The Yiddish Book Center is a great place to work: meaningful and challenging positions, warm, friendly atmosphere, competitive salaries, excellent benefits.  We are seeking qualified applicants for the following:

• Director of Endowment and Planned Giving
• Development Officer
• Program Assistant: Steiner Summer Program 2012
• Residential Assistant: Great Jewish Books, Summer 2012

• Internship in Jewish Oral History
• Volunteer Docent

Director of Endowment and Planned Giving

The Yiddish Book Center seeks an experienced, strategic, and intellectually oriented Director of Endowment and Planned Giving.  This new role has been created to address the untapped deferred giving potential of the Center’s current donor pool.  Reporting to the Executive Director, she/he will work collaboratively with the Director of Development to create strategy, goals, and context for a formal planned giving program and a future endowment campaign within the overall development program. A senior member of the Center’s management team, the Director will play a key role in the next phase of organizational growth and fundraising accomplishments.

The Director of Endowment and Planned Giving will partner with the President, Executive Director, and Director of Development to develop and execute a plan to significantly increase the Center’s endowment. The Center has identified great untapped potential deferred giving potential among its current donor pool and has created this new role to lead the strategy and implementation of a formal planned giving program.  The Director will be responsible for identifying, cultivating, soliciting and stewarding 5- and 6- figure gifts in support of expanding the endowment.  A strong appreciation for and commitment to the Center’s mission, values and goals and a minimum of seven years’ planned giving experience are required.

Specific responsibilities include:

• Design, implementation, and management of planned gifts program for the Center.
• Management of a portfolio of current deferred giving prospects and identification, cultivation, and solicitation of new prospects.
• Working collaboratively with Director of Development and membership department to identify and prioritize prospects.
• Strategically partnering with Founder, Executive Director, Director of Development and high level volunteers on cultivation and solicitation of top priority donors.
• Stewardship of gifts made through bequests, trusts, charitable gift annuities, and other planned giving vehicles. 
• Planning of cultivation and educational events designed to increase awareness of deferred giving opportunities.
• Preparation of written materials, including articles, correspondence, marketing and solicitation vehicles to promote the concept of planned giving and the endowment campaign.
• Drafting of financial illustrations of deferred giving options and gift agreements for review by prospects, their families, and their advisors.
• Establishment of procedures for tracking and qualifying prospects and for recording and reporting gifts in partnership with Director of Development and Development Associate.

Qualities of the successful candidate include:

• Strong appreciation for the Yiddish Book Center’s mission, values and goals and ability to effectively communicate that mission to the Center’s multigenerational members.
• Appreciation of the full range of modern Jewish culture and ability to connect with donors on an intellectual level.
• Minimum 7 years fundraising experience with a track record of achievement in building endowments and executing planned giving programs.
• Demonstrated success identifying, cultivating, closing, and stewarding major/planned gifts at the 5- to 6- figure level.
• Expert knowledge of theories, concepts, and principals of planned giving.
• Experience developing marketing materials, communications, illustrations, and reports to promote planned giving.
• Demonstration of integrity, humor, a collaborative attitude, flexibility, a can-do approach, and creativity.
• Ability to work as part of a collaborative team.
• Excellent interpersonal and organizational skills. Excellent written and oral communication abilities.
• Highly organized, results-oriented, and focused.
• Self-motivated, with a capacity for challenging work.
• Demonstrated problem solving and strategy skills.
• Knowledge of Raiser’s Edge required.
• Ability to maintain a flexible work schedule, including some evenings and weekends and willingness to travel frequently.

 

Email cover letter and resume in confidence to:
Tracy Marshall, Senior Consultant, Development Guild/DDI at YBC@developmentguild.com

Development Officer

The Yiddish Book Center is seeking an experienced Development Officer to cultivate and solicit gifts by developing and maintaining relationships with assigned prospects; ensure proper acknowledgement, recognition and stewardship of donors; participate in writing of grant proposals and reports; prepare written materials including donor correspondence and newsletters; and organize and oversee special events for donor cultivation. 

