​​​​Executive Director

Temple Israel

Omaha, Nebraska

The Moran Company is pleased to partner with Temple Israel to recruit the organization's next Executive Director.

Organizational Background

Founded in January 1871 as Nebraska's first Jewish congregation, Temple Israel has served the Omaha community for more than 150 years. Today, the congregation is home to 600 member families and is affiliated with the Union for Reform Judaism.

Temple Israel's mission is to engage its community with a modern spiritual, educational, and social Jewish experience, guided by a vision of becoming an inclusive, connected, and expanding Reform Jewish community. Programming spans worship and lifecycle support, robust adult and youth education, teen engagement, social and racial justice initiatives, and a wide range of affinity and community groups.

The congregation holds a deep commitment to tikkun olam and has a long history of civic engagement, including partnerships with Omaha-area schools and participation in local and national social justice efforts. Temple Israel is also a founding partner of the Tri-Faith Initiative, a nationally recognized interfaith effort that brings a Jewish synagogue, Christian church, and Muslim mosque together as neighbors on a shared campus in Omaha.

What sets Temple Israel apart is not just its programming or its place in Omaha's civic life, but its people. Many families are third and fourth generation members, with roots in the congregation that run deep. Members are genuinely committed to building a congregation that is both strong and welcoming.

Omaha, Nebraska

In almost every facet, Omaha punches well above its weight. Culturally, the Joslyn Art Museum is an Art Deco landmark housing a world-class collection of European, American, and Native American art. The Omaha Symphony, founded in 1921, performs at the Holland Performing Arts Center, whose acoustics are considered among the finest in the country. The Omaha Community Playhouse is the largest community theater in the United States, and the city is also home to Opera Omaha, Ballet Nebraska, and American Midwest Ballet. Add a nationally recognized culinary scene, the historic Old Market district, and the Henry Doorly Zoo, consistently ranked among the best in the world. For families, schools in the metro area are among the best in the state, the cost of living runs well below the national average, the median home price is roughly $100,000 less than the U.S. median, and the average commute is under 18 minutes. Livability.com named it one of the Top 100 Best Places to Live in 2026. It earns it.

Position Summary

The Executive Director (ED) is the chief administrative and operational leader of Temple Israel, responsible for overseeing all secular, business, operational, and financial functions in alignment with the policies, strategic goals, and objectives set by the Board of Trustees. The ED builds and sustains the systems, structures, and culture necessary for a healthy, resilient, and mission-driven synagogue.

Reporting directly to the Board of Trustees, the Executive Director serves as a co-equal partner to the Senior Rabbi. Together, they provide unified leadership to ensure the spiritual, communal, and operational needs of the congregation are met. While the Senior Rabbi leads the spiritual life of the congregation, the ED leads the administrative staff, oversees operations, and acts as a central integrator for communication, alignment, and shared accountability.

This role is central to strengthening organizational culture, improving communication, aligning leadership, and establishing reliable infrastructure during times of cultural and structural change.

The ideal candidate is a strategic, emotionally intelligent leader who excels at building trust, clarity, and consistency. They are also:

• Culture builder who strengthens trust, belonging, and professionalism.
• Systems thinker who brings clarity to complexity.
• Strategic communicator skilled in listening, alignment, and transparency.
• Relationship-centered leader who earns trust through empathy and integrity.
• Confident partner to clergy, staff, and board during times of change.
• Calm, steady leader who navigates uncertainty with confidence.
• Unifier who integrates the sacred and administrative dimensions of congregational life.
• Someone who takes ownership of outcomes and follows through with consistency.

Responsibilities

Organizational Leadership & Culture

• Implement Board-approved policies, priorities, and programs.
• Design and reinforce systems that promote transparency, accountability, collaboration, and trust across clergy, staff, board, and congregants.
• Model and uphold a professional, inclusive, and values-driven organizational culture.
• Establish clear roles, responsibilities, decision-making pathways, and accountability structures.

Clergy Partnership

• Work collaboratively with clergy to align strategy, communications, fundraising, and congregational experience.
• Ensure administrative support for worship, lifecycle events, pastoral care, education, and communications.

