Manager of Special Initiatives at Harvard Hillel

Manager of Special Initiatives

Harvard Hillel

Role Overview

Harvard Hillel seeks an exceptional professional to lead high-visibility, high-impact, fast-paced, key initiatives on campus. Over the past year some of the most exciting things happening at Harvard and the Jewish world have sprung up organically from students and staff at Hillel and we need someone with an entrepreneurial spirit to sustain and grow those efforts. You can be that person. 

The core focus of the role is to grow The Camel. Launched in 2024 it is a groundbreaking student-led initiative backed by leading figures in business and Jewish philanthropy that has quickly become one of the most dynamic platforms for Jewish and Israeli engagement at Harvard and MIT, welcoming nearly 2,000 students—half non-Jewish—to more than 20 events featuring world-class entrepreneurs and business leaders, and culminating in a three-day Hackathon that brought together elite IDF veterans and Harvard/MIT students. As The Camel scales to additional campuses and deepens ties to Israeli innovation ecosystems, this inaugural position will work with talented student leaders and staff to ensure excellence in finance, operations, stakeholder relations, and program delivery.

This role will secondarily support a second student run initiative - the well known Harvard Hillel’s Harvard College Israel Trek. This is a highly selective, peer-led 10-day spring-break trip for 100 undergraduates. During the Trek, Israeli student leaders share their country mainly with non-Jewish peers from the Harvard community, and participants consistently describe the experience as transformative. Given the intensity of planning, logistics, and promotion, the Trek requires dedicated professional support to ensure its continued excellence and impact.

As one of the world’s most influential universities, actions at Harvard set precedents that ripple across higher education - crucial work at a critical moment. This is a rare opportunity to shape high-impact portfolios at a pivotal moment. It is a full-time position (approximately 40 hours per week) and reports to the director of development. The primary focus is contributing to the growth of the Camel, with Trek as the secondary foci.

What You’ll Do

Camel; Financial Management, Operations and Relationship Stewardship

Serve as the primary professional lead supporting The Camel, ensuring operational excellence, financial integrity, and strong relationships across a fast-paced, high-profile portfolio.

• Oversee all financial operations for The Camel, including budgeting, expense tracking, accounts payable/receivable, and financial reporting
• Support the planning and execution of 3+ logistically complex, high-sophistication events per month, working closely with student leaders to ensure seamless delivery and mission alignment
• Steward major gifts and expenses by processing and tracking donations in coordination with the fundraising team, ensuring accurate records and timely donor acknowledgment, coordinating payments to venues, vendors, speakers, and student leaders; ensure compliance with institutional systems and nonprofit standards
• Prepare clear, regular financial and impact reports for student leadership, advisory board members, and key stakeholders and coordinate quarterly advisory board meetings with high-profile donors and business leaders, managing logistics, communications, and follow-up
• Utilize financial management tools (e.g., DonorPerfect, QuickBooks, or similar systems) to maintain accurate, auditable records
• Maintain ongoing touch points with Camel stakeholders—including donors, speakers, and advisors—tracking engagement and strengthening long-term relationships
• Serve as liaison between Camel student leadership, Harvard Hillel administration, and external partners
• Track program metrics and prepare impact reports for funders and institutional partners
• Prepare financial reports for student leadership, advisory board, and key stakeholders

Harvard College Israel Trek: Program Operations & Stewardship

Provide professional leadership and operational support for Harvard Hillel’s flagship peer-led Israel experience.

• Support and advise student leaders throughout planning and execution of the Trek
• Manage recruitment, communications, and application processes for a highly selective cohort of 100+ undergraduates
• Coordinate participant selection, onboarding, pre-trip meetings, and ongoing communication with students and families
• Interface with trip providers, speakers, and on-the-ground partners in Israel to ensure high-quality programming and logistics
• Manage complex logistics, including visas, travel coordination, and real-time response to medical or travel emergencies
• Collect and curate post-trip impact materials, including videos, testimonials, and participant assessments
• Support Trek-related fundraising, donor stewardship, and cultivation events in Boston, San Francisco, and other key markets
• Build and maintain a Trek alumni database to support long-term engagement and advocacy
• Other duties as needed on special projects that contribute to Harvard Hillel’s broader institutional strategy to strengthen Jewish life

What You’ll Bring

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and 3-5 years of professional experience in finance, operations, nonprofit administration, or program management
• Strong financial acumen: Experience managing budgets, processing payments, and producing clear financial reports
• Proficiency with financial management software (QuickBooks, DonorPerfect, or equivalent)
• Exceptional organizational skills and ability to manage multiple priorities with precision and efficiency
• Outstanding communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to interact professionally with students, major donors, and institutional partners
• Demonstrated ability to thrive in fast-paced, high-growth environments where adaptability and problem-solving are essential
• Sense of ownership and entrepreneurial mindset—someone who sees opportunities to build, improve, and scale systems
• Availability to work flexible hours

Highly Valued

• Previous experience in nonprofit or for profit finance or operations
• Familiarity with university or Hillel systems and culture
• Personal connection to Israel engagement or Jewish community 
• Experience working with high-level stakeholders and board members
• Background in event logistics or program coordination

What You’ll Receive

• Salary range: $65,000 - $70,000
• Comprehensive benefits package (health insurance, retirement plan, life/AD&D/LTD insurance, flexible spending accounts, generous vacation/sick time)
• Unparalleled access to some of the most influential entrepreneurs and leaders in the Jewish and business worlds
• Professional growth opportunities in a high-visibility role with direct exposure to major philanthropists and operational excellence
• The chance to shape the infrastructure of a movement combating antisemitism and strengthening Jewish pride on elite campuses
• Collaborative, mission-driven work environment at one of the most prestigious Hillels in North America

About Harvard Hillel & The Camel

Harvard Hillel is a Jewish home—both physical and virtual—that welcomes all students to experience the full spectrum of Jewish identity, tradition, practice, values, culture, and community. Harvard Hillel inspires meaningful connections and serves as a sanctuary amid student life while making Jewish thought and culture integral to university life.

The Camel represents a bold new model of Jewish engagement—bringing the energy of Israeli entrepreneurship and Jewish achievement directly to students, combating antisemitism not through defensive posturing but through inspiration and opportunity. With backing from transformational philanthropists and a track record of explosive growth, The Camel is positioned to become a national model as it scales to additional campuses and builds bridges between U.S. and Israeli innovation ecosystems.

Harvard Hillel is affiliated with Hillel International. Hillel International enriches the lives of Jewish students so they may enrich the Jewish people and the world, and envisions a world where every student is inspired to make an enduring commitment to Jewish life, learning and Israel.