The ideal candidate will have a minimum of 3-5 years fundraisng experience and a B.A. or B.S. degree; must value and be able to articulate the Yiddish Book Center’s mission, and be comfortable engaging with people with diplomacy and tact.  Frequent travel is also required.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: Knowledge of development/fundraising concepts and experience with face-to-face solicitation; Ability to communicate the Book Center’s history, mission, goals and operations; Strong interpersonal skills; Team player who can work with others in a small collaborative setting; Experience with Blackbaud’s Raiser’s Edge preferred;

Application Process: Send or e-mail cover letter and resume to: mstein@bikher.org; No phone calls please.

Program Assistant, Steiner Summer Program 2012

General Responsibilities:

Help coordinate, facilitate, and maintain the daily operations of an immersion-style program in Yiddish language and culture for 18 college students.

Responsibilities will include but not be limited to:

• Assisting with preparation of course materials;
• Driving and picking up faculty, students, or supplies as needed;
• Helping to promote a Yiddish learning community among students;
• In the evenings, opening the Book Center and being the NYBC staff person on-site for occasional activities or events;
• Participating in the NYC field trip;
• Assisting the students in getting oriented to the area and to the program;
• Organizing extracurricular or social activities as needed;
• Other tasks as assigned by Steiner Program Coordinator.

Required:

• Good organizational and interpersonal skills
• Maturity, flexibility, sense of humor
• Valid drivers license and safe driving record
• Minimum 21 years of age

Preferred:

• Familiarity with Yiddish Book Center and 5-College area
• Proficiency in Yiddish language
• Knowledge of modern Jewish culture and Jewish community

Supervision:

Reports to Steiner Program Coordinator Dates: June 4 – July 27, 2012

Compensation:

$5,500 to be paid in two installments, plus housing (in Hampshire dorm)

Application Instructions: 

Applications will be reviewed as they are received. Send to: Amy Leos-Urbel, Director of Educational Programs, at: aleos-urbel@bikher.org, or at Yiddish Book Center, 1021 West St., Amherst, MA 01002.  To apply:'

1. Send your resume or CV;
2. Send a cover letter addressing why you want to work in the Steiner Summer Program and describing your relevant interests and experiences;
3. Have two professional references (current or former supervisors) send their letters of recommendation directly to Amy;
4. If you have questions, please email Amy at address above or call 413.256.4900 ext.131.

Residential Assistant: Great Jewish Books Summer 2012

The Yiddish Book Center in Amherst, MA, is currently hiring three Residential Assistants (RAs) for Great Jewish Books, its new week-long summer program for high school juniors and seniors.

Drawing on the model of the highly successful Great Books programs for teens held annually at Amherst College and Stanford University, Great Jewish Books uses compelling works of modern Jewish literature to help students develop a rich understanding of Jewish culture and history, and to spark discussions about contemporary issues of identity, family, community, and society that are important to students today. Although the medium is literature, this program is not “school” in any conventional sense. It is lively, full of social opportunities, and intellectually exhilarating. Participants and RAs will stay in a Hampshire College dorm and eat meals in the campus dining hall. Visit yiddishbookcenter.org/great-jewish-books for more information about the program.

The program will run from Sunday, July 29 – Sunday, August 5, 2012, and RAs will be in residence and working full-time from July 25 – August 7. They will also be available for periodic phone calls with Yiddish Book Center staff in the late spring and summer, prior to the program’s launch.