Partnership & Communication

• Collaborate closely with the Senior Rabbi to support the spiritual, cultural, educational, and communal life of the congregation.
• Establish clear, transparent, two-way communication across clergy, staff, board, and congregants.
• Report regularly to the Board of Trustees and consult with the Senior Rabbi on matters of shared oversight.
• Recommend policy and procedural improvements that strengthen alignment, efficiency, and cohesion.

Operations & Administration

• Oversee all congregational operations, including HR, finance, facilities, IT, administration, and cemetery and funeral management.
• Supervise and support administrative staff through coaching, development, and performance management.
• Ensure a consistently welcoming, high-quality experience for congregants, prospective members, and visitors.

Financial Management

• Oversee budgeting, financial planning, cash flow monitoring, and reporting.
• Partner with accounting professionals, the Treasurer, and the Finance Committee to ensure transparency, compliance, and strong financial oversight.
• Play an active role in fundraising, stewardship, and donor engagement efforts.

Human Resources

• Establish and maintain HR systems, including policies, benefits administration, hiring practices, evaluations, and staff handbook.
• Support staff effectiveness, culture-building, and conflict management.

Board Partnership & Governance

• Serve as primary staff liaison to the Board of Trustees and committees.
• Provide timely, accurate data and reporting to support informed decision-making.
• Support governance best practices, strategic planning, and annual goal-setting.
• Oversee implementation of the strategic plan.

Facilities & Security

• Oversee facility operations, maintenance, rentals, cemetery, capital planning, and vendor relationships.
• Ensure safety and security for congregants, staff, and visitors.

Key Strategic Focus Areas

Culture & Values

• Define and reinforce shared behavioral norms and professional expectations.
• Establish consistent onboarding, recognition, and accountability practices.
• Foster a welcoming environment rooted in belonging and relational engagement.

Communication & Alignment

• Implement systems that promote clarity, transparency, and strategic problem-solving.
• Create feedback loops for staff and congregants; analyze themes and recommend action.
• Improve communication around roles, decisions, priorities, and organizational direction.

Leadership & Governance

• Partner with the Senior Rabbi and Board to present a unified leadership vision.
• Clarify decision rights and reduce role ambiguity across clergy, staff, and board.
• Strengthen governance through data, planning, and best practices.

Systems & Infrastructure

• Build reliable HR, operational, and financial systems.
• Standardize procedures across finance, facilities, communications, and administration.
• Introduce metrics, dashboards, and performance indicators to inform decisions.
• Ensure robust financial oversight, budgeting, and risk management.

Trust & Psychological Safety

• Foster an environment where feedback and concerns can be raised safely.
• Uphold confidentiality, boundaries, and professional standards.
• Ensure fairness, consistency, and follow-through.

Professional Qualifications

• 7–10+ years of progressive leadership experience in nonprofit, congregational, or mission-driven organizations.
• Demonstrated success in building systems, leading change, and strengthening organizational culture.
• Strong expertise in operations, HR, finance, and project management.
• Proven ability to partner effectively with clergy, lay leaders, and volunteers.
• Exceptional communication, facilitation, and conflict-management skills.
• High emotional intelligence, professionalism, and discretion.
• Familiarity with Jewish communal life strongly preferred; commitment to synagogue mission required.

Compensation and Benefits

The annual salary range for this position is between $140,000 and $150,000. The role includes a comprehensive benefits package that includes medical, vision, and dental insurance, generous PTO, and a matching contribution to a 401(k) retirement plan. Additional benefits include support toward relocation expenses and executive coaching.

Statement of Non-Discrimination

Temple Israel offers equal employment opportunities without discrimination as to age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, color, race, national origin, religion, marital status, disability, pregnancy, military status or any other characteristic protected under federal, state and local laws. This policy is reflected in all of Temple Israel's practices and policies regarding hiring, training, promotions, transfers, layoffs, organizing the workforce, rates of pay and other forms of compensation, benefits and terms and conditions of employment.

Application Process

The Moran Company is conducting the search for Temple Israel. Questions about the position can be directed to Brandi Fisher, The Moran Company; brandi (at) morancompany.com

To apply for this position, submit a cover letter and resume to Brandi Fisher at the Moran Company, via the secure online portal. Resume should include all professional experience, dates of employment (month and year), position/title, and organization names. Cover letters should articulate relevant experience and fit with the stated preferences of the position.