About Us:

The New Synagogue Project (“NSP”) is a Jewish community located primarily in Petworth, D.C. Our mission is to build a spiritually vibrant, radically inclusive Jewish community that reflects our vision for a world of justice, equity, and liberation. Our community is built by and for religious, secular, and atheist Jews, families with kids, partnered and single people, queer and trans people, disabled and chronically ill people, D/deaf and hard of hearing folks, interfaith families, Jews of color and white Jews, and anyone interested in exploring and experiencing Jewish life. We are a multiracial community committed to dismantling racism and white supremacy.

As the Event Staff, you will work closely with the Synagogue Director as well as the Administrative Associate and several lay leaders to ensure that NSP’s Shabbat, holiday, and community events run smoothly.

About You (You have most of the following traits):

  • You have a knack for detail, data, and logistics, and being detail-oriented is one of your strongest qualities.
  • You’re eager to take initiative.
  • You’re comfortable managing A/V equipment and operating Zoom or other video meeting platforms.
  • You have excellent communication skills and are able to communicate clearly and warmly with volunteers, event participants, staff, and lay leaders both in person and virtually.
  • You have experience coordinating and working alongside volunteers.
  • You have experience, either in paid or volunteer positions, with running event logistics.
  • You are able to operate independently and solve problems in the moment
  • You are available to work on Friday evenings, Saturday mornings, and occasional Sundays or weekday evenings.

About the Role:

This is a part-time, temporary role requiring 5-6 hours/week, reporting to the Synagogue Director. The position is located in Washington, D.C and will begin asap and end (or be renewed) on June 30, 2024. Most hours will be onsite at NSP events on weekends, with occasional (~1x/week) virtual planning meetings during weekday business hours. The primary hours of the position are two Fridays per month 5:00-10:00pm and two Saturday mornings per month (usually on alternating weekends) 8:00am-1:00pm, plus occasional special events and Jewish holiday programming. The role requires lifting and carrying boxes and other equipment up to 50 lbs and a driver’s license.

The responsibilities of the role include:

  • Be available to confer with event organizers prior to the event if changes need to be made to the plan (e.g. due to weather) and communicated with contractors, volunteers, and attendees
  • Pick up key & arrive at the specified time to open event space (generally 5pm for Friday evenings, 8am for Saturday mornings).
  • Set up space based on estimated attendance provided by NSP Administrative Associate, including chairs, rugs, prayer books, greeter table & materials, microphones and cameras, laptop for livestream, music stands for interpreters, lectern for service leaders, kids activities if applicable, and signs directing attendees to entrances and bathrooms.
  • For events that are live streamed (primarily Friday evenings), log into NSP Zoom account, start Zoom meeting, check mics and cameras, monitor chat for tech issues, communicate with remote Zoom host to troubleshoot as needed.
  • Communicate, guide, and serve as point of contact for participant volunteers on site in supporting space set up, moving food, paper goods, and tables to outdoor potluck location when relevant, pouring grape juice for blessings, and clean up & dishwashing at the end of the event. 
  • Monitor sound and adjust mics, speakers, and HVAC as needed to ensure everyone can hear well; communicate with remote tech support as applicable and remote and in person event leaders to encourage increasing volume as needed.
  • Serve as on site point of contact for ASL interpreters, including ensuring their arrival, communicating about any change of plans, and dismissing if no one in attendance is using interpretation.
  • Confer with event organizers about whether supplementary food should be ordered for potluck events; order and manage delivery of food if needed.
  • Serve as point of contact for all food delivery; set up food when it arrives.
  • Make announcements to attendees about event logistics (e.g. where to go for potluck meals, how to help clean up, ask for additional volunteers needed).
  • For events not at our regular space, pick up materials in storage to bring for set up and bring them back to storage after clean up. (If needed, NSP can cover cost of vehicle rental and mileage).
  • Monitor supplies and communicate with NSP staff what needs to be replenished.
  • Contact NSP leadership in the case of an issue that requires troubleshooting.
  • Understand NSP’s safety plans and be prepared to implement in the case of an emergency.
  • Work with the whole event team to foster a warm, welcoming, and accessible environment at events

Pay and Benefits:

  • The position pays $32/hr and is a part-time role requiring approximately 5-6 hours/week.
  • Two events off (10 hrs total) as paid vacation leave and one event off (5 hrs) as paid sick leave for the duration of the position (9 months).

Application Process:

We will review applications on a rolling basis with priority given to applications received by October 27. To apply, please send an email with a paragraph summary of your qualifications for the position and a bulleted list of your event logistics experience (you may also attach a resume if you have one that has this information) to jobs@newsynagogueproject.org. In your email, please also confirm that you are available to work Friday evenings, Saturday mornings, and occasional Sundays and weekday evenings.

Qualified applicants will have a 30 minute video interview and, if advancing in the process, will be asked to provide 2-3 references from past supervisors who can speak to your event logistics experience. Employment offers are contingent upon completion of of a background check to screen for sexual or child abuse offenses in accordance with our Child Protection Policy.

NSP is an equal opportunity employer and we are committed to racial equity, accessibility, and social justice. Sephardi and Mizrahi Jews, Black and Indigenous people, people of color, disabled and chronically ill people, and LGBTQIA people are strongly encouraged to apply. NSP does not discriminate in employment opportunities or practices on the basis of race, color, national origin, sexual orientation, disability, sex, age, gender identity or expression, or other status protected by applicable law.