Lavine Chair & Executive Director - Brandeis Jewish Studies Consortium

Brandeis University invites applications and nominations for the position of Lavine Chair & Executive Director - Brandeis Jewish Studies Consortium. The Executive Director, who will also serve as the Director of the Sarnat Center for the Study of Anti-Jewishness, will report directly to the Office of the Provost. The faculty appointment will be either on the tenure track or off the tenure track, dependent on the candidate's qualifications.

Summary:

The Executive Director will support the University in all aspects of Jewish studies and Jewish communal activity. The University is committed to bringing together the extensive talent and resources in Jewish studies and Jewish communal greater collaboration through the Jewish Studies Consortium, a collective of five research centers and institutes and two academic programs that address various aspects of Jewish Studies. The Executive Director will provide leadership to enhance Brandeis's public profile in Jewish Studies, through its research, teaching, and service to the Jewish community, and the place to which those interested in Jews and Judaism turn for ideas and insights.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Serve as a public-facing resource to provide intellectual expertise on matters pertaining to Jewish Studies and the American Jewish Community.
• Lead the Jewish Studies Consortium in envisioning and implementing Jewish Studies related activities beyond what individual units plan or have the capacity to implement.
• Direct the Sarnat Center for the Study of Anti-Jewishness.
• Work with members of the Jewish Studies Consortium to set and coordinate priorities for the future of Jewish studies at Brandeis.
• Foster integration of the activities of the Jewish Studies Consortium with the undergraduate and graduate academic programs in Jewish Studies.
• Advise the Provost and other offices on matters related to Jewish studies.
• Supervise the directors of the five existing Jewish studies units: the Cohen Center for Modern Jewish Studies/Steinhardt Social Research Institute; the Hadassah-Brandeis Institute for Jewish Women's and Gender Studies; the Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Center for Studies in Jewish Education; the Schusterman Center for Israel Studies; and the Tauber Institute for the Study of European Jewry.
• Supervise the director of the Consortium for the Teaching of Hebrew Language and Culture.
• Increase coordination and communication among each of the units that report to the Director, along with two degree-granting units (the Near Eastern and Judaic Studies Department and the Hornstein Program in Jewish Professional Leadership), to enhance their research, teaching, and overall impact.
• Teach courses related to Jewish Studies, as determined by departmental and programmatic needs.
• Define and advocate for the resources necessary to maintain and strengthen Jewish studies research, teaching, and service.
• Participate in fund-raising efforts in support of the Jewish Studies Consortium, individual units, and any related activities or initiatives.
• Coordinate with, and provide counsel to, other relevant offices at the University, including: the President's office, Institutional Advancement, Admissions, Communications, Brandeis University Press, Hillel and the Chaplaincy, the Library, Pre-college Programs, and the Brandeis Osher Life-Long Learning Institute (BOLLI).
• Other duties as assigned by the Provost.

Desired Skills and Experience Include:

• A public intellectual or institutional leader OR scholar with an established international reputation for excellence in a sub-field of Jewish studies, who can articulate an innovative, pluralistic vision for the future of Jewish studies.
• A record of collaboration in complex organizations with faculty, staff, and students, OR in other non-profit or governmental organizations.
• A record of building productive relationships with stakeholders within and outside an institution, and a record of external visibility in the field of Jewish Studies.
• Ability to work on complex and often confidential matters in a collaborative manner.
• Proven success in securing and administering funding in the field of Jewish Studies.
• Ability to manage staff effectively.
• Ability to facilitate and lead meetings, both in-person and virtually.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Familiarity with Jewish communal issues and institutions.
• A PhD or relevant terminal degree. For an appointment on the tenure track (Associate or Full Professor), a scholarly record related to Jewish Studies. For appointment off the tenure stream (Professor of the Practice), a record of accomplishment in an area related to Jewish public activity and leadership.
• A minimum of 8 years of related work experience in administration or leadership in a higher education, a governmental, or a non-profit setting. Supervisory experience preferred.

Anticipated start date: Fall 2025.

Review of applications begins April 21, 2025.

To apply: Applicants should submit a current resume or curriculum vitae; a cover letter that addresses their interest in the position, and how their strengths and experience match the qualifications for the position; and the names, addresses, emails and telephone numbers of three professional references. Candidates will be informed before references are contacted

Equal Opportunity Statement

Brandeis University is an equal opportunity employer which does not discriminate against any applicant or employee on the basis of race, color, ancestry, religious creed, gender identity and expression, national or ethnic origin, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy, age, genetic information, disability, caste, military or veteran status or any other category protected by law (also known as membership in a "protected class")