Center for Yiddish Life — Executive Director
About the Workers Circle
In 1900, Yiddish-speaking Eastern European Jewish immigrants founded the Workers Circle on a radical idea that still drives us today: that Yiddish culture and social justice are inseparable. Today the Workers Circle engages a multigenerational community of more than 250,000 activists through strategic social justice campaigns, grassroots organizing, and the largest Yiddish language and culture program in the world. The Center for Yiddish Life is our next chapter.
About the Center for Yiddish Life
The Workers Circle is launching the Center for Yiddish Life, dedicated to a simple conviction: that Yiddish is foundational, inspirational, and a living force that builds community across generations. We already run the largest secular Yiddish language program in the world: 500 students per semester, 1,300+ participants in Let There Be Yiddish (a program for the 60+ y/o audience) and nearly 750 annual participants in Trips to Yiddishland (one virtual, one in-person). The Center gives this work a home of its own — dedicated leadership, an advisory council, a donor base, and the infrastructure to grow.
Key Responsibilities
Build and lead the division. "The Center for Yiddish Life" is the working name; one of your first responsibilities will be helping shape the final name and brand identity. From there, set the strategic direction, build the public presence, and establish the division's identity within the broader landscape of Jewish cultural life.
Build and grow the division's fundraising. Working from an established base of Yiddish donors and supporters, recruit and lead an advisory council, deepen relationships with major donors and legacy givers, and expand foundation support from arts and humanities funders.
Build on the existing Yiddish programs, with the 60+ community as the foundation. As independent fundraising develops, extend programming to Millennials and younger generations, building the pipeline to carry Yiddish culture forward for decades to come.
Represent the division publicly in the worlds of Jewish philanthropy, academic partnership, and cultural media.
Work in close partnership with Workers Circle senior staff, whose relationships, institutional, and development knowledge are foundational to this division's success.
Qualifications
10+ years of organizational leadership experience, with a track record of building something new
Entrepreneurial instincts and business sense
Comfort with fundraising: making asks, cultivating supporters, and building a culture of giving
A passion for Jewish and Yiddish cultural life, and the ability to communicate it across generations and backgrounds
Experience across sectors welcome — nonprofit, arts, academia, or elsewhere
Collaborative by nature, with the trust and generosity to build strong partnerships
Location: New York City (Hybrid)
Reports to: CEO, Workers Circle
Compensation and Benefits
Salary range is $120,000–$140,000, commensurate with experience, plus a strong benefits package. This is a full-time, exempt position.
How to Apply
Send a cover letter and resume to hr@circle.org. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.
The Workers Circle is an equal opportunity employer and encourages applications from candidates across backgrounds, communities, and career paths. We are committed to building a team that reflects the full richness of the communities we serve.