Ringel Engagement Associate

Purdue Hillel Foundation

Role Overview

When was the last time you did something for the first time? As Purdue Hillel’s inaugural Ringel Engagement Associate, you will have the opportunity to create, innovate, engage, and inspire deeply meaningful Jewish life at Purdue.

In this role, you will build one-on-one relationships with students, develop and implement engaging and provocative programming, and help inspire students to make a commitment to meaningful Jewish life rooted in the areas where their passions are fueled – global Jewish community, Jewish learning, and observance, arts and culture, social justice, entrepreneurship, creativity and leadership, and career development. Our Hillel’s Ringel Engagement Associate is a dynamic, creative, well-organized professional with strong interpersonal skills and a passion for Jewish life. You think strategically, can work independently, and you are the MVP of team players. The ideal candidate is highly motivated, outgoing and engaging, and able to connect with students authentically and intentionally. You are a proud Jewish role model and students will be drawn to you because of your approachable, dynamic, and engaging personality and outstanding interpersonal skills. Your talent for active listening will empower others to create their own connections to Jewish life that are meaningful to them. Every day brings new ways to connect Jewish young adults with opportunities to further their identities and practice active Jewish lives at Purdue, and their experience will be enhanced by the integrity you bring to this work.

What You’ll Do

Participate as a member of the Purdue Hillel leadership team in the collaboration, implementation, assessment, and ideation of all worship and programming.

Develop and mentor cohorts of students along with affinity groups such as LGBTQ+, students involved in Greek life, athletes, STEM, and more.

Mentor affinity-based semester-long interns (communications, development, design).

Develop one-on-one relationships with Jewish students by meeting them where they live, work and/or study, utilizing creative methods to engage and interest them.

Serve as a liaison and mentor to the Purdue Student Board.

Lead the team in measuring data, impact, depth, and breadth of engagement.

Be present at events and activities on campus (in and out of the Hillel space) to engage with students on the ground.

Lead campus-wide recruitment and post-trip engagement for our annual winter Taglit-Birthright Israel trip.

Aspire to recruit for and develop a summer Taglit-Birthright trip, which you’ll have the opportunity to lead.

What You’ll Bring to the Job

0 -2 years of full-time professional work experience.

Bachelor’s degree.

A strong sense of flexibility, empathy, creativity, and humility.

Ability to connect with people all across the introvert/extrovert spectrum, whatever their Jewish knowledge is, and what they think they know about Hillel.

Motivated toward fulfilling our mission of connecting every Jewish student at Purdue to Jewish life and community.

Desire to continue developing your own relationship to Judaism.

Willingness to admit what you don’t know, and excitement to learn in those areas.

What You’ll Receive

Competitive salary, ranging $38,000-$42,000.

Time off: Up to 22 days paid time off, up to 10 sick days, 8 paid federal holidays and up to 13 paid Jewish holidays, and 6 weeks paid parental leave.

Health Benefits: Medical, dental, and vision insurance.

Prepare for your future: 401(k) plan and a 403(b) plan.

Additional Benefits: Additional health and wellness benefits, financial benefits, professional training, tuition reimbursement, and much more.

Great professional development, mentoring, and skill-building opportunities as part of the global Hillel movement.

Deeply intentional mentorship, supervision, and commitment to career architecture by the Executive Director, who will be your direct supervisor.

An unlimited supply of Hillel swag.

About Purdue University and Purdue Hillel

Innovation is at the heart of Purdue University’s persistent pursuit of the next giant leap, and the U.S. News & World Report recognized this commitment by ranking Purdue as the fifth-most innovative school in the country. Purdue’s dedication to innovation extends to all aspects of the institution and is driven by targeted initiatives and the mindset that the University is a place where people bring their best and learn to build a better world together. These include affordability and accessibility, online learning, STEM leadership, transformative education, and world-changing research. Purdue is a world-class academic institution educating and graduating world-class students, and the implementation of the Ringel Engagement Associate moves Purdue Hillel another leap closer to providing a congruent Jewish experience on campus. Purdue Hillel is located in the heart of our West Lafayette, IN, campus. This fall, we will celebrate 70 years in our historic building on West State Street.

Since 1951, Purdue Hillel has been designed to feel like home with a 5000 square foot facility that has a full-service kosher kitchen, dining room, sanctuary/multi-purpose room, computer/study room, TV room/library, and 3 administrative offices. We celebrate Shabbat and have Friday night dinners while school is in session. We offer programs, activities, lectures, classes, and social events. The building is open during the day for student use.

We have over 600 Jewish students on campus, a large number of Jewish faculty, Jewish administrators, strong Jewish Studies programs (major and minor) and Hebrew programs (conversational and biblical), and a diverse and welcoming established Jewish community. There is an active chapter of the Alpha Epsilon Pi fraternity, as well as Zeta Beta Tau fraternity, and Sigma Delta Tau sorority, and there are Jewish students involved in virtually every other Greek chapter and Co-op on campus.

About the Ringel Engagement Associate

The inaugural Ringel Engagement Associate is named for Professor Robert Ringel, z”l. At Purdue University, he served as an assistant professor in the Department of Audiology and Speech Sciences from 1966 to 1970; professor and head of the Department of Audiology and Speech Sciences from 1970 to 1973; dean of the School of Humanities, Social Sciences and Education from 1973 to 1986; vice president and dean of the graduate school from 1986 to 1990; executive vice president for academic affairs from 1990 to 2001. Throughout his career, his commitment to students never wavered, as he continued to teach in the undergraduate classroom and mentor doctoral candidates every year until his death in 2006. Professor Ringel also served proudly as a member of Purdue Hillel’s Governing Board and as our Faculty Advisor. Known by most as Bob, he was deeply committed to the mentorship of young professionals and developed a rapport with them that transcended students’ time on campus. Because of his commitment and belief in the power of building Jewish community at Purdue, and his vision that in order to do so we need to meet more students more intentionally where they are, Professor Ringel designated a lead gift to make this opportunity a reality. And for that, we are so grateful.

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 more than 550 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 fosters an enduring commitment to Jewish life, learning, and Israel and trains them to become the next Jewish leaders.

Purdue University is affiliated with Hillel International. Hillel International 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.

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