Job Summary
Temple Beth Am, a vibrant, welcoming Jewish community whose roots and mission are deeply embedded in the life of the greater Los Angeles Jewish community, is seeking a leader ready to help write the next great chapter of this community's story.

The next Executive Director of Temple Beth Am will be a forward-thinking leader to stand alongside our Senior Rabbi and the clergy, the Head of School at Pressman Academy and the Temple’s Board of Trustees to shape the future of one of Los Angeles's most consequential Jewish communities. The Executive Director reports directly to the Senior Rabbi and works closely with President and the Board of Trustees. The Executive Director has oversight over the non-clergy professional staff of the synagogue, with full ultimate responsibility for its operational, financial, administrative, and institutional health.

This is a role for someone who leads from the front — visible on campus, trusted by members, respected by staff, and genuinely passionate about the irreplaceable role of the synagogue in Jewish life. We actively welcome applications from synagogue leaders, nonprofit executives and accomplished corporate and business leaders who are ready to bring their expertise to a mission that matters deeply to them. If you have led complex organizations, managed significant budgets, and built high-performing teams — and if the idea of channeling that experience into the Jewish community inspires you — we want to hear from you.

Duties

Financial Management, Business Operations & Administrative Office Oversight
Facilities, Campus Operations & Security
Supervision, Cross-Functional Leadership & Staff Development
Strategic Leadership & Institutional Vision
Board Relations & Governance
Membership Growth, Engagement & Community Relations
Development, Fundraising & Advancement

Qualifications

We are looking for a rare combination: the operational depth to run one of Los Angeles's most complex Jewish institutions, and the visionary leadership to take it boldly forward. The ideal candidate has already demonstrated — not just imagined — what it looks like to lead a significant organization through growth and transformation.

Required

Bachelor's degree required; MBA, MPA, or comparable advanced degree strongly preferred.
Minimum 7–10 years of senior leadership experience at the executive or C-suite level — in a synagogue, Jewish communal organization, nonprofit, or corporate/business environment.
Demonstrated success managing a complex, multi-faceted organization with a substantial operating budget (ideally $5M+); experience overseeing multiple departments, programs, or business units simultaneously.
Proven financial acumen including P&L responsibility, budgeting, forecasting, and reporting to a board or senior leadership.
Strong track record in staff leadership, organizational development, and human resources management — building teams, resolving conflict, and cultivating a high-performance culture.
Experience managing or overseeing security and risk management for significant physical facilities, properties, or multi-site operations.
A genuine, personal connection to Jewish life, values, and community — whether through lifelong practice, communal involvement, or a deep commitment to Jewish continuity.
Outstanding interpersonal skills, with the ability to build relationships across a wide range of stakeholders: clergy, volunteer lay leaders, donors, professional staff, parents, and members.
Comfort with standard technology platforms including Microsoft Office, financial systems, CRM/membership databases, and HR software.

Preferred

Prior experience as an Executive Director, COO/CFO, General Manager, or equivalent senior leadership role in a synagogue, Jewish communal organization, school, or complex nonprofit.
Corporate or business background with demonstrated desire and readiness to transition to mission-driven nonprofit leadership.
Familiarity with the Los Angeles Jewish community, its organizations, philanthropic landscape, and communal networks.
Experience in fundraising, major gifts cultivation, development campaigns, and/or grant writing — or demonstrated ability to build those skills.
Knowledge of Jewish calendar, holidays, lifecycle events, and synagogue observance — or a clear commitment to developing that knowledge.
Experience working alongside or reporting to a volunteer board of directors, including governance, committee support, and board-staff dynamics.

The ideal candidate brings the operational mastery to keep a complex institution running smoothly and has the vision, courage, and drive to take the institution somewhere it has never been. Specifically, we are looking for someone who:

Leads from the front. You are visible, engaged, and energizing — not a behind-the-scenes administrator, but a genuine institutional leader who inspires confidence in staff, members, and the Board alike.
Thinks in decades, not fiscal years. You are equally at home managing today's operational details and imagining where this community should be in 20 years — and building the bridge between the two.
Brings solutions, not just analysis. When you identify a problem or an opportunity, you arrive with a plan, not just a report.
Is as comfortable at a shiva as in a board meeting. You understand that synagogue leadership is fundamentally about relationships, and you invest in them with genuine warmth and care.
Earns trust and keeps it. You are honest, consistent, and discreet — a leader that rabbis, board members, donors, staff, and congregants all feel they can rely on.
Holds high standards for self and others, without ego. You build teams that perform, you give feedback that sticks, and you celebrate others' successes as your own

If you are a COO, CFO, General Manager, Managing Director, or senior executive who has led large, complex organizations and who feels a deep connection to Jewish community and values, we encourage you to apply. If you bring your full professional self to this role and you are ready to learn the rhythms, the culture, and the language of Jewish communal life with genuine enthusiasm, we will invest in your transition and surround you with experienced clergy and lay leadership who want you to succeed.

Pay: $185,000.00 - $245,000.00 per year

Benefits:

Dental insurance
Health insurance
Paid time off
Professional development assistance
Retirement plan
Tuition reimbursement

Work Location: In person

Temple Beth Am

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