Location and Job Title:

Recreation & Community Programs Manager
Mandel Jewish Community Center of Cleveland
26001 S Woodland Rd
Beachwood, OH 44122

Principal Responsibilities:

Position Summary

The Mandel JCC is an important gathering place for Jewish Cleveland and the broader community. We want to deepen that role and expand the number of people who experience the Mandel JCC as a center of their community and a second home, a place where they build relationships, spend time and feel that they belong.

The Recreation & Community Programs Manager will help us imagine, shape and build the next chapter of recreation and community engagement at the Mandel JCC. We are looking for someone who is excited not simply to run existing programs, but to ask what else is possible.

We define recreation broadly. It can mean basketball or pickleball, mahjong or chess, family activities, social gatherings, special events or ideas we haven't tried yet. Some of the strongest communities begin with a small group sharing an interest or experience. Over time, these micro-communities create relationships and deepen people's connection to one another and to the J.

The Manager will be actively engaged with our members and community, listening, identifying opportunities, experimenting with new ideas and turning the strongest of those ideas into sustainable programs and experiences. Working through a Jewish lens, the Manager will help create meaningful opportunities for people across the lifespan to connect, participate and belong.

This opportunity comes at an exciting time as the Mandel JCC invests in the future of our Beachwood campus. Our planned new fieldhouse will create a true home for sports and recreation and significantly expand what is possible. The Manager will help develop the programming and participation that will bring that new space to life.

Core Responsibilities

Vision, Innovation & Community

• Help shape the vision for the future of recreation and community engagement at the Mandel JCC.
• Be actively present in the JCC community, building relationships with members and participants and using those relationships to identify interests, ideas and opportunities.
• Listen for unmet interests and opportunities and consider what could bring people together in new ways.
• Develop and test new programs and experiences with a willingness to experiment, learn and adjust.
• Build and nurture micro-communities around shared interests and experiences.
• Create opportunities that encourage people to return, build relationships and deepen their engagement with the J.
• Look beyond traditional definitions of recreation and explore new ways of bringing people together.

Program Development & Growth

• Develop and grow a diverse portfolio of year-round recreational programs, from athletics and leagues to mahjong, chess, games, family activities, social recreation, tournaments, events and other opportunities that emerge from the community.
• Turn promising ideas into strong programs, including program design, scheduling, staffing, pricing, promotion and evaluation.
• Establish and monitor participation, retention and revenue goals.
• Evaluate programs based on participation, participant experience, community impact and financial performance, strengthening what works and rethinking what doesn't.
• Partner with the JCC's marketing team to effectively promote programs, reach new audiences and translate great ideas into strong participation.
• Identify opportunities for partnerships with community organizations, instructors and other collaborators that can expand the JCC's recreational offerings and reach.
• Look for opportunities to turn program participation into deeper engagement with the Mandel JCC, including membership and participation in other areas of JCC life.
• Stay curious about innovative recreation and community-building programs at other JCCs and community organizations and adapt promising ideas when appropriate.

Jewish Purpose

• Approach recreation and community-building through a Jewish lens that reflects the mission and values of the Mandel JCC.
• Partner with colleagues to thoughtfully incorporate Jewish values, holidays, traditions and culture when meaningful and appropriate.
• Create welcoming experiences for the Jewish community and broader community while maintaining the distinctive Jewish identity and purpose of the Mandel JCC.
• Use recreation to strengthen relationships, belonging and connection to Jewish life.

Future of Recreation and the Fieldhouse

• Help shape how recreation evolves as the Mandel JCC invests in its campus and facilities.
• Build programs and participation today that can grow with and take advantage of the planned fieldhouse.
• Contribute program ideas and participant insights that help the JCC make the most of new recreational spaces.
• Help establish the fieldhouse as a vibrant home for sports, recreation and community on the Mandel JCC campus.

Program Operations & People Leadership

• Ensure programs are well organized, welcoming, safe and consistently delivered at a high level.
• Manage registration, scheduling, facilities, equipment and other program logistics.
• Build strong relationships with participants and families and respond effectively to feedback and concerns.
• Recruit, hire, train, schedule and supervise part-time staff, instructors, coaches, referees and program leaders.
• Cultivate volunteers and community experts who can strengthen existing programs and introduce new activities and ideas.
• Establish clear expectations for quality, hospitality, safety and professionalism.
• Help staff and volunteers understand that their role extends beyond delivering an activity to creating relationships and community.
• Collaborate across JCC departments to coordinate facilities and develop complementary programming.
• Maintain appropriate safety, risk-management and incident-reporting practices.

Financial Accountability

• Develop and manage program budgets in partnership with department leadership.
• Recommend program pricing and monitor revenue, expenses, enrollment and financial performance.
• Grow participation and earned revenue while balancing mission, accessibility and financial sustainability.
• Use participation data, financial results and participant feedback to guide decisions about programs and future investment.

Key Existing Programs & Experiences

JCC Maccabi

• Provide professional leadership for the Mandel JCC's participation in the JCC Maccabi Games in partnership with committed volunteer leaders who have helped build and sustain the program.
• Work collaboratively with volunteer leadership to recruit and engage athletes, families, coaches and chaperones.
• Manage registration, preparation, communications, travel and coordination with JCC Association and host communities.
• Ensure appropriate attention to safety, participant expectations and program requirements.
• Use JCC Maccabi to foster teen relationships, leadership, Jewish identity and connection to the Mandel JCC and broader Jewish community.

Parties, Rentals & Special Experiences

• Oversee designated birthday parties, recreational rentals and related experiences.
• Ensure a strong participant experience from initial inquiry through completion.
• Supervise staff supporting parties and recreational events.
• Identify opportunities to grow these offerings and connect participants to the broader Mandel JCC community.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree preferred or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
• 3+ years of relevant professional experience in recreation, community engagement, programming, camps, sports, events, hospitality or a related field.
• Demonstrated ability to move ideas from concept through successful implementation.
• Experience leading staff, instructors, coaches or volunteers.
• Strong organizational, communication, interpersonal and relationship-building skills.
• A creative and entrepreneurial mindset with comfort trying new ideas, learning from results and adapting.
• Genuine curiosity about people, what interests them and what brings them together.
• Ability to balance creative program development with strong execution.
• Comfort working with budgets, revenue and participation goals.
• Ability to collaborate effectively across departments and build relationships with community partners.
• Interest in Jewish community, traditions and values. Previous Jewish communal experience is welcome but not required.
• Ability and willingness to work a flexible schedule that regularly includes evenings and weekends to support programs, events and participant needs. Work hours will flex based on the programming calendar and operational needs.
• CPR, AED and First Aid certification, or willingness to obtain certification after hire.

Salary:

$55,000 - $65,000

Agency Information:

Mandel Jewish Community Center of Cleveland builds and strengthens Cleveland's entire community by providing exceptional programs and services that enhance Jewish continuity and identity in four key program areas:

1. Fitness, Wellness & Recreation and Aquatics

2. Preschool/Early Childhood Education

3. Camping - Day Camps & Camp Wise Overnight Camp

4. Cultural Arts

Mandel Jewish Community Center of Cleveland connects and strengthens our Jewish community and the greater Cleveland community by providing exceptional programs and services in the following program areas: Fitness, Wellness and Recreation, Preschool/Early Childhood Education, Day Camps and Camp Wise overnight Camps, and Cultural Arts. Membership in this non-profit social service agency is open to all. Mandel JCC receives funding from the Jewish Federation of Cleveland, grants, donations and other public funding sources and has been serving the greater Cleveland community for more than 70 years.