The Director of DEI and Small Group Engagement is an integral member of the Education and Engagement team and an active partner with other Temple professionals, clergy, lay leaders and members. This position oversees Temple’s small group initiatives, including Sh’ma Emanu-El, and also Temple’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives. This position also serves as the staff liaison for Temple’s Within and Beyond Our Walls (anti-racism) initiative. In collaboration with the Senior Director of Education and Engagement, this person is responsible for overseeing the creation of Map Emanu-El, Temple’s calendar, and serving as the liaison to the Communications Department.

Professional Requirements and Skills:

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, talent for working with and developing member engagement and leadership
• Strong organizational skills; capable of managing multiple projects simultaneously and moving projects from inception to project planning to implementation
• Develop and maintain effective and respectful working relationships with lay leaders, clergy, and all staff members
• Knowledge of the basic principles of community organizing, and motivated to engage members in Temple life through small groups and inclusion practices
• Knowledge of Judaism, Jewish education, and Jewish practices
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams, and Outlook

General Duties:

1. Oversee Temple’s small group initiatives, including Sh’ma Emanu-El. Help members find meaning in their connection to Temple by strengthening relationships through small group participation.
   1. Staff the leadership team of Sh’ma Emanu-El.
   2. Support and be the team leader for the formation of new groups, working with appropriate staff and lay leadership.
   3. Develop strategies and tools for coaches, guides and participants of Sh’ma groups.
   4. Collaborate across Temple departments helping to integrate small group best practices as a tool in deepening engagement.

1. Oversee Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives for Temple, recognizing, creating and implementing plans to promote diversity within Temple. Organize and develop training programs to enhance understanding of diversity, equity, and inclusion issues.
   1. Work with clergy, staff, and lay leaders to ensure representation of diverse and unique populations in Temple life.
   2. DEI Council: Work with appropriate lay leadership to develop a lay DEI council and the guide the council through setting and achieving DEI goals and appropriate representation in Temple’s programs, events, and communications.
   3. Anti-Racism: Working with key lay leaders, appropriate staff and clergy, implement our congregational antiracism strategic plan. Work with and serve as staff liaison to the Antiracism Accountability and Action Team, Facing our Truths (small groups) and Dallas Truth Racial Healing and Transformation Cohort.
   4. LGBTQ+: Working with LGBTQ+ leadership and clergy advisor and partnering with the Director of Youth Engagement and Director of Social Justice and Young Adult Engagement, serve as the staff liaison to address the engagement interests of our LGBTQ+ community. Organize Temple’s presence and engagement at Dallas’ Pride Festival and work with appropriate clergy and staff on an annual Pride Shabbat.
   5. Special Needs: Organize and implement B’Yachad Night Out, our special needs respite care program, in partnership with the Inclusion Task Force and appropriate staff and clergy.
2. Working closely with the Senior Director of Education and Engagement, develop and oversee Map Emanu-El, the Temple calendar. Working with Engagement Logistics Coordinator, ensure that programs are represented on EMS (internal calendar management software), clergy calendar, and the Federation’s Community Calendar, and create and share programming resources with staff and lay leaders.
3. Engage in ongoing formal and informal communication and cooperation with the Communications department, acting as the liaison between the Education and Engagement team and Communications department. Guide the Communications department on content and priorities for Temple’s newsletters and Shabbat announcements.

General Information about Education & Engagement Team Members:

The work of education and engagement is the primary function of all staff members, clergy, and lay leadership at Temple, as we strive to help every Temple member and prospective member develop a connection between other congregants, friends, family, Jewish community, Jewish people, the world, and God.  Staff will help connect members with aspects of synagogue life that meet their spiritual and communal needs, through our core values of Prayer, Learning, Israel, Social Justice and Community. Members of the Engagement & Education Team are partners with clergy, lay leadership, and each other. We value each other’s opinions, respect each other’s time and pitch in during crunch times. Together we strive to make Temple a place of sacred encounters.

Engagement & Education Team Members Share Responsibility For:
Shabbat Worship –

• Staffing of Shabbat services is distributed and shared among members of Temple staff. Work with appropriate staff and clergy to support Shabbat worship when agreed upon with your supervisor.

Leadership & Relationship Cultivation –

• Communicate and interact regularly with other teams and a wide array of members to build relationships and engage individuals in congregational life and leadership responsibilities.
• Coordinate with lay leaders, clergy, and staff to set goals in your areas of responsibility and translate them into action.
• Contribute toward the identification and cultivation of future Temple leaders.

Website & Communications –

• Utilize Temple and community communication and marketing tools to maximize access to Temple programming, including coordination with partner organizations.
• Maintain engagement opportunities and other pertinent information on the Temple website.

Temple Emanu-El is a vibrant Reform Jewish community that strives to be a place of sacred encounter. It is a place where learning, prayer and deeds change people’s understanding of themselves, of their world and their responsibilities in it.  Formed in 1872, Temple Emanu-El is the largest congregation in the Southwest and is among the largest in the United States with close to 2600 member families.  You can learn more about Temple Emanu-El at https://www.tedallas.org/

To apply, email your resume to Julie Meyer, Human Resources, at jmeyer@tedallas.org