Project lead, Leadership and Social Action (m/f/d)

Hillel Deutschland e.V. is looking for a Project Lead, Leadership and Social Action.

Starting Date: 1st June 2024

Overview:

Hillel Deutschland e.V. is an affiliate of US-based Hillel International, the largest movement for Jewish students worldwide. Our goal as an independent, charitable Jewish organization is to bring together Jewish students and young adults living in Germany to live more fulfilling lives and to contribute to their communities and broader civil society. 

Founded in 2019, our young organization has emerged as a key provider of Jewish content and leadership development in Germany. Our programs create spaces of belonging for young Jews, offer innovative young adult-focused Jewish education, engage in activism and social action projects, and train young leaders to take the next steps to make their communities sustainable. Our 10-person team is based in Berlin and Leipzig and reflects the diverse realities of Jewish identity and experience in Germany. 

In 2022, in partnership with the Alfred Landecker Foundation, Hillel Deutschland launched its Leadership and Empowerment Pillar. The Pillar consists of three high-level flagship programs that serve Hillel Deutschland’s overall goals of contributing to the knowledge and sustainability of Germany’s Jewish communities and empowering young Jews to participate actively in society. 

The past 18 months have been devoted to designing and piloting these programs. Now, we are looking for a qualified professional to further develop them.

1. Landecker-Hillel Leadership Incubator is a 9-month intensive leadership development opportunity for 10 young Jewish leaders with proven experience and leadership capabilities in Germany. The group of Incubator Fellows meets for 3 seminars, each focused on one topic: personal values, professional skills, and adaptive leadership. In between, participants benefit from online sessions and a customized mentorship program. Upon completion of the program, the Fellows are eligible to apply for funds to implement their own projects.

2. Landecker-Hillel Visionssummit is an immersive weekend (Thursday evening – Sunday morning) seminar, held annually in late Fall, that brings together young Jews in Germany ages 18-35 to think critically about their place in Jewish community and civil society. The format is highly participatory, and sessions balance experiences of listening, contributing, and reflecting. The seminar takes place over Shabbat, integrating unique ritual experiences, and challenges participants to take personal ownership of these experiences.

3. Landecker-Hillel Action Fellowship is an 18-month professional development experience for a student or recent university graduate looking to contribute in the field of Jewish social justice. The next Fellowship cycle will take place from February 2025 – July 2026. The Action Fellow benefits from Hillel Deutschland’s professional infrastructure and has the opportunity to create a national social justice project that allows young Jews to engage directly with civil society.

Job Profile:

We are seeking an experienced project manager and strategic thinker to join our team in the position of Project Lead, Leadership and Social Action. 

The task profile includes:

1. Lead implementation of the Landecker-Hillel Flagship Programs
2. Management of 2-3 employees
3. Alumni engagement
4. Key responsible for stakeholder relations

Detailed Responsibilities:

Implementation of Landecker-Hillel Flagship Programs*

• Oversee recruitment and outreach for excellent candidates for three Landecker-Hillel Flagship Programs (Leadership Incubator, Visionssummit, and Action Fellowship)
  • Execute 4-6 seminars annually, for between 15 and 100 participants:
  • Create agendas and develop content, based on program manuals, working collaboratively with Hillel Deutschland’s Jewish Life and Education team
• Oversee logistics in partnership with the Event and Communications Coordinator
• Set program budgets for each event in partnership with the Operations Director
• Implement additional virtual trainings for Incubator Fellows throughout the year, as well as occasional events (live or virtual) in local communities for recruitment purposes
• Design and implement measurement systems to track outputs, outcomes, and impact of these programs

Management and Supervision

• Weekly supervisory meetings with up to 2-3 direct reports (Event and Communications Coordinator, Referent für soziale Gerechtigkeit und Engagement, plus the Landecker-Hillel Action Fellow from January/February 2025)

Alumni Engagement*

• Design community-building opportunities for alumni of all Landecker-Hillel Flagship Programs to engage and retain connection with Hillel Deutschland and each other
• Strategic engagement with alumni to assess potential for further involvement in Hillel’s work, as well as broader Jewish communal landscape and civil society

Stakeholder Relations

• Preparing semi-annual budget reports and narrative updates on projects’ status, achievements, challenges, and impacts
• Attending bimonthly meetings with the Alfred Landecker Foundation to report on progress and create joint strategy for our projects
• Cooperation with Jewish institutional partners in Germany (e.g. Zentralrat, ZWST)
• Regular communication with programmatic partners in Germany, Israel, and the USA (e.g. M2: Institute for Experiential Jewish Education) to ensure all program needs are met and delivered in a timely and professional manner

Other Responsibilities

• Attend weekly Hillel Deutschland all-hands team meetings
• Provide support for the Engagement Internship program by providing (or otherwise making connections to) training and mentorship opportunities
• Identify opportunities to integrate Hillel’s professional staff and programming resources into the Flagship Programs

*Some work on weekends and some travel around Germany will be required.

Requirements – necessary:

• Completed first degree from a university, Hochschule, or Fachschule
• Mother-tongue level German speaker with advanced or fluent English proficiency
• Demonstrated strategic thinking capabilities
• Clear written and oral communication skills, in both English and German
• Minimum 2 years of professional work experience in social, religious, charitable, etc. organizations (NPOs) (including budget, planning and implementation)
• Ownership and taking responsibility
• Experience with practice of Jewish ritual and tradition
• Identification with the mission and vision of Hillel Deutschland e.V.

Requirements – preferred:

• Previous experience in multiple-stage project management, including project design, execution, and measurement
• Previous experience in grant writing, reporting, and building relationships with donors and stakeholders
• Highly organized and detail-oriented work ethic
• Previous experience supervising direct reports
• Ability to work calmly under pressure
• Ability to work well both independently and collaboratively in a team
• Ability to set a project schedule and meet firm deadlines
• Ability to use digital tools and/or willingness to train on new tools (Slack, Monday.com, Google Workspace)

How Hillel Deutschland benefits you:

• Competitive salary according to the TVÖD
• Friendly and purpose-driven coworking environment in a trendy area of Berlin
• Complimentary Deutschland-Ticket
• Access to funding for professional development opportunities (plus paid time for Fortbildung) in Europe and the United States
• Flexible hours and remote work policy; Friday schedules may be shortened and/or adjusted to accommodate Shabbat
• Complimentary vacation days for Jewish holidays (beyond the standard contractual allowance + statutory holidays)

We’re looking forward to receiving your application including CV, certificates and motivation letter in a single PDF by email.

Click on the APPLY NOW Button further down and send in your application.

Application deadline: April 17

Job Begins: 1st June Limited to 31 August 2026

Job Location: Berlin
Beschäftigungsverhältnis: This position is a full-time position, with expected 35-40 hours per week. Part-time arrangements may also be considered.