Careers

The Associate Director of Development is a new role that strengthens Temple Israel’s capacity to sustain and grow our Friends Annual Fund and related philanthropic initiatives. Temple Israel is currently in the leadership phase of a comprehensive campaign expected to span the next two years, and this position will play a key supporting role in that effort. Reporting to the Director of Development, and working closely with clergy, lay leaders, and staff, this position is responsible for the project management, relationship-centric, and donor-facing work that drives our annual campaign, mid-level giving, planned giving events, and select grants. This is a full time position. 

The Associate Director manages a defined portfolio of donors and prospects, with a particular focus on mid-level donors (approximately $1,000–$10,000), and plays a key role in building a strong pipeline of annual and future planned gifts. This role will also provide leadership for core cultivation and stewardship events, including our annual ‘Stepping Out’ gala. 

Key Responsibilities

Annual Campaign: Partner with the Director of Development to plan and implement the Friends Annual Fund, including themes, messaging alignment, campaign calendars, and coordination with Communications and other staff. Track progress toward annual fund goals, analyze performance by segment, and recommend strategy adjustments to strengthen results. 

Stewardship & Mid-Level Donors: Manage a defined portfolio of annual donors and prospects, with a focus on mid-level donors in the $1,000–$5,000 giving range. Partner with associate clergy and lay leaders to solicit, steward, and upgrade these donors through personalized outreach, small gatherings, and tailored touchpoints, focusing on mid-level giving and strengthening retention and upgrades. 

Events – Annual Gala: Serve as project manager for the annual Stepping Out gala, including development of the event timeline, coordination of committees, and oversight of logistics. Lead sponsorship strategy, tracking, and fulfillment in collaboration with the Director of Development and lay leadership. 

Planned Giving: Partner with the Director of Development and key lay leaders to revitalize Temple Israel’s planned giving program. Support prospect identification, cultivation, and solicitation by helping to develop materials, talking points, and follow-up plans. Assist with the stewardship and documentation of planned gifts to ensure donors are appropriately recognized and their commitments are clearly recorded. 

Grants: Work with clergy, program staff, and senior leadership to draft and submit grant proposals that support programs and initiatives aligned with Temple Israel’s strategic vision. Ensure proposals and reports reflect institutional priorities, collect necessary program information and data, and contribute to timely reporting to funders. 

Collaboration & Administration: Collaborate closely with the Director of Development, Development Associate, and other colleagues to support seamless operations across development. Help ensure timely acknowledgements, accurate donor information, and strong internal communication around donor activities and events. 

Database/CRM: Use the donor database/CRM to record activities, manage portfolios, track event participation, and monitor progress toward goals. Maintain accurate and up-to-date donor records in partnership with the Development Associate and Director of Membership. 

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree or certification preferred 
• 5-7 years of professional fundraising experience with a proven record of successfully upgrading gifts 
• Familiarity with Jewish life and an appreciation for the importance of a synagogue in a Jewish community is a plus 
• Ability to interact with confidentiality, integrity, and tact when working with the diverse community 
• Strong written and oral communication skills 
• Meticulous attention to detail, even under tight deadlines 
• Ability to work independently and autonomously and exhibit strong follow-through
• A demonstrated track record with database management (specifically Salesforce is a plus) 
• High computer literacy: adept in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook); familiarity with databases and online marketing 

Schedule & Compensation

We are starting at $75,000, commensurate with experience. Our benefits package includes: health insurance, dental insurance, short and long-term disability, flexible spending account, dependent care pre-tax account, Massachusetts Paid Family Leave, vacation and sick time, paid secular and Jewish holidays, generous 403b with vested match, monthly MBTA T Pass, cell phone stipend and Temple Israel Membership. 

While core hours are typically 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m., Monday to Friday, this role requires flexibility for evening and occasional weekend donor meetings, major Jewish holidays, and other key events. 

