Manager of Special Projects (Full-Time- Northbrook)

Key Essential Job Duties

• Leadership and Strategy
• Maintain and grow JCC’s reputation as a community leader in providing opportunities for cultural enrichment and engagement across all demographics.
• Create and implement a forward-thinking vision and strategies to provide many points of connection to enrich and inspire Jewish identity and build community for community members of all ages.
• Work with staff to maximize reach and impact and to ensure fiscal responsibility for department budget.
• JCC Maccabi
• Coordinate JCC Chicago’s participation in JCC Maccabi, including athlete recruitment, registration, family communication, coach and delegation-head coordination, travel logistics, uniforms, scheduling, and required documentation.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for participating families, coaches, host communities, and national JCC Maccabi representatives.
• Ensure that all participants meet program, travel, medical, behavioral, and safety requirements.
• Develop opportunities to strengthen the local Maccabi community before and after the Games.
• Manage the Maccabi budget, registration revenue, expenses, scholarships, and vendor relationships.
• Support the development of a positive delegation culture grounded in teamwork, Jewish values, sportsmanship, and community.
• Specialty and Community-Responsive Programming
• Plan and execute one-time specialty programs, including programs developed in response to current events, community interests, Jewish communal moments, or partnership opportunities.
• Cook up programs like Blooms for Bibas and other initiatives that bring community members together through education, service, reflection, advocacy, or creative engagement.
• Audit proposed opportunities for mission alignment, audience interest, operational feasibility, financial impact, and community relevance.
• Work with internal and external partners to develop meaningful and timely program content.
• Ensure that sensitive or community-responsive programs are implemented thoughtfully and in coordination with organizational leadership and Marketing and Communications.
• Lake County
• Support the development and implementation of an expanded JCC Chicago presence in Lake County.
• Identify community interests, program gaps, partnership opportunities, and potential program locations.
• Build and maintain relationships with synagogues, schools, community organizations, municipalities, businesses, and other Lake County partners.
• Develop pilot programs and evaluate participation, financial performance, community response, and opportunities for continued growth.
• Coordinate program calendars to establish a consistent and recognizable JCC presence in the region.
• Gather participant feedback and engagement data to inform future investment and expansion decisions.
• Act as onsite program manager for special events and secure staffing for effective execution of all community programming.
• After-School Enrichment and School Days-Off Programming
• Develop and coordinate after-school enrichment programs and programming offered when schools are closed.
• Identify program concepts, instructors, vendors, locations, schedules, and target audiences.
• Manage vendor outreach, contracts, insurance documentation, background screening, and program requirements.
• Cook up registration, transportation, staffing, space reservations, supplies, and participant communication.
• Monitor enrollment and financial performance and make recommendations regarding continuation, modification, or expansion.
• Build partnerships with Early Childhood programs, schools, camps, synagogues, and community organizations to expand participation.
• Ensure that programs complement existing school and partner offerings rather than unnecessarily duplicating them.
• Lobby Activations
• Develop engaging lobby activations across multiple sites that connect visitors to Jewish holidays, cultural moments, community initiatives, JCC programs, volunteer opportunities, and organizational priorities.
• Create an annual activation calendar in partnership with program departments and Marketing and Communications.
• Cook up the design, installation, maintenance, staffing, and removal of activations.
• Create interactive elements that encourage participation, conversation, learning, and connection.
• Evaluate engagement with lobby activations and identify opportunities to connect participants to additional JCC programs and experiences.
• Administrative and Operational Responsibilities
• Develop and monitor project and program budgets.
• Process invoices, contracts, purchase requests, and program expenses in accordance with organizational procedures.
• Work with Marketing and Communications to develop promotional timelines, program descriptions, registration materials, and participant communications.
• Cook up coordination with facilities, security, technology, transportation, and operations teams regarding program requirements.
• Track enrollment, attendance, participant demographics, revenue, expenses, partnerships, and engagement outcomes.
• Follow up with all special events leads at Lake County.
• Prepare weekly schedule of events for onsite staff and facilities; attend building meetings to ensure that all program and events setups are accurate and visitors logged.
• Prepare program reports and recommendations for organizational leadership.
• Ensure compliance with JCC Chicago policies, safety procedures, accessibility expectations, and applicable screening requirements.
• Provide onsite program leadership, including occasional evening and weekend responsibilities.

Essential Job Duties/Physical Duties

• Demonstrate physical stamina and agility required to be mobile for long periods throughout the day.
• Ability to physically procure, lift, move and set up program supplies (minimum 20 lbs) for direct program support.
• Stand for long periods of time and be able to actively engage with adults of all ages.
• Possess strength and endurance required to set up, facilitate/host and clean up events.
• Clearly and effectively communicate in a manner that adults understand.
• Ability to climb stairs, access public and private transportation. (in the case of an emergency).
• React with physical and mental alertness in emergency situations.
• Vision – must be able to distinguish between colors, shades, and brightness with ability to focus.
• Maintain a sense of calm and perspective with physical and mental alertness during stressful times.

Days/Hours/%Travel

• The position will generally operate Monday–Friday, 37.5 hours per week, with flexibility to accommodate program schedules.
• Must be able to attend events and programs scheduled on evenings and weekends.
• Frequent travel across the greater Chicagoland area.

Direct Reports (titles and FTE%)

• NA

Indirect Reports (titles and FTE%)

• NA