborative leadership for services and other religious observances during the academic year. Recruit, encourage, and mentor student leadership in these services.
- Provide oversight for the M. Saperstein Jewish Center, the meeting place for Jewish life on campus, including two kosher kitchens.
- Provide comprehensive advising for the Colgate Jewish Union Board, facilitating and supporting all aspects of student leadership in religious, social, and cultural matters.
- Encourage student participation in the breadth of religious observance present in the Jewish student body.
- Facilitate the planning and implementation of a comprehensive program of Jewish religious life involving students, faculty, administrators, and other persons within the University and the broader Hamilton community.
- Work collaboratively with University constituents, including faculty from the Program in Jewish Studies and other academic departments and programs, Alumni Relations, and Admission.
- Serve people across the spectrum of Judaism (e.g., Unaffiliated, Reform, Reconstructionist, conservative, and modern orthodox), including families from the Hamilton area and those who worship regularly or sporadically.
- Liturgical expertise sufficient to conduct regular and seasonal worship within the tradition.
Event Leadership
- Provide leadership at public events and other related responsibilities, as requested.
- Provide high-quality, routine and seasonal, faith-specific and inter-faith, liturgical ceremonies and other faith-related gatherings.
- Plan events in ways that meet University goals and are held in compliance with University policies and procedures.
- Manage risk to avoid material consequences to the University.
Student Group Advising
- Ensuring that students have access to opportunities for student group membership and leadership, and that they receive value and personal growth enrichment as a result of their participation in the community.
- Use expertise in student affairs and the ability to influence students in making good decisions and working with groups and individuals.
- Design and implement student leadership opportunities for student leaders. Skills to train both students and staff in effective practices.
Program Development and Administration
- Design, implement, and assess programs consistent with broader organizational guidelines and within Colgate’s context. Connect intended program priorities, outcomes, and goals to divisional and institutional priorities, outcomes, and goals.
- Use expertise with data and systems to identify key data tracking needs, trends, and develop data-driven solutions. Use technical solutions to assist in the collection/maintenance of key data and records, and within university, division, and department guidelines.
- Effectively and consistently apply time management, problem-solving, and planning skills in the implementation of processes or programs.
- Consistently meet Jewish community needs while staying within budget constraints.
Interfaith Religious Life and Pastoral Care
- Use knowledge of a wide range of faith traditions to effectively serve as a chaplain for students and provide high-quality instruction and engagement focused on reconciling beliefs with academic learning.
- Use broad knowledge of all major religious traditions, sufficient to engage in interfaith work and to provide pastoral counseling to any community member.
- Provide pastoral care and counseling for members of the university community and maintain confidentiality.
- Assist students with making the connection between their faith, their commitment to justice, and their service to the broader community and world.
This position has been designated as a Campus Security Authority (CSA), in accordance with the federal statutory requirements of the Jeanne Clery Act. CSAs are required to and responsible for reporting allegations of crimes they receive from students and employees to the Campus Safety Department.
Requisition Number: 2026S039Posting
Temporary: No
Work Schedule: Weekdays
Job Open Date: 06/02/2026
Open Until Filled: Yes
EEO Statement:
The University recognizes that equal employment opportunity can only be achieved through demonstrated leadership. It is the Policy of the University to recruit, employ, retain, promote, and train employees on the basis of skills and experience, capacity to do the job, and valid job qualifications without regard to any characteristics protected by applicable local, state or federal laws.
Clery Act:
CAMPUS CRIME REPORTING AND STATISTICS
The Department of Campus Safety will provide upon request a copy of Colgate’s Annual Security and Fire Safety Report. This report includes statistics as reported to the United States Department of Education for the previous three years concerning reported: 1. crimes that occurred on-campus; in certain off-campus buildings or property owned or controlled by Colgate University; and on public property within, or immediately adjacent to and accessible from, the campus and 2. fires that occurred in student housing facilities. The report also includes institutional policies concerning campus security and fire safety, such as policies concerning sexual assault, life safety systems, and other related matters. You may access the report from the Clery Compliance web page at: https://www.colgate.edu/about/offices-centers-institutes/dean-college/campus-safety-staff/clery-compliance. Printed copies of this report may be obtained upon request from the Department of Campus Safety via e-mail at cusafety@colgate.edu.
Organization
Colgate is a nationally recognized liberal arts college set on a beautiful campus in central New York.
Some 2,900 undergraduates are enrolled in 54 programs, taking advantage of the university's award-winning curriculum, off-campus study program, and numerous research opportunities.
Students enjoy small class sizes taught by expert faculty members -- not teaching assistants.
The university’s strategic plan offers a blueprint for turning today’s students into tomorrow’s leaders, joining the scores of alumni already playing major roles in a variety of fields. The Center for Career Services is a key player as students make this transition.
Colgate hums with activity. It is a place where the arts thrive. Student-athletes compete at the very highest level of NCAA Division I sports. There are dozens of club and intramural sports programs, and the college’s outdoor education program is second to none.
Above all, Colgate is about academic excellence. It is a tradition forged in 1819 and honed through the years by each class of select students.
Colgate University is a highly selective residential liberal arts institution distinguished by academic excellence and interdisciplinary inquiry. Located on a beautiful campus in upstate New York, Colgate takes pride in the active engagement of its students, staff, and faculty in local, national, and global communities. At Colgate, we feel that a diverse and inclusive community is a cornerstone of educational excellence.
Colgate University is a highly selective residential liberal arts institution distinguished by academic excellence and interdisciplinary inquiry. Located on a beautiful campus in upstate New York, Colgate takes pride in the active engagement of its students, staff, and faculty in local, national, and global communities. At Colgate, we feel that a diverse and inclusive community is a cornerstone of educational excellence.
The Office of Equity and Diversity at Colgate is charged with fostering a diverse and collaborative community by increasing understanding, respect and inclusion. It is the mission of the office to support campus diversity initiatives with the goal of increasing understanding, respect and inclusion, and to ensure compliance with policies relating to affirmative action, discrimination, and harassment. The university’s strong commitment to equal opportunity and inclusivity is clearly articulated in the diversity mission statement found here. The university strives to provide an environment where everyone in our community can learn about, appreciate, and celebrate our diverse cultures and gain understanding, knowledge and skills to be engaged citizens locally as well as globally.
Colgate University fully subscribes to all federal and state civil rights laws banning discrimination in private institutions of higher education. Colgate will not discriminate against any student, employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, sex, pregnancy, religion, creed, national origin (including ancestry), citizenship status, physical or mental disability, age, marital status, sexual orientation, veteran or military status (including special disabled veteran, Vietnam-era veteran, or recently separated veteran), predisposing genetic characteristics, domestic violence victim status, or any other protected category under applicable local, state or federal law, including protections for those opposing discrimination or participating in any complaint process at the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission or other human rights agencies. This nondiscrimination policy covers both employment and access to educational opportunities. It is the policy of the university to provide equal opportunity in employment and not to discriminate against any individuals with disabilities who are qualified for employment in the positions for which they apply. Reasonable accommodations will be provided in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.
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