Executive Director

Executive Director

Temple Israel

Omaha Nebraska

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

Organizational Background

Founded in January 1871 as Nebraskas 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 Israels 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 Omahas 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 $100000 less than the U.S. median and the average commute is under 18 minutes. 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

• 710 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 $140000 and $150000. 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 Israels 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)