RA responsibilities include:

• Help Yiddish Book Center staff with logistics in the days prior to the program launch
• Greet students when they arrive; help to break the ice; reach out to shy students
• Live in dorm with students; enforce quiet hours and nighttime curfew; be the first line of response for their questions and concerns
• Eat meals with students
• Participate in or lead extracurricular activities for students
• Chaperone students on local field trips
• Communicate with Yiddish Book Center staff if any concerns about students arise
•  Abide by the same rules as the students during the program week, including quiet hours, curfew and no drinking/smoking policies

In general, the RAs job is to facilitate a comfortable, fun, and intellectually stimulating environment; respond to participants’ questions and concerns; make sure participants are on time for scheduled activities; and enforce all program rules and policies.

RA Qualifications:

• Minimum 21 years of age
• College graduate or currently enrolled college student
• Experience and comfort working with teens
• Knowledge of modern Jewish culture and literature
• Outgoing personality, enthusiasm, energy
• Team player, able to communicate well with supervisor and willing to pitch in however needed
• Must have a valid drivers’ license and safe driving record
• Must have a cell phone and be reachable throughout the week of the program

Preferred:

• Certification in first-aid and CPR
• Certification as a lifeguard
• Ability to lead participants in sports and games
• Ability to do and lead music or art activities

Compensation: $1,000 plus room and board

Application Instructions: 

All application materials must be received by January 23, 2012.  Send to: Amy Leos-Urbel, Director of Educational Programs, at: aleos-urbel@bikher.org, or at Yiddish Book Center, 1021 West Street, Amherst, MA 01002.

To apply:

1. Send your resume or CV;
2. Send a cover letter addressing why you want to work in the Great Jewish Books Program and describing  your relevant interests and experiences;
3. Have two references (one academic instructor and one professional supervisor, preferably someone who has supervised your work with teenagers) send their letters of recommendation directly to Amy;
4. If you have questions, please email Amy at address above or call 413.256.4900 ext.131.

CORI (background check of criminal history) will be required as a condition of employment.

Internship in Jewish Oral History
with the Yiddish Book Center’s Wexler Oral History Project

This internship will consist of helping to process some of the over 160 video oral history interviews from the Yiddish Book Center’s Wexler Oral History Project.  Interns will work at the Book Center for a minimum of four hours per week.  Strong background in Jewish history and culture is a must.  While training will be a part of the orientation to the project, applicants with database and film or other media background will be preferred. 

To apply, send cover letter and resume to Project Director, Christa Whitney, at tellyourstory@bikher.org by 5:00 pm on Monday, January 16.  This is an opportunity for the 2012 spring semester with both volunteer and work-study positions available based on eligibility.  To find out more about the Wexler Oral History Project, visit our website: http://www.yiddishbookcenter.org/tell-your-story.

Job Description:
Oral history production interns will be:

• Editing, preparing, exporting, and uploading full interviews and excerpts using Final Cut Pro (professional video editing program)
• Tracking interviews and post-interview processing in the project’s customized FileMaker Pro database
• Identifying great stories and other excerpts for use in web, print, and other outlets

Hours: Interns must work a minimum of 4 hours a week.

Requirements:

• Jewish studies background (or familiarity with modern Jewish and Yiddish culture and history)
• Interest in oral history/ethnography
• Comfort with technology – interest in learning new software/applications 

General qualifications:

• Attention to detail
• Listening skills
• Ability to update and maintain integrated tracking system for a complex workflow and expansive project
• Ability to work independently/with low-level supervision

Oral history production intern will work closely with the Project Director, dedicated oral history fellow, and other volunteers involved in the project.  Intern will report to Project Director and dedicated oral history fellow. Looking forward to hearing from you!

Volunteer Docent

The Yiddish Book Center is seeking volunteer docents to greet and orient visitors, answer questions about events and membership, provide support to our staff, and process donations. Volunteers should be comfortable working with groups, speaking with visitors, using a cash register, and should have an interest in Yiddish culture. Training provided. Docents typically work one 3-hour day per week. No prior knowledge of Yiddish is necessary. If interested, please contact (413) 256-4900 ext. 124 or visit@bikher.org.

The National Yiddish Book Center is an equal opportunity employer.