Program Director

Organizational Overview

The Jewish Federation of St. Joseph Valley (Federation) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit located in South Bend, Indiana. The Federation serves as a central resource for the Jewish community of St. Joseph and Elkhart counties in Indiana and Berrien and Cass counties in Michigan. Through programming, education, social service, advocacy, and fundraising, the Federation brings together Jews of all backgrounds, affiliations, and levels of observance to support Jewish life and community, locally and globally.

Role Summary

The Program Director is responsible for developing, leading, and evaluating a diverse portfolio of Jewish educational, cultural, social, and community-building programs. The goal of this position is to build relationships through program development in response to communal needs with a focus of developing deeper Jewish engagement.

This role reports directly to the Executive Director but is responsible for working in coordination with committees, board leadership, Jewish and interfaith partners, and donors to ensure relevant and appropriate programming for our community.

Key Responsibilities

Program Strategy & Delivery

• Lead and develop programming across Federation's priority areas, which may include Jewish identity, youth and young adults, older adults, wellness, Israel engagement, combating antisemitism, interfaith relations, volunteerism, educational, community-wide and cultural programs.
• Work directly with programming committees to advance program initiatives based on key goals, including combating antisemitism, interfaith relations, Israel advocacy and education and peer-focused programming.
• Regularly assess community interests, needs, and participation trends through relationship-building, participant feedback, surveys, demographic information, and consultation with staff and lay leadership.
• Establish measurable goals for programs and regularly evaluate participation, participant experience, community impact, engagement outcomes, and financial performance; use findings to improve future programming.

Community Engagement & Partnerships

• Coordinate directly with key partners (Partnership2Gether, Interfaith communities, Forever Learning Institute, etc.)
• Develop accessible opportunities for Jewish learning, culture, connection, and community that engage individuals across ages, backgrounds, affiliations, and levels of observance.
• Recruit, engage, and support volunteers and lay leaders in the planning and delivery of programs, creating meaningful opportunities for community members to contribute their time, skills, and leadership.

Organizational Development

• Develop and manage program budgets in coordination with the Executive Director, monitor program expenditures and revenue, and ensure programs are delivered with appropriate fiscal stewardship.
• Collaborate with staff responsible for communications and marketing to create promotional content for Federation programs.
• Collaborate across Federation departments to ensure programs and initiatives are coordinated, mission-aligned, and supportive of broader organizational goals.
• Support team members in meeting fundraising and organizational goals.
• All other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills (oral and written) and ability to communicate effectively with staff, community members and lay leadership.
• Ability to work with various backgrounds, age ranges, and demographics to ensure inclusive programming.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail with the ability to work autonomously, determine priorities, and manage multiple deadlines simultaneously.
• Working knowledge of Jewish culture, traditions, holidays, and communal life.
• Computer literacy required.
• Ability to work evenings and weekends as events or meetings require.
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience.

Preferred Experience

• Experience with program or departmental budget oversight.
• Knowledge of fundraising.
• Previous experience working for a Jewish or community nonprofit is preferred.

Compensation

Status: Full-Time, non-exempt

The Jewish Federation of St. Joseph Valley offers a competitive wage commensurate with the qualifications and experience of the individual selected. The benefits package includes paid time-off, sick-leave, access to an employer-funded group health plan, and 403b retirement plan after one year and 1,000 hours of service.

Application Information

Resumes and Cover letters may be submitted through September 18, 2026, to:

Jewish Federation of St. Joseph Valley
Attn: Emily Benedix, Executive Director
3202 Shalom Way
South Bend, IN 46615
[email protected]