Executive Director - Clemson Hillel

Are you an entrepreneurial leader ready to create the newest Hillel in North America? As the inaugural Executive Director of Hillel at Clemson University, you will be the driving force behind creating a dynamic home for Jewish life that inspires students to explore and experience a vibrant Jewish community on campus. Utilizing an innovative approach and a go-getter attitude, you will craft the vision and build the strategy for engaging all Jewish students, establish a strong campus and community presence, develop key resources, and strengthen vital ties between Hillel, the University, and the local community. You will excel in this pivotal role if you are a builder with a start-up mindset who loves launching organizations from the ground up -setting long-term strategic vision, securing financial sustainability, and empowering students to take genuine ownership of Jewish life.

What you'll do:

Strategy & Vision

• Create a strategic vision in year one and lead the drive for a long-term plan for Hillel at Clemson.
• Establish the necessary infrastructure for Hillel at Clemson to become a self-sustaining and top-notch nonprofit organization.

Fundraising & Financial Management

• Exhibit leadership around financial resource development and cultivate the stakeholders who will help you get there, including lay leaders, Clemson community members, and local agencies.
• Develop Hillel's financial resources to establish financial sustainability in accordance with the size of the Jewish community and the needs of the strategic plan.
• Develop policies and procedures that ensure sound financial practice and financial independence.
• Identify, secure, and outfit appropriate rental space to be utilized for Hillel's needs.

Stakeholder & External Relations

• As the primary Hillel professional for Clemson, understand the unique culture of campus and find opportunities for partnership and connection where they intersect with Hillel's priorities.
• Work with University partners, Jewish community partners, and key stakeholders to educate and advocate for the needs and interests of Jewish college students in today's world.
• Connect Hillel at Clemson to the International Hillel movement and other national initiatives and programs.

Student Engagement

• Inspire and organize pluralistic, diverse Jewish life on campus, creating strategies to expand the base of the Jewish student community to include a multiplicity of Jewish backgrounds and interests.
• Act as a leader and convener of the community every day, during times of celebration and during times of challenge.
• Serve as a trusted mentor and advisor to student leaders, empowering them to design and lead programming that reflects their own passions, build their leadership skills, and take genuine ownership of Jewish life on campus.

What You'll Bring:

• Professional Experience: 5+ years of professional work experience, including a proven track record in fundraising. Experience in management roles in the Jewish or secular nonprofit, higher education, or mission-driven organization world is a plus.
• Education: Bachelor's degree required, Master's degree preferred. We will consider a range of candidates' experiences and credentials.
• Fundraising Prowess: Demonstrated success with financial resource development, including executing annual fundraising campaigns, cultivation, stewardship, and major gift solicitation through in-person, print, and online channels, as well as fiscal budgeting and financial forecasting.
• Entrepreneurial Spirit: A strong entrepreneurial spirit and passion for building an organization from the ground up, paired with creative problem-solving and the attention to detail to create and follow through with a complex plan.
• Strategic Execution: A track record of developing a strategic plan for an organization and executing it, along with building student engagement and leadership development programs and opportunities.
• Relationship Focus: Strong relationship-building skills, comfort working with diverse populations, and an attitude of proactive communication and collaboration across offices and agencies.
• Storytelling & Presence: Robust storytelling skills to engage others in support of a new endeavor, with an inspiring presence that helps others deepen their interest in Jewish life and creates space for a diversity of perspectives so all student voices are heard.
• Jewish Literacy: Expertise in leading complex conversations about Judaism and Israel in a way that is approachable and meets students at various points in their personal Jewish journey, with a gift for inspiring interest in pluralistic, diverse Jewish life.

What you'll receive:

• Salary: $85,000 - $100,000, depending upon skills, qualifications, and experience.
• Comprehensive Benefits: A comprehensive benefits package and generous paid time off.
• Professional Growth: Paid opportunities for professional development, peer engagement, mentoring, and skill-building, including global conferences for personal and professional development throughout the U.S. and Israel.
• Mentorship & Support: Mentorship by a fellow Hillel Director and strategic support from a dedicated Campus Support Director at Hillel's Schusterman International Center.
• Lay Leadership: A supportive and committed board of lay leaders and faculty.
• Relocation: Assistance is available.

A Brief Introduction to Hillel at Clemson:

Hillel at Clemson will serve more than 500 Jewish undergraduate and graduate students at Clemson University in Clemson, SC. Hillel will be part of a Clemson campus community that furthers civic engagement and innovation, practices collaboration and partnership, and values diversity, equity, and inclusion. Hillel at Clemson is affiliated with Hillel International, which enriches the lives of Jewish students so they may enrich the Jewish people and the world, and envisions a world where every student is inspired to make an enduring commitment to Jewish life, learning, and Israel.

About Clemson University

Clemson University is an R-1 public research institution consistently recognized for student success and community engagement. In the U.S. News & World Report 2026 rankings, Clemson was named the top national and public university in South Carolina and ranked No. 36 among all public universities nationwide. With an acceptance rate around 33%, Clemson's out-of-state footprint has grown significantly in the past decade, aided by its flagship honors college, which is ranked fourth in the nation. A land grant university, Clemson's student body has diverse interests and socio-economic backgrounds. Clemson's exceptionally strong athletic programs are a pillar of its intense sense of campus community and unity, bringing top student-athletes from across the country and the world into its student body. Clemson is one of very few universities to receive an A+ rating for its work to curb antisemitism and create an open environment for Jewish students to thrive.

About Clemson and Upstate South Carolina

Nestled in the scenic Upstate of South Carolina and on the shore of Lake Hartwell, the town of Clemson offers a unique blend of small-town charm and surrounding natural beauty. It has an energetic and welcoming atmosphere, with a lively main street and a steady flow of cultural and athletic events. The surrounding Upstate region is known for its rolling foothills and easy access to outdoor recreation, including hiking, boating, and a short distance to the Blue Ridge Mountains, which can be seen from campus.

Although the town of Clemson is small, it is only 40 minutes from Greenville, ranked by U.S. News & World Report as the #4 city in the United States to live in and the #3 top small city by Condé Nast Readers' Choice Awards. Greenville offers vibrant Jewish life, myriad cultural activities, and some of the most exciting employment opportunities in the Sun Belt.

Applications & Nominations:

Don't check off all the boxes or meet every single requirement? We have learned that potential candidates hesitate to apply for a job unless they meet every requirement. Hillel is dedicated to inclusivity and to valuing diversity and equity in the workplace. If this opportunity excites you but your background may not be a perfect match, we still encourage you to apply.

If you have any questions about this role, please contact Jennifer Sosnow, Director of Executive Talent, Hillel International, at jsosnow@hillel.org

About Hillel International

In 1923, Rabbi Benjamin Frankel started Hillel with humble means, a noble mission and a breathtaking vision: to convey Jewish civilization to a new generation. Today, Hillel International continues to enrich the lives of Jewish students and is the largest Jewish campus organization in the world at nearly 1,000 colleges and universities across North America and around the world. As Hillel evolves as an organization, the mission remains steadfast: to create lasting connections with every Jewish student that foster an enduring commitment to Jewish life, learning, and Israel and train them to become the next Jewish leaders.

Hillel is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to creating an accepting and inclusive environment for all.