Cantorial School Director

The JTS Division of Religious Leadership (DRL) seeks an inspiring, creative, empathic, and wise Director of the H.L. Miller Cantorial School to help train and shape the next generation of Conservative cantors. Our new Director will have a vision for the changing nature of the cantorate and how to prepare students with the musical and Jewish depth and breadth to serve and inspire the Jewish people. Reporting directly to the dean of the DRL (Rabbi Ayelet S. Cohen), the Cantorial School Director works closely as a member of the DRL leadership team to set the tone for the Cantorial School, creating an environment which fosters deep Jewish learning, spiritual development, academic inquiry, and musical excellence. The Hazzan in Residence of the Block/Kolker Center will function as a creative thought partner with the Center Director (Rabbi Jan Uhrbach) in developing and growing the work of the Center. This position is envisioned as a close collaboration with the Center Director in creatively re- envisioning ritual arts and further integrating the Center’s work with the Cantorial School and other JTS schools.Cantorial School Director Responsibilities include: Oversight and management of the school’s academic program, including curriculum development, student advisement, teaching, internship placement, and Teaching and mentoring, Organizing and supervising student performances and occasional public, Assist the Enrollment team in recruitment of new students, Represent CS in DRL lay board meetings and Support Development staff in work with donors. Block/Kolker Responsibilities include: Producing (a) events and music resources, focusing especially on concerts and recordings of new liturgical music and other ways of exploring the intersection of music and spirituality & Periodic prayer services co-crafted with the Director, for students and/or the general public, modeling innovative, experimental and best-practices in prayer leadership. Professional Qualifications Include: Leadership and educational skills appropriate for working with various constituents, including students, laypeople, team members, and a variety of other departments across the institution, as iterated above, Demonstrated capacity of budget development and A team player with a collaborative working style; strong interpersonal skills and diplomacy; superb listening and influencing skills; the ability to cultivate and sustain trust and credibility with colleagues and build unity around difficult issues; an active listener, facilitator, convener, and mediator, A sophisticated understanding of JTS’s mission and an eagerness to serve as a steward of its demonstrated commitment to diversity & equity & Maturity, sound judgment, presence, resilience & optimism, Certification as a cantor and an MA in a related & At least 7 years of professional experience. This position requires 4 days in person at JTS. No High Holiday responsibilities; very occasional Shabbat responsibilities. Salary; $120,000.00-$145,000.00 Annual. Full-time. http://www.jtsa.edu.
(3/11/24)