Work with Us

Har Shalom Center for Jewish Living was established in 1976 with the explicit aim to create a space to educate Northern Colorado’s Jewish children. We started as a religious school and a non-denominational synagogue, and soon expanded to include our vibrant full-time preschool. Har Shalom is an active center of Jewish faith, culture, and worship that serves a wide diversity of spiritual paths. Our synagogue membership of 230+ families represents a spectrum of Jews from varied affiliations and backgrounds. Har Shalom is an intentionally unaffiliated synagogue that encompasses members who are culturally Jewish to those who practice Judaism in more traditional ways. Our community includes a substantial constituency of interfaith families, Jews-by-choice, and Jews with limited exposure to Judaism. Har Sly egalitarian and openly affirms gender and LGBTQ+ rights. Please refer to our mission, vision, inclusion and core value statements for more details. Our staff are experts in their fields, and the work culture is highly collaborative, supportive, and creative. Join our team and become part of our vibrant Har Shalom community.

Job Summary and General Description

Har Shalom seeks an energetic, organized, and articulate individual with excellent people skills to oversee our growing preschool program. This full-time, management position requires independent judgment, collaboration, initiative, creativity, and flexibility. The ideal candidate brings expertise in early childhood education with management experience. The candidate must be able to work within a collaborative environment, promoting an atmosphere of community and cooperation among all interested parties. By working with a team of professionals across Har Shalom programs, our Preschool Director supports the mission and philosophy of Har Shalom’s Center for Jewish Living.

With a current enrollment capacity of 32 students, our Preschool is dedicated to serving students from a wide-diversity of faiths and ethnicities through a Montessori-inspired individualized curriculum that integrates Jewish culture and values. This methodology-combination curriculum focuses on developing children’s social-emotional and academic skills within a nurturing, non-competitive environment. We honor each child’s unique abilities and learning journey by tailoring our program to meet the children where they are. Families can choose to enroll for a partial or full-time week and afterschool care.

Job Responsibilities

Administrative Responsibilities

• Facilitate positive relations among staff, parents, and leadership of other Har Shalom programs.
• Update policies and procedures around admission, attendance, and tuition.
• Sit in on local health and early childhood meetings as well as relevant monthly Har Shalom campus-wide committee meetings.
• Ensure all state licensing requirements are met while serving as the primary point of contact with all governmental and regulatory bodies in connection with the Preschool.
• Keep and maintain full and complete records pertaining to the administration and operation of the Preschool.
• Develop and adhere to a budget for the Preschool program.
• Work with the Executive Director to identify and develop fundraising opportunities to support teacher education and expansion opportunities.
• Maintain, understand, and implement UPK and Colorado Shines policies and procedures.

Program Development

• Develop and implement a program based on best practices in early childhood education.
• Oversee program growth, including recruitment of new families and retention of current families.
• Work with the Executive Director to support the development of long-term plans to grow the Preschool, including expanding into infant and toddler care.
• Work with the Rabbi to include weekly Shabbat and Jewish holiday programming.

Staff Supervision

• Provide professional supervision, mentorship, and evaluation of Preschool staff.
• Determine all schedules and assignment of Preschool staff responsibilities.
• Coordinate recruitment and hiring to fill Preschool Staff vacancies 
• Identify ongoing staff development and training opportunities.
• Arrange for substitute help for the Preschool staff and serve as a substitute, as needed
• Delegate responsibilities to staff to encourage and foster individual development

Communication

• Communicate effectively with Preschool parents and staff, prospective families, and other Har Shalom staff to promote understanding and support of Preschool programs.
• Facilitate regular and proactive communication with parents through a variety of paperless venues such as email and social media.
• Other duties as requested

Education and Experience

• Must meet State of Colorado’s required Preschool Director licensing credentials and pass a background check.
• Must have experience with preschool licensing procedures.
• Must have at least five years of classroom teaching experience in a preschool and/or an Early Childhood Education program
• Ideally have knowledge of Montessori, social-emotional, and/or Reggio-Emilia principles.
• Ideally have knowledge and appreciation of Jewish values, traditions, and practice.
• Must possess computer literacy including Excel and Word
• Candidates must be fully vaccinated

Benefits
Har Shalom is an equal opportunity employer that values diversity and is dedicated to creating a modern workforce that respects employees' need for a work-life balance. In addition to health and dental insurance, retirement contributions and most national holidays, we expect that our Preschool Director and staff will take off fall, winter, and spring breaks as well as a minimum of four weeks off over the summer.

