Job Description

Who We Are:

The Orthodox Union (OU) is one of the largest Orthodox Jewish organizations in the United States. Founded in 1898, the OU supports a network of synagogues, youth programs, Jewish and Religious Zionist advocacy programs, programs for the disabled, localized religious study programs, and international units. The OU maintains a kosher certification service, whose circled U symbol,Ⓤ, is found on the labels of many kosher commercial and consumer food products.

18Forty is a media and educational platform empowering Jews from all backgrounds to engage in honest and open-ended exploration of faith, identity, and community. Through dynamic media, immersive education, and inclusive community-building, 18Forty is a vibrant forum where questions are embraced, curiosity is nurtured, and Jewish life is enriched.

Our flagship 18Forty Podcast has reached millions of listeners, while our broader ecosystem of podcasts, essays, and programs have reached millions more. 18Forty moves quickly, cares deeply about intellectual honesty and audience experience, and is committed to producing serious Jewish ideas for a broad and diverse audience.

About the Role

18Forty is seeking a Director of Operations to run the organization’s day-to-day operations and help scale its next stage of growth. This role sits at the center of the organization, coordinating the small team of freelancers, managing projects, and ensuring that ideas become reality. The Director of Operations works closely with the Founder, Rabbi Dovid Bashevkin, helping translate strategic vision into concrete initiatives across media, programming, and partnerships.

The ideal candidate is extremely organized, fast-moving, and comfortable leading in a small, start-up environment. They should be able to manage multiple projects simultaneously, coordinate staff and contractors, and help guide the operational growth of a mission-driven media organization. This role combines operations leadership, project management, and fundraising support in a fast-moving organization where initiative, ownership, and creativity are essential.

Strategic Priorities

Primary Focus (60–70% of role)

Organizational Operations: Run the day-to-day functioning of 18Forty, coordinating staff, contractors, and production workflows across podcasts, essays, newsletters, and digital platforms.

Project Execution: Ensure that major initiatives—including new programming, events, and partnerships—move from concept to execution efficiently.

Team Coordination: Serve as the central operational hub for the organization, maintaining communication, accountability, and alignment across the team.

Secondary Focus (30–40% of role)

Fundraising & Partnerships: Support the organization’s fundraising efforts through grant applications, donor materials, and partnership development.

Strategic Implementation: Work closely with the Founder to implement organizational strategy and guide new initiatives from idea to launch.

Responsibilities

Organizational Operations

• Oversee daily operations across podcasts, essays, newsletters, website, and social media
• Maintain the editorial and content calendar
• Coordinate staff, contractors, and consultants
• Run weekly team meetings and regular one-on-one meetings with team members Ensure content is published accurately and on schedule
• Manage operational systems, including Google Drive, Google Sheets, WordPress, Spreaker, and Mailchimp

Project & Initiative Management

• Coordinate execution of major initiatives, including new programming, educational projects, and live events
• Track timelines and deliverables across multiple projects
• Translate new ideas into actionable plans and workflows
• Ensure communication and coordination across editorial, production, and marketing functions

Strategy & Organizational Growth

• Work closely with RabbiDovid Bashevkin to implement organizational strategy
• Help guide the development of new programs, partnerships, and initiatives
• Support the organization’s growth as its media and educational programming expand

Fundraising & Partnerships

• Assist with grant writing and donor communications
• Maintain organizational materials used for fundraising and partnerships
• Help cultivate relationships with foundations, partners, and collaborators

Must-Have Skills & Experience

• Exceptional organizational ability: You are extremely organized and able to manage many moving pieces simultaneously while maintaining attention to detail.
• Fast executor: You move quickly from idea to action and are comfortable taking initiative without constant direction.
• Leadership and coordination: You are comfortable managing people, coordinating contractors, and keeping projects moving forward.
• Startup mentality: You thrive in small, fast-moving environments where systems are still being built and flexibility is essential.
• Experience in Jewish environments: You have experience studying or working in mainstream Orthodox Jewish educational, communal, or cultural settings and are comfortable navigating diverse parts of the Jewish world while remaining rooted in the mainstream Orthodox world.

Preferred Skills

• Background in media, journalism, podcasting, or nonprofit
• Serious experience working in nonprofits, media organizations, or management roles
• Track record with bringing programs and ideas to fruition
• Experience managing contractors or cross-functional teams
• Deep knowledge of Orthodox Judaism, Jewish ideas, modern thought, and cultural trends
• Familiarity with SEO, CRM tools, community analytics, and marketing systems
• Familiarity with podcasting, digital media production, or content platforms
• Familiarity with AI tools and technological initiatives to optimize workflows

Personal Attributes

• Amazing energy: You are kind, excited, and personable — the type of person others love to work with and talk to.
• Highly organized: You naturally create structure, systems, and clarity in fast-moving environments.
• Proactive and self-directed: You take initiative and move projects forward without waiting to be told what to do.
• Calm under pressure: You can manage many moving pieces at once without losing focus or attention to detail.
• Clear communicator: You keep people aligned, informed, and accountable across teams and projects.
• Strategic but practical: You can think big while also executing the small steps needed to make ideas happen.
• Mission-driven: You care deeply about Orthodox Jewish ideas, learning, and thoughtful engagement with Jewish life.
• Entrepreneurial mindset: You are comfortable building systems from scratch and adapting as the organization grows.

Who You’re Not

• Someone who needs constant direction or rigid structure
• Someone uncomfortable taking initiative or making decisions
• Someone looking for a narrowly defined role with clear templates
• Someone who prefers execution without leadership responsibility

Salary &Benefits:

The salary range for this positionis$70,000 - $90,000, commensurate with experience.

Health, Dental & Vision Insurance:
The OU offers health insurance through an Individual CoverageHealthReimbursement Arrangement (ICHRA). Instead of a single groupplan, employees have the freedom to choose their own health insurance plan that fits their personal and family needs. The OU contributes a generous monthly amount directly toward your premium, making coverage more flexible, affordable, and tailored to you.

Employees enrolled in our health plan also receive an annualBeniCompstipend, a supplemental benefit that reimburses eligible medical, pharmaceutical, dental, and vision expenses.

In addition, the OU offers employee group dental and vision insurance through MetLife.

Additional Benefits and Perks:

• 10 Paid sick days
• 10-15 Paid vacation days
• Paid Jewish and Federal holidays
• Short Fridays to accommodate for Sabbath observance
• Free life and disability insurance
• Discounted continuing education opportunities
• 403(b) retirement plan with a 5% employer match after 3 years (requires a minimum 2% employee contribution)