Description

About The J

Established in 1914, the Jewish Community Center of Greater Kansas City (“The J”) is open to people of all backgrounds and faiths, making it one of the most diverse and well-respected community centers in the Midwest. The J has over 12,000 individual members and welcomes another 15,000 visitors annually to our cultural, fitness, education, childcare, recreation, sports, theater, camping and senior adult programs.

Noted for its state-of-the-art fitness and aquatics facilities, award-winning early childhood and camp programs and 500-seat White Theater, The J operates within the context of Jewish values and traditions. This is a unique opportunity for a dynamic individual seeking a multi-faceted, responsible, high-impact position.

Purpose

The Chief Operating Officer is a senior executive position at The J established to inject entrepreneurship and innovation and catalyze growth in the areas of Seniors, Youth, Arts Culture and Jewish Experiences. This position requires exceptional strategic planning and supervision skills and a willingness to restructure and assume direct (interim) control of departments as necessary. The COO provides enhanced levels of leadership, strategic direction, professionalism, accountability and management to ensure the development and delivery of enticing, competitive, profitable and fresh programs. The COO ensures that supervised departments develop annual program goals and meet annual budgets that breed sustainable growth.

Essential functions

• Provide strong, close supervision of the Directors of the Child Development Center (preschool) and Camp School-Age Services departments, ensuring they meet budget goals, increase profitability and add value to membership.
• Supervise Arts Culture, Heritage and Jewish Experiences Directors to ensure these mission-based programs meet goals, maintain Jewish programming, creatively evolve and grow and maximize funder support.
• Proactively build collaborative partnerships/working teams between departments to ensure cross-marketing and cohesive programming that adds value to membership. Supervise Director of Marketing Communications to accomplish organizational goals. 
• Partner with CEO on various aspects of leadership development and strategic planning within the organization and with The J Board of Directors, including acting as a staff liaison to the Building Community Leadership Council.
• Work with staff to build robust committees to help grow, innovate and support key programs.
• Assist with project management or fundraising for special event projects as needed.

Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Organization and Planning: Plans, schedules and organizes in an efficient and productive manner, focuses on key priorities.
• Analytical Skills: Demonstrates ability to structure and process data and draw insightful conclusions.
• Capacity Building: Demonstrates the ability to effectively maintain and build organization capacity and develops the processes that ensure the organization runs smoothly.
• Management and Finance: Demonstrates a thorough understanding of operations and finance; broad experience with a full range of business functions and systems including budgeting, analysis and finance.
• Communication: Demonstrates the ability to communicate positively and professionally with staff at all levels of the organization. 
• Problem Solving: Correctly identifies current problem and seeks solutions to minimize future problems. Demonstrates patience, tenacity, and resourcefulness.
• Productive Workflow: Produces significant output with appropriate effort; works efficiently. Successfully manages details. 
• Demonstrates strong work ethic, willingness to work hard and intrinsic motivation to get the job done.
• Collaboration: Ability to proactively reach out to peers, other J staff, and leadership to maximize collaborative working relationships.
• Maintain resilience: Continues to perform positively and effectively when faced with time pressures, adversity, disappointment, or conflict. Remains focused, composed, and optimistic in difficult situations and recovers from setbacks. Can quickly and positively respond to unforeseen changes or complications, even with limited information and under time and resource constraints.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Nonprofit Management, Jewish Communal Service or related field
• Experience leading an organization in a Senior Director or Vice President role
• Minimum of 7 years’ successful experience in operations management of complex organizations
• Demonstrated success managing teams towards common goals through effective goal setting, delegating responsibilities, managing performance, and holding staff accountable for outcomes and timelines
• Excellent leadership and people skills, including the ability to proactively partner with a diverse team
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills including public speaking
• Cultural competence and/or knowledge of Jewish culture, history and traditions

Preferred Qualifications

• MBA or Master’s degree in related field
• Experience leading in a non-profit organization
• Experience working in a Jewish Community Center or Jewish communal organization

Application Instructions

Please submit a resume and cover letter via our online application process. For assistance, contact Mary Beth Rohlf at marybethr@thejkc.org.

About The J

The J is committed to creating a diverse environment. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status. The J is Shabbat-Observant Friendly.

The mission of The J is to build a strong, vibrant and inclusive community that enhances wellness, meaning and joy based on Jewish values, heritage and culture. The J operates on these values:

• Welcoming Inclusive - We are welcoming, inclusive and nurturing. We invite all to join us in making connections and lifelong friendships.
• Building Community - We believe in the strength of community and we seek to cultivate a sense of belonging in all we do.
• Enriching Mind Body Soul - We help individuals live a physically, intellectually, and emotionally healthy lifestyle.
• Passing on Jewish Culture History - We celebrate and pass on the values, culture, history, and traditions of the Jewish people.
• Treat Others As You Wish To Be Treated - We treat everyone with respect, dignity and loving kindness.