How to Apply 

Interested candidates should send a cover letter and resume to jthibault@tisrael.org. 

Who are we?

Temple Israel is looking for enthusiastic, imaginative, and skillful teachers to join our team of educators for the 2025-2026 school year. There are positions available in grades preschool – 7^th grade for Sunday mornings, with potential to teach in our grades 8-12, pluralistic teen program too.

In our religious school, kids 3 years old through 7^th grade can learn, grow, and find their own meaningful Jewish communities. We strive to build a community where everyone — kids, families, and our educators — can find their places in our ancient and ever evolving tradition. Our school is joyful, kid-centered, and flexible. Read more about us and our values.

Following our broader community’s commitment to Racial Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (REDI), our religious school is engaged in a culture-shift of our own. We are working towards a community where everyone can experience a sense of belonging. We are committed to building a faculty where the diversity of the Jewish community is well represented. Candidates of diverse backgrounds are strongly encouraged to apply as we hope to build a teaching team that is reflective of the diversity in our community. We strive to be an inclusive learning community where diversity is welcomed and differences are embraced.

Following our broader community’s commitment to Racial Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (REDI), our religious school is engaged in a culture-shift of our own. We are working towards a community where everyone can experience a sense of belonging. We are committed to building a faculty where the diversity of the Jewish community is well represented. Candidates of diverse backgrounds are strongly encouraged to apply as we hope to build a teaching team that is reflective of the diversity in our community. We strive to be an inclusive learning community where diversity is welcomed and differences are embraced.

Our REDI work is a communal commitment that includes mechanisms for feedback, accountability, and processes for teshuvah (restorative justice). When something comes up, we would like to know about it. Folks looking to provide feedback should contact Roberta Axeloons or Rabbi Suzie Jacobson, or another member of the TI clergy team, or Executive Director Dan Deutsch.

Qualifications of Interested Candidates

• Candidates to teach in our school should enjoy working with children and have prior successful experiences with kids. Formal teaching experience is not a requirement; folks interested in learning how to teach who are seeking training as new teachers are encouraged to apply.
• Familiarity with second language pedagogy, technology applications, curriculum development, and student assessment is desirable, but not required. Good command of Biblical Hebrew also a plus.
• Candidates should be comfortable adopting the curricular vision of the religious school as we seek to construct powerful educational experiences that are inclusive, joyful, and inspiring.
• Temple Israel Religious School has a commitment to professional development and offers a unique and yearlong learning opportunity to all its faculty. Ideal candidates will be collaborative teachers who relish the idea of working, growing, and learning alongside their colleagues.
• Bachelor’s Degree or relevant experience required.

We know that not all applicants will have all of the same experience or desired qualifications, and systemic inequities often discourage folks from marginalized identities from applying. If you are passionate about our mission and believe you have applicable and transferable skills from other industries, we encourage you to apply for this job. We’d love to hear from you. In your application, be sure to explicitly highlight how your experience, skills, and personal qualities have set you up to succeed in this role.

This position is part time. We offer competitive pay with teaching rates ranging from $55-85/per hour. Rates vary depending on experience and longevity at Temple Israel.

Schedule

Sundays 8:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. are the general Sunday hours, though individual schedules may vary based on assigned classes. Our teen program meets on Monday nights 5:45 – 8:30 p.m., and our religious school meets on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4:00 – 6:00 p.m.

How to Apply

Please submit a letter of interest and resume to Roberta Axeloons, Director of Elementary Education, at raxeloons@tisrael.org.

About Temple Israel

Temple Israel is widely recognized as the largest reform temple in New England, and it is one of the most prominent synagogues in the greater Boston area. With over 1,400 member families, our impact within the Boston Jewish Community runs deep. Temple Israel is known for offering an array of Jewish experiences and cultural and social programming, including interfaith inclusion and social justice activism. Our historic building is home to a K-12 Religious School and Teen Program, and a well-renowned preschool.