Salary Range: $44,000 - $48,000, based on experience. Hard stop at 40 hours week.
 
Application Process
Submit a resume and cover letter explaining why this opportunity is a fit for your interests to execdir@nocoharshalom.org.

Job Summary and General Description

Har Shalom Center for Jewish Living seeks a dynamic congregational rabbi to embrace our diverse and growing Jewish community in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. Sadly, our beloved rabbi of seven years will be moving to be near her family when her contract ends in June. Read Rabbi Finestone’s letter

Har Shalom is an active center of Jewish faith, culture, and worship that serves a wide diversity of spiritual paths. Our synagogue membership of 230+ families represents a spectrum of Jews from varied affiliations and backgrounds. Har Shalom is an intentionally unaffiliated synagogue that encompasses members who are culturally Jewish to those who practice Judaism in more traditional ways. Our community includes a substantial constituency of interfaith families, Jews-by-choice, and Jews with limited exposure to Judaism. Har Shalom is strongly egalitarian and openly affirms gender and LGBTQ+ rights. Please refer to our mission, vision, inclusion and core value statements for more details. 

Our congregation started in 1975 as Congregation Har Shalom with a handful of families that wanted to provide Jewish education to their children. Our original synagogue was built in 1982, and our campus expanded in 2008 with the addition of our preschool. We see our children as the future of our congregation. 

Our dedicated professional staff and lay leadership work in partnership with our Rabbi. The Board and Executive Director provide strategic planning; the Religious School Director presides over our thriving youth education program; our Community Engagement and Development Manager ensures the vitality of our congregation and stability of our finances. Lay leaders support activity at all levels: social, spiritual, educational, and ritual. 

The synagogue is located in the heart of the vibrant city of Fort Collins, Colorado. Fort Collins is home to the world-class Colorado State University and is the county seat of Larimer County. It is a Platinum-rated Bicycle Friendly Community and is close to hiking and ski trails. The Poudre School System is excellent, we have wonderful parks and libraries, there are a diverse array of cultural offerings, and restaurants of all kinds. Denver and Boulder are within easy driving distance.

What is special about Har Shalom:

• A popular weekly Torah study
• A Chevrah Kadisha that  is a model for congregations across the United States
• A library that is accredited by the Association of Jewish Libraries
• A top-rated, on-site, Montessori-inspired preschool
• Vibrant youth programming  for 130+ children including Shabbat Junior, Religious School, Hebrew School, teen programming, and BBYO
• A commitment to social justice as a core value at home and in the broader northern Colorado community
• More about our Lifelong Learning program and Committees/Interest Groups

The ideal candidate will embrace our intentionally unaffiliated, diverse, and egalitarian community and foster education at all levels from preschool to retirees. 

Responsibilities

• Lead shabbat and holiday services
• Collaborate with families to plan and perform life-cycle events
• Provide pastoral care and counsel
• Guide those who wish to convert
• Work in partnership with our Executive Director, professional staff, and board

Minimum Qualifications

• Ordination or smicha from a recognized institution or source
• A passion for working with children
• Commitment to cultivating and fostering a warm and welcoming community

Preferred Qualifications

• Values the power of music and facilitates it in ritual practice
• Demonstrates interest in working with other faith leaders in the community 
• Prioritizes and supports Jewish education for all ages

Salary Range and Benefits:
TOTAL COMPENSATION: $88,000 - $108,000

Base Salary: $75,000 - $90,000
Pension contribution:  3% match of base salary
Major Medical Insurance: Kaiser Permanente

Application materials

• CV
• Cover Letter (no more than two pages) that describes your interest in leading our community with specific examples of how your experience qualifies you for this position
• D’rash or Sermon (either written - up to 5 pages or recorded - up to 10 minutes) 
• Recorded singing sample (optional)

To apply, please email all application materials to apply@nocoharshalom.org