Engagement Manager

North Shore Congregation Israel (NSCI), a Reform synagogue located on the shores of Lake Michigan, is one of Chicago’s largest and most vibrant congregations. NSCI is approaching its centennial celebration in 2020. Even with 100 years of history, NSCI maintains a forward-thinking approach to Jewish life and engagement. NSCI’s congregants have made deep personal investments in their Jewish life and community. In turn, NSCI makes a similar investment in its congregants by approaching their engagement with thoughtfulness and care. To help fulfill this responsibility, NSCI has created the new position of Engagement Manager.

Key Responsibility:
To develop and implement strategies to help all congregants establish deep levels of connection with NSCI.  

New congregants:

• Assume primary responsibility for membership recruitment, inquiries and follow up in partnership and coordination with the Executive Director. Conduct in-person and phone conversations and building tours, and arrange for prospects to meet with other temple staff, clergy, or peers based on their unique interests and experiences.
• Ensure a clear and simple administrative process for membership enrollment, including the establishment of online accounts and billing preferences.
• Oversee a deliberate process for new congregant onboarding. Coordinate events for new or prospective congregants to connect with one another, staff and clergy, lay leaders, or existing congregants.
• Maintain a relationship with new congregants on a year-round basis and serve as a primary point of contact in the administrative offices.  

All congregants:

• Identify clear and measurable goals for engagement based on NSCI’s strategic priorities and congregants’ interests, relationships, and lifecycle stages.
• Utilize data from the new CRM system to assess gaps in service, participation trends, and opportunities for continuity of engagement.
• Cultivate a relational approach to congregant engagement. Work with staff and volunteers to ensure relationships are at the forefront of all programs and operations.
• Partner with senior staff to align the temple’s resources with the strategic engagement goals.

Programs:

• Develop and oversee programs designed to help congregants establish relationships with one another, staff and clergy.
• Convene staff and lay leaders to ensure a coordinated approach to congregant engagement. Serve as engagement liaison to lay leadership and auxiliary groups.  
• Attend Synagogue events including, but not limited to, worship, social justice, educational opportunities, and strategic planning opportunities with staff and lay leadership to help ensure the events’ success and establish relationships with congregants.

Communication:

• Work closely with the Marketing Coordinator to identify and utilize the most effective vehicles for congregant outreach. Prioritize messaging to align with engagement goals.
• Maintain a strong social media presence to promote engagement opportunities and build relationships throughout the NSCI community.  
• Craft or provide input on communications around major engagement opportunities including programs, membership, temple announcements, and annual statements.

Administration:

• Establish deep working knowledge of the temple’s CRM system, ensuring staff is trained to utilize its full functionality for congregant engagement.
• Serve as liaison to congregants, in partnership with Finance Staff, on personal account updates and receivables.
• Track progress on congregant engagement and provide reports to senior staff and lay leadership detailing prospective and new congregants,
  resignations and other analytics.
• Contact congregants who resign and oversee exit interviews; report findings to Executive Director and Senior Rabbi.
• Attend regular Administrative Staff and occasional Senior Staff, Board or committee meetings.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Highly strategic thinker. Able to identify engagement goals and put systems and structures in place to meet them.
• Ability to convene and lead a team of staff and volunteers in the achievement of shared engagement goals.
• Comfort with an ability to navigate and master CRM and other software systems.
• Strong marketing background with experience utilizing a variety of mediums to achieve engagement goals.
• Proven record of creating and implementing successful programs and events.
• Ability to maintain professional, service-focused demeanor in interactions with congregants, staff, board, community partners, and vendors.
  Possess a warm and welcoming personality.
• Understanding and value of the role of the synagogue in the community today.
• Alignment with the values and mission of North Shore Congregation Israel.
• Willingness to reflect, learn and grow as an individual and professional.
• Independent thinker. Self-motivated; requires minimal supervision.
• Strong attention to detail.

Reports to: Executive Director
Job type: Full-time
Salary: Commensurate with experience, includes benefits
To apply: hr@nsci.org