Jessica Ochs
Austin,TX
Overview
14
14
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Senior Program Director
Shalom Austin
01.2026 - Current
- Provide senior-level leadership across Arts & Culture, Israel Engagement, and community programming, aligning portfolio strategy with organizational priorities, financial goals, and community impact.
- Lead vision, planning, and execution of cultural arts initiatives including film, music, visual arts, lectures, and large-scale community events serving diverse audiences across Greater Austin.
- Oversee flagship initiatives including the Austin Jewish Film Festival and major lecture series, ensuring high-quality delivery, strong attendance, and mission alignment.
- Partner cross-functionally with Marketing, Development, Finance, and Operations to support sustainability, visibility, and fundraising objectives.
- Co-lead organizational strategy for Israel engagement and Jewish Peoplehood in collaboration with professional and lay leadership.
- Develop and steward external partnerships with cultural, educational, and community organizations to expand reach and collaborative programming.
- Represent Shalom Austin at community and regional forums, strengthening institutional relationships.
- Continue to serve as staff lead for Shalom Austin cohorts at regional and national programs, including hosting initiatives here in Austin.
- Partner with executive leadership on organization‑wide planning and strategic decision‑making.
Senior Youth & Teen Director
Shalom Austin
01.2023 - 12.2025
- Directed a comprehensive youth and teen portfolio including camps, after-school programs, enrichment, and community initiatives with full responsibility for strategy, operations, staffing, and financial performance.
- Led post-pandemic recovery and growth of summer camp operations, increasing enrollment from 40 participants during COVID to over 1,200 by 2025.
- Expanded annual camp and youth program revenue from $600K to more than $1.2M while maintaining strong margins and long-term sustainability.
- Developed and managed departmental budgets, forecasting, and financial reporting aligned with enrollment and revenue goals.
- Maintained over 10 years of responsibility for Texas state licensing and regulatory compliance for child care and youth programs.
- Supervised senior leaders and large seasonal teams; hired, trained, and developed 500+ staff across full-time and seasonal roles.
- Built leadership pipelines and succession systems, advancing staff into management and director-level roles.
- Established the Senior Directors Cohort and led a quarterly People Managers Forum supporting organization-wide leadership development.
- Partnered with Marketing and Development on fundraising initiatives, contributing to gifts ranging from $5K to $500K.
- Implemented data-informed evaluation practices and contributed to organizational strategic planning.
- Selected Participant, Z3 Leadership Labs and contributor to Camp Leadership Lab content.
Youth & Teen Director
Shalom Austin
04.2017 - 12.2022
- Led growth and operational excellence across youth and teen programming, strengthening quality and consistency.
- Directed camps, after-school programs, and virtual learning initiatives during periods of disruption.
- Recruited, hired, and managed diverse staff teams, improving retention and performance.
- Partnered with the Jewish Agency for Israel to recruit and integrate international Israeli staff.
- Led implementation of program technology platforms to improve registration and communication.
- Ensured compliance with licensing, safety, and operational standards.
Youth Coordinator / Assistant Director
Camp Shalom — Shalom Austin
06.2012 - 04.2017
- Managed large-scale camp operations including staffing, logistics, and program design.
- Designed curricula and experiential programming for children and teens.
- Supported inclusion, accessibility, and community-building initiatives.
- Coordinated parent communications, licensing records, vendor negotiations, and seasonal staffing.
Education
Master of Arts - Jewish Professional Studies
Spertus Institute For Jewish Learning & Leadership
05-2023
Bachelor of Arts - Education, Special Education & Bilingual Education Certifications, Minor in Mathematics
Arizona State University
01-2011
Associate of Arts - Mathematics Education
Scottsdale Community College
Certification
- JCCA Professional Conferences (2015, 2017, 2019, 2021, 2025)
- Foundation for Jewish Camp Professional Conferences (2016, 2020, 2024)
- Z3 @ Palo Alto Leadership Labs (2024, 2025)
- JResponse (2020)
- JCamp 180 Conferences (2016, 2020)
- CPR/First Aid
- Extensive knowledge and experience in Texas State Licensing for Child Care Centers
- Co-Founder, ACE Program — Designed and launched a leadership development curriculum for emerging Jewish professionals in Austin
- Creator and Chair, Senior Directors Cohort — Established and facilitated a peer leadership forum driving cross-departmental alignment
- Co-Producer, Austin Z3 Conferences — Produced the first two conferences convening 350+ community members and national leaders
- Executive Coaching (2025) focused on enterprise leadership and decision-making
- Commencement Speaker, Spertus Institute (2023)
- Recipient, Shalom Austin Staff Exemplar Award (2019)
Timeline
Senior Program Director
Shalom Austin
01.2026 - Current
Senior Youth & Teen Director
Shalom Austin
01.2023 - 12.2025
Youth & Teen Director
Shalom Austin
04.2017 - 12.2022
Youth Coordinator / Assistant Director
Camp Shalom — Shalom Austin
06.2012 - 04.2017
Bachelor of Arts - Education, Special Education & Bilingual Education Certifications, Minor in Mathematics
Arizona State University
Master of Arts - Jewish Professional Studies
Spertus Institute For Jewish Learning & Leadership
Associate of Arts - Mathematics Education
Scottsdale Community College