Wolfson Scholarship Program Independent Consultant

Wolfson Scholarship Program Consultant - Part-Time Independent Contractor

Organization

     JBI Library

Location

     Remote (United States or Israel preferred)

Term

     November through June (approximately 8 months)

Compensation

     $18,000

About JBI Library

Founded in 1931, JBI Library is a nonprofit organization that supports anyone who is blind, has low vision, or has a print disability so that they may fully participate in Jewish life—from education and community to prayer and celebration. We are the heart of a community where our patrons can come for accessible books and texts, cultural programs, learning, and all things that connect people to Judaism, culture, and community. We strive to remove barriers to accessibility and inclusion, so that everyone can read, learn, and engage, both with JBI and their local Jewish community—independently and with dignity.

Through the Nathan L. and Suzanne K. Wolfson Merit Scholarship, JBI supports Jewish undergraduate and graduate students who are blind or have low vision as they pursue higher education and meaningful engagement in Jewish communal life. The scholarship program was established in 2018 and provides educational support to students attending accredited colleges and universities in the United States, Israel, and beyond.

Position Summary

JBI Library seeks a passionate, relationship-oriented consultant to support the growth and success of the Nathan L. and Suzanne K. Wolfson Merit Scholarship Program. The consultant will play a key role in identifying and recruiting qualified applicants, helping prospective students successfully navigate the application process, and building an engaged community of scholarship recipients and alumni.

This position is particularly focused on reducing barriers to access for students who are blind or have low vision, including students in Israel who may face language, cultural, and disability-related challenges during the application process.

The ideal candidate will have experience working with students, disability communities, Jewish organizations, higher education, or scholarship programs and will be excited to help strengthen a growing network of talented Jewish students.

Primary Responsibilities

     Applicant Support

• Serve as a primary point of contact for prospective applicants.


• Answer questions regarding eligibility requirements, application procedures, and supporting documentation.


• Provide individualized guidance to applicants who are blind or have low vision.


• Assist Israeli applicants and others who may require language support, accessibility accommodations, or assistance navigating application requirements.


• Coordinate informational sessions, office hours, or webinars for prospective applicants and families.

     Scholar and Alumni Engagement

• Maintain regular communications with scholarship recipients throughout the academic year.


• Develop opportunities for scholars to connect with one another and with JBI.


• Establish and nurture a Wolfson Scholar alumni network.


• Coordinate virtual gatherings, networking opportunities, and recognition events.


• Highlight scholar achievements through stories, profiles, and other communications.


• Encourage recipients to remain engaged with JBI and support future outreach efforts.

     Scholarship Recruitment and Outreach

• Develop and implement outreach strategies to increase awareness of the Wolfson Scholarship.


• Build relationships with colleges, universities, disability resource centers, vision-related organizations, Jewish communal organizations, and leadership programs.


• Conduct targeted outreach to prospective applicants in the United States, Israel, and other eligible communities.


• Identify opportunities to promote the scholarship through relevant networks, conferences, online communities, and community organizations.


• Assist JBI in expanding awareness of additional scholarship opportunities available through related JBI-administered funds.

     Program Administration

• Track outreach activities, applicant inquiries, and engagement efforts through the application management software.


• Maintain accurate records and reports regarding recruitment outcomes and scholar participation.


• Collaborate closely with JBI staff throughout the scholarship cycle.


• Provide recommendations to strengthen recruitment, accessibility, and alumni engagement strategies.

Desired Qualifications

• Hebrew language proficiency strongly preferred.


• Demonstrated commitment to disability inclusion and accessibility. Experience working with blind, low-vision, or print disabled individuals preferred.


• Familiarity with Jewish communal life, Jewish educational institutions, or Jewish nonprofit organizations preferred.


• Experience in scholarship administration, student services, higher education, admissions, community engagement, or nonprofit outreach.


• Strong relationship-building and communication skills.


• Ability to work independently and manage multiple projects.


• Experience engaging stakeholders across geographic and cultural boundaries.


• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Preferred Characteristics

The successful consultant will be:

• A natural connector and community builder.


• Comfortable working across both American and Israeli communities.


• Passionate about educational opportunity and accessibility.


• Organized, proactive, and highly responsive.


• Able to communicate with empathy, professionalism, and cultural sensitivity.

Time Commitment and Work Cycle:
The consultancy is structured as a flexible, project-based engagement, anticipated to average approximately 5–7 hours per week across the scholarship cycle. Weekly hours will vary based on the natural flow of the work and the needs of each phase, with the consultant managing their time to ensure that program responsibilities and key milestones are completed successfully.

Annual Scholarship Cycle

• November–December: Applications open; recruitment and outreach begin; applicant support begins.


• January–March: Continue outreach and applicant support; coordinate with the Scholarship Committee.


• April: Applications close; coordinate Scholarship Committee review and meetings.


• May: Committee selects scholarship recipients; notification and acceptance process begins.


• June: Coordinate the scholarship ceremony; ensure the annual cycle is completed and processes are documented; convene the Committee for a year-end reflection to identify improvements for the following scholarship cycle.

Reporting Relationship

The consultant will work closely with JBI Library leadership and designated staff responsible for scholarship administration and development.

Impact

This role will help ensure that more qualified Jewish students who are blind or have low vision learn about and benefit from the Wolfson Scholarship Program while fostering a lifelong connection between recipients, alumni, and JBI Library's mission of expanding access to Jewish life.  Success will be demonstrated with more qualified applicants, more awareness of the scholarship, establishing sustainable foundations to an alumni network, and enhanced operational efficiencies in the program’s administration.

To Apply

Interested candidates should submit a resume and a brief statement describing their experience in student outreach, disability inclusion, community engagement, or scholarship administration through the job posting on https://jbilibrary.bamboohr.com/careers. If you have any questions, please contact Rabbi Andrew Goodman, JBI’s COO, at [email protected].

Equal Opportunity Employer

JBI Library is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and is deeply committed to building a workplace that reflects the diversity of the communities we serve. We celebrate and encourage applicants of all backgrounds, identities, and lived experiences, and we believe that inclusion, accessibility, and dignity strengthen our work and our mission. All employment decisions are made without regard to any protected characteristic and in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws.