Director - Hillel McMaster

The Director at Hillel McMaster is a creative and engaging individual with a strong sense of Jewish leadership and a bold vision to make a lasting impact on Jewish student life on campus. You support and empower two staff while engaging Jewish students on campus. Working closely with leadership at Hillel Ontario, you will help develop and implement strategic engagement plans that deepen student involvement and expand Hillel’s reach. We’re looking for a leader who brings initiative, curiosity, and a commitment to building a thriving and resilient Jewish community. If you collaborate naturally, follow through with integrity, and believe in empowering others to create the change they wish to see, you will thrive in this role.

Hillel McMaster is a warm and vibrant community supporting 700 students in making Jewish life a meaningful part of their university experience. McMaster’s close-knit, relationship-driven culture fosters high student engagement and strong connections with staff. The campus context calls for a thoughtful, student-centered approach to Israel engagement and Jewish advocacy that supports open dialogue and meaningful learning. Hillel McMaster works in strong partnership with local synagogues, community organizations, and institutions at McMaster University to ensure students have access to comprehensive support and vibrant Jewish life both on and off campus. 

Reports to: Chief Campus Officer

Start date: Jul 6, 2026

 

What You’ll Be Responsible For

Student Leadership Development

• Model positive leadership
• Build on the current leadership model by engaging students and interns
• Advise and support the student leaders and their initiatives
• Identify leadership development opportunities for empowering students

Engagement & Program Development

• Be a visible Jewish presence on campus
• Leverage data to develop campus engagement strategies
• Develop and implement strategies for engaging uninvolved students 
• Build meaningful relationships with Jewish students by meeting them where they are and using creative approaches to reach and engage them.
• Support student-initiated programs; attend most programs (including evenings, weekends, Jewish holidays)
• Play a key role in planning and evaluating all programming
• Add accessible Jewish content and depth to programs on campus
• Be an experiential Jewish educator who nurtures the Jewish growth of others through conversations and actions

Advocacy

• Provide steady, compassionate leadership during campus crisis, coordinating with Hillel Ontario and campus partners to support student wellbeing and safety.
• Develop proactive advocacy strategies to meet the campus’s needs, maximising the full array of national and local advocacy services
• Monitor antisemitic and anti-Israel activities on campus, including on social media, and guide responses
• Develop/maintain strong relationships with the university administration at McMaster

Human Resource Management

• Supervise and mentor the team, with attention to both their productivity and professional growth
• Provide opportunities for ongoing professional development and education by ensuring staff participate in appropriate conferences and training
• Participate in ongoing Jewish learning and professional development - Individually and with colleagues

Publicity, External Relations, and Philanthropy

• Nurture community partnerships with local organizations and recruit for initiatives and programs that support our students.
• Support Hillel’s fundraising efforts by collaborating closely with the campus team and the Development team.
• Gather and organize data to inform fundraising communications.
• Provide leadership with timely, relevant content that can be shared with key stakeholders.

Administrative Responsibilities

• Maintain email lists and CRM database to ensure accurate and effective information management.
• Manage Hillel McMaster's space, programming, and administrative budget.
• Participate in regular professional supervision and staff meetings.
• Apply for additional funding and secure program grants from partner organizations, where applicable.

What You’ll Bring

• 5+ years of progressive leadership experience, ideally within nonprofit, campus, or community-based organizations. 
• Demonstrated success leading teams and managing budgets, including oversight of staff development and program operations.
• Strong strategic thinking skills with the ability to guide organizational growth, set priorities, and translate vision into action. 
• Executive presence and strong stakeholder management skills, with the ability to represent the organization and build relationships with campus, community, and organizational partners. 
• A commitment to advancing the mission and strategic priorities of Hillel Ontario while fostering a thriving Jewish campus community. 
• Experience in fundraising, donor engagement, or partnership development preferred. 
• An engaging presence, strong interpersonal warmth, flexibility, a good sense of humour, and professional maturity.

What you’ll get out of the position:

• Salary range: $65,000–$80,000, commensurate with experience.
• Comprehensive health benefits, LTD and life insurance. 
• Generous vacation, sick, and mental health days.
• Professional development, coaching, and leadership growth. 
• Flexible work hours. 
• Amazing colleagues and a fun and fast paced work environment.

About Hillel Ontario (Toronto, ON) is a recognized leader in the international Hillel movement, serving over 14,000 Jewish students across nine universities and amplifying vibrant Jewish campus life. We centralize organizational expertise so our campus professionals can focus on student engagement, leadership development, learning, and building meaningful community connections. Hillel embraces religious and political diversity, supporting a broad spectrum of identities through innovative programming, immersive experiences, and student leadership development. We empower the next generation of Jewish leaders to make an enduring impact on Jewish life, Israel, and the world.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Hillel Ontario is an equal opportunity employer and employs personnel without regard to age, ancestry, colour, race, citizenship, ethnic origin, place of origin, creed, religion, disability, family status, marital status (including single status), gender identity, gender expression, record of offences, sex (including pregnancy and breastfeeding), sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by federal, provincial, or local law, regulation, or ordinance.