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About IJ & Jeanné Wagner Jewish Community Center
The mission of the JCC is to enrich the life of the Jewish community and the community at large by offering educational, cultural, and recreational opportunities in a place where people of all backgrounds, cultures, and beliefs gather in peace and understanding. The JCC strives to be a vibrant community center, full of people of all ages, all abilities, all faiths and all family configurations, coming together in peace to strengthen their minds, bodies, and spirits. “All are welcome,” is a core value.
The Salt Lake JCC serves families, children, teens, young adults, and seniors, creating intergenerational connections and fostering Jewish identity in a unique Western mountain setting. With a membership drawn from the Salt Lake community, the JCC is situated in a welcoming facility that serves as a hub for Jewish life and community connection in Utah. Thanks to the generosity of its donors, founding members, and partners, the JCC offers comprehensive programming including early childhood education, youth programs, fitness and wellness initiatives, cultural arts programs, senior services, and camp programs. As a cornerstone institution in a state where the Jewish community represents a small but vibrant minority, the JCC plays a crucial role in providing a sense of belonging and cultural continuity.
The JCC employs dedicated staff who facilitate the development of meaningful programs and experiences that resonate with both Jewish and broader community members, promoting understanding, dialogue, and connection across different backgrounds and faiths.
About Salt Lake City
Salt Lake City is a thriving metropolitan area nestled against the stunning Wasatch Mountains, offering world-class outdoor recreation and a high quality of life. As Utah’s capital and largest city, Salt Lake City combines urban sophistication with easy access to some of the nation’s best skiing, hiking, and natural beauty. Utah (and Salt Lake City) is referred to as the Crossroads of the West, and the International Airport provides direct service to over 100 destinations daily. Also, the community is within a five-hour drive of eight national parks, and 10 highly-rated ski resorts are within a one-hour drive of Salt Lake City. The city has a growing, diverse population and is known for its entrepreneurial spirit, strong economy with a focus on technology and healthcare, and vibrant arts and culture scene.
The area offers excellent schools, universities including the University of Utah, a low cost of living compared to other major western cities, and a family-friendly atmosphere with four distinct seasons. Salt Lake City hosted the 2002 Winter Olympics, will soon host the 2034 Winter Olympics, and continues to maintain a reputation as an international destination. The region’s unique position as a hub for outdoor enthusiasts, families, and young professionals makes it an attractive place to live, work, and raise a family.
Salt Lake City is home to a relatively small but tight-knit and active Jewish community of approximately 5,000-7,000 individuals in the greater metropolitan area. The Jewish community in Salt Lake has deep historical roots dating back to the 1860s and maintains a strong sense of identity and cohesion. The city’s Jewish population is complemented by a generally welcoming and interfaith-friendly environment, though the JCC and its CEO must be mindful of operating as a minority community in a state where the predominant religious and cultural influence is the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
For more information on IJ & Jeanné Wagner Jewish Community Center,please visit www.slcjcc.org.
The Opportunity
The JCC seeks a dynamic and strategic CEO to serve as an innovative and visionary leader. We seek someone who can bring communities together by being visible and approachable. The ideal candidate is a professional with a proven track record in fundraising, a strong community partner, relationship builder and collaborator; and who possesses excellent staff and operational management skills. The CEO will lead the JCC into a new era of strategic growth in an environment that celebrates diversity and welcomes all, in part, by working to implement the recently adopted Strategic Plan.
Candidate Profile
We recognize that there is a spectrum of lived and professional experience that will set candidates up for success in this role. While no one candidate will have every experience outlined in the position description, ideal candidates will display the following professional skills and qualities, and personal attributes:
Provides Exemplary Executive Leadership
The CEO will be a warm and engaging leader who is empathetic, accessible, and listens to all viewpoints, demonstrates confidence, and manages through a positive and collaborative approach. The CEO must be a highly accomplished relationship builder, comfortable with all levels of constituencies, from the most seasoned lay leaders to new young leadership, staff, board, members, and those not yet engaged. The CEO will be a good listener, considering all viewpoints.
The CEO will lead efforts directed toward the engagement of community among individuals, agencies, synagogues, the United Jewish Federation of Utah, and other community organizations within Salt Lake City. Additionally, the CEO will maintain strong ties with the JCC Association of North America, ensuring good communication with the JCCA, utilizing the national organization as a resource as needed. A forward-thinking individual, the CEO will promote a culture of innovation and inclusion and be a change agent to create ongoing excitement for the JCC.
The next CEO will be a unifying, empowering leader who fosters trust, respect, and accountability across the organization. They will model and expect accountability at every level — holding themselves, staff, and the Board to clear standards of performance and follow-through. With professionalism and partnership, they will clarify roles, responsibilities, and communication channels to promote transparency, alignment, and mutual respect.
