Senior Associate Provost (SAP) and Lavine Director of the Brandeis Jewish Studies Center

Brandeis University invites applications and nominations for the newly created position of Senior Associate Provost (SAP) and Lavine Director of the Brandeis Jewish Studies Center (JSC). The SAP will serve on the Provost’s senior leadership team and will report directly to the Provost.  A faculty appointment may be considered based on the candidate’s qualifications.  

Summary :

The SAP will support the University in all aspects of Jewish studies and Jewish communal activity. As articulated in Brandeis’ Framework for the Future, the University is committed to bringing together the extensive talent and resources in Jewish studies and Jewish communal activity now dispersed across academic departments and research centers and institutes into greater collaboration. The SAP will envision, develop, and lead the JSC, a new collaborative structure that will bring these units together. The SAP will provide leadership to increase Brandeis’ visibility in the field of Jewish Studies, through its research, teaching, and service to the Jewish community, and to help the University to become the place to which American Jews and those interested in Jews and Judaism turn for ideas and insights.

Duties and responsibilities :

• Lead the JSC in envisioning and implementing Jewish Studies related activities beyond what individual units plan or have the capacity to implement.
• Collaborate with the relevant stakeholders in order to set priorities for the future of Jewish studies at Brandeis, to complement the curricular and staffing decisions within departments.​
• Advise the Provost and other offices on matters related to Jewish studies.
• Supervise the directors of the five existing Jewish studies units, who will report to the SAP: the Cohen Center for Modern Jewish Studies/Steinhardt Social Research Institute; the Hadassah-Brandeis Institute for Jewish Women’s and Gender Studies; the Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Center for Studies in Jewish Education; the Schusterman Center for Israel Studies; and the Tauber Institute for the Study of European Jewry.
• Supervise the directors of the Hebrew Language & Culture Consortium and the Program(s) on Antisemitism.
• Increase coordination and communication among each of the units that report to the SAP, along with two academic programs within Arts & Sciences (the Near Eastern and Judaic Studies Department and the Hornstein Program in Jewish Professional Leadership), to enhance the collective profile, impact, and efficiency of these units.
• Oversee staff that support the new entity for Jewish Studies.
• Advocate for the resources necessary to maintain and strengthen Jewish studies research, teaching, and service, including fundraising for the JSC and individual units.”
• Coordinate with and provide counsel to other relevant offices at the University, including: the President’s office, Institutional Advancement, Admissions, Communications, Brandeis University Press, Hillel and the Chaplaincy, the library, Precollege Programs and BOLLI.
• Offer a course through consultation with the Dean of A&S and Provost, as schedule permits.
• As Senior Associate Provost, oversee the Directors of other Provost-level centers.
• Other duties as assigned by the Provost.

Desired skills and experience include :

• A scholar with an established international reputation for excellence in a sub-field of Jewish studies or a public intellectual or institutional leader, who can articulate an innovative, pluralistic vision for the future of the field of Jewish studies.
• A record of collaboration in shared governance organizations with faculty, staff, and students, or in other non-profit or governmental organizations.
• A record of building productive relationships with stakeholders within and outside an institution.
• Ability to work on complex and often confidential matters in a collaborative manner.
• Creative problem solving, comfort with a changing environment, empathy, and a sense of humor.
• Proven success in securing and administering funding in the field of Jewish studies.
• Ability to manage staff effectively.
• Ability to facilitate and lead meetings, both in-person and virtually.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Commitment to promoting and maintaining diversity, broadly defined, among faculty, staff, and students.

Minimum qualifications :

• Familiarity with Jewish communal issues and institutions.
• A Ph.D. or equivalent professional degree with a scholarly record related to Jewish Studies sufficient to qualify for the rank of Associate Professor or Professor at Brandeis (for a tenured faculty appointment);
  OR a record of accomplishment in an area related to Jewish public activity and leadership sufficient to qualify for the rank of Professor of the Practice or Associate Professor of the Practice (for an off-the-tenure-stream faculty appointment).
• Experience in administration or leadership in a higher education, governmental, or non-profit setting.

Anticipated start date: summer to fall 2023.

Review of applications begins February 27, 2023

To apply: Applicants should submit a current resume or curriculum vitae; a cover letter that addresses their interest in the position, and how their strengths and experience match the qualifications for the position; and the names, addresses, emails and telephone numbers of three professional references. Candidates will be informed before references are contacted. You an upload these in a single document or multiple documents in the resume section of the application.

Closing Statement

Brandeis University is committed to providing its students, faculty and staff with an environment conducive to learning and working and where all people are treated with respect and dignity. We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, ancestry, national origin, ethnicity, caste, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, including transgender identity, religion, disability, age, genetics, active military or veteran status and any other characteristics protected under applicable federal or Massachusetts law.