This leader will engage the Board as a strategic partner, providing timely information for sound decision-making and cultivating trust, alignment, and shared purpose around mission and strategy. They will also empower staff, nurture growth, and encourage collaboration, ensuring the JCC operates as one cohesive, high-performing team. Through fairness, inclusivity, and clear communication, the CEO will strengthen governance, enhance committee effectiveness, and build an environment where everyone — staff, Board, and members alike — feels valued, heard, and connected to the organization’s success.
Displays Financial Acumen
The CEO will develop a realistic annual operating budget in partnership with the Finance Committee, the Chief Financial Officer (CFO), and Board of Directors. Using financial statements to guide and oversee agency performance, the CEO must remain flexible, making necessary changes to ensure financial stability. The CEO, in collaboration with the CFO, will oversee all financial matters including annual and long-term budgeting, ongoing financial forecasting, and financial strategy.
Proven Ability in Fundraising and Resource Development
The CEO must engage and steward donors and seek gifts of significance. Entrepreneurial and attuned to donor interests and concerns, the CEO will work with the Chief Development Officer (CDO) to establish strategies and direct forward-looking practices in donor development to enhance and improve the community’s potential. Highly visible in the community, the CEO will reach out and cultivate new potential donors at all levels; working with the CDO, they will seek grants from local and State government, foundations, and support from local businesses.
Demonstrates Skill in Operational Management
The CEO provides strategic leadership to the Chief Operating Officer (COO) for all aspects of the JCC operations; in collaboration with the COO, they are responsible for the day-to-day management and security of the JCC. This executive will work with staff and local law enforcement agencies as well as neighboring facilities to implement an ongoing safe and secure campus for their members and guests. This includes an understanding of the physical plant, technical support systems, and running the various businesses of the JCC. Visibility and skilled responsiveness to members is essential.
Presents Visionary and Strategic Leadership
The CEO will promote an all-encompassing and compelling vision that captures the energy of the JCC and a robust, engaged, and involved community going forward. This leader will partner with the Chief Programming Officer, who oversees the school, camp, after-school programs, and more, to further enhance and expand a robust set of offerings to its members and broader constituents. The CEO will actively engage with other Jewish and secular community organizations, working to support existing collaborative programs and to envision new ways to work together. The CEO must see the big picture and be able to think outside the box, managing current issues while thinking about evolving business models in both the near- and long-term.
In addition, strong candidates will offer:
- Minimum of a bachelor’s degree with 10+ years of strategic leadership and management experience in JCCs, Jewish communal organizations, business, and/or non-profit sectors. Our client is interested in candidates who have equivalent professional experience and a track record of accomplishment in the nonprofit sector; deep leadership experience and success in a comparable setting will also be seriously considered.
- Proven ability to build strong and lasting partnerships with Jewish, corporate, religious, andother organizations, including the United Jewish Federation of Utah and engage key constituencies and diverse audiences.
- Demonstrated track record of fundraising success, including knowledge of and participation in individual donor development, planned giving, grant procurement, capital campaigns, corporate sponsorship, and special events.
- Excellence in organizational and transparent management with the ability to coach and manage staff and develop high-performance teams, setting and achieving strategic objectives.
- Ability to develop and drive both short-and long-term strategy for the organization, including ability to lead staff in the implementation of recently adopted 5-year Strategic Plan.
- Dynamic leader to serve as the public face of the organization.
- Strong analytical skills and ability to work with financial data to make key decisions.
- Appreciation and commitment to diversity and inclusion; works easily with a broad range of people across all aspects of diverse cultures and backgrounds.
- Past success working with a Board of Directors, committees, and volunteers, with the ability to cultivate existing relationships and develop new ones.
- General knowledge, understanding, and appreciation of Jewish culture, practices, and tradition.
- Outstanding oral and written communication skills.
Compensation & Benefits
Salary is competitive and commensurate with experience. The salary range for this position is $180,000 to $200,000. The JCC provides a generous and comprehensive benefits package.
Contact
DSG | Koya has been exclusively retained for this engagement, which is being led by Naree Viner and Stephen Milbauer. Express interest in this role by filling out our Talent Profile or emailing the search team directly at [email protected]. All inquiries and discussions are strictly confidential.
DSG | Koya is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals living with disabilities. If you are a qualified individual living with a disability and need assistance expressing interest online, please email [email protected]. If you are selected for an interview, you will receive additional information regarding how to request an accommodation for the interview process.
IJ & Jeanné Wagner Jewish Community Center is an equal opportunity employer and strongly encourages applications from people of color, persons with disabilities, women, and LGBTQ+ applicants.