Julie Lambert
Pinecrest,FL
Summary
Innovative and mission-driven leader with expertise in designing, implementing, and evaluating cross-system educational change initiatives and professional learning programs. Proven ability to secure major funding, build collaborative networks, and drive systemic impact in educational and nonprofit sectors. Adept at strategic planning, governance, and leadership development. Recognized for fostering strong partnerships and creating sustainable models for institutional success.
Overview
28
28
years of professional experience
Work History
Director of Integrated Program Strategy & Business Operations
Union for Reform Judaism (URJ)
01.2024 - Current
- Strategic business operator and trusted advisor responsible for driving organizational effectiveness by integrating workstreams, optimizing operations, and ensuring alignment with organizational priorities
- Translates home team targets into actionable strategies, streamlined processes, and champions cross-functional collaboration to enhance impact
- Operational Leadership & Efficiency: Oversee daily operations, enabling leadership to focus on high-level strategy and stakeholder engagement
- Managed priorities, facilitated decision-making, and identified critical challenges to drive team effectiveness
- Strategic Planning & Execution: Develop and execute actionable plans to align team initiatives with broader organizational goals
- Cross-Departmental Collaboration: Fostered integration between the Home Team and other departments, enhancing communication, coordination, and synergy across workstreams
- Led efforts to improve structures and systems for greater efficiency
- Organizational Alignment & Change Management: Served as a key communicator, ensuring team members engaged with and advanced organization-wide priorities
- Build trust, inspire shared accountability, and promote a culture of transparency and collaboration
- Budget & Process Oversight: Manage multi-level budget involving scholarship funds, grants, and endowments ensuring alignment with donor intent and URJ policies
- People & Team Development: Directly supervise NFTY Program and Engagement manager and the Program and Operations Associate for Leaders in Action setting clear expectations and fostering professional growth
- Cultivate an inclusive, high-performance culture focused on engagement, impact, and continuous improvement
- Key Skills: Strategic Planning | Operational Efficiency | Business Operations | Cross-Functional Collaboration | Budget & Resource Management | Leadership & Team Development | Stakeholder Engagement | Change Management | Process Improvement
Director of Strategic Operations, Congregational Services Team
Union for Reform Judaism (URJ)
01.2022 - 01.2023
- Led systems design, strategic operations, and team management within URJ’s Congregational Services Team, focusing on operational efficiency and impact
- Designed cross-functional systems to streamline service delivery and maximize engagement
- Managed team operations, ensuring alignment with strategic priorities
- Developed strategic frameworks to optimize congregational programs and services
Senior Leadership, Congregational Innovation and Leadership Team
Union for Reform Judaism (URJ)
01.2016 - 01.2023
- Designed and led national leadership development, change management, and impact network initiatives
- Communities of Practice: Designed and implemented learning communities for congregations, focusing on governance, community engagement, baby boomer engagement and innovation in congregational education
- COVID-19 Response Projects: Developed and facilitated virtual leadership gatherings, crisis-response programming, and adaptive strategies to support congregations during the pandemic
- Community Engagement & Impact Programs: Designed and led initiatives to enhance engagement strategies, including cross-congregational collaborations and leadership networks
- Created and led congregational presidents’ network, providing structured leadership and coaching
- Guided congregations in strategic planning using benchmarking and data analysis
- Designed digital learning modules for governance and leadership development
Senior Educational Consultant & Director of Professional Learning
Center for the Advancement of Jewish Education (CAJE)
01.2004 - Current
- Secured and managed over $1M in funding for systemic professional learning initiatives
- Led the SHARSHERET professional development program, increasing funding from $20K to $86K
- Designed a multi-year initiative with $500K funding to enhance teaching and learning
- Restructured the CAJE Educational Services Department, integrating three divisions
- Secured $750K+ in national and private funding for personalized learning programs
- Developed and led a multi-year Early Childhood Leadership Institute in partnership with United Way
- Managed $75K+ annually in Title II professional development grants for Jewish day schools
- Led a Federation Population Study Task Force, resulting in a fully funded engagement strategy
Director of Lifelong Jewish Learning
Temple Judea
01.1997 - 01.2004
- Oversaw all congregational education programs, including adult learning, early childhood education, and religious school programming
Education
Bachelor of Arts - Comparative Literature
01.1994
Certificate in Jewish Studies
Master of Arts - Jewish Education
01.1997
Master of Arts - Jewish Communal Service
01.1997
Skills
- Strategic Planning
- Operational Efficiency
- Business Operations
- Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Budget & Resource Management
- Leadership & Team Development
- Stakeholder Engagement
- Change Management
- Process Improvement
- Relationship building
- Team building
- Task delegation
- Strategies and goals
Consulting And Coaching
- New Teacher Center – Jewish New Teacher Project
- Wexner Foundation Mentor Program
- Learning Forward – Senior Consultant
Fellowships And Honors
- Wexner Graduate Fellowship, VII, 1994-1998
- Reform Jewish Educator (RJE) Title, 2000
- Learning Forward Academy, XXII, 2010-2012
- Honorary Doctorate of Religious Education, Hebrew Union College-JIR, 2022
Executive Skill Set
Strategic Planning, Change Management, Thought Leadership, Systems Change, Data-Driven Decision-Making, Program Evaluation, Financial Resource Development, Team Management, Coaching & Mentoring, Collaborative Facilitation, Operations Design
Affiliations
- Association of Reform Jewish Educators
Languages
Hebrew
Limited Working
Timeline
Director of Integrated Program Strategy & Business Operations - Union for Reform Judaism (URJ)
01.2024 - Current
Director of Strategic Operations, Congregational Services Team - Union for Reform Judaism (URJ)
01.2022 - 01.2023
Senior Leadership, Congregational Innovation and Leadership Team - Union for Reform Judaism (URJ)
01.2016 - 01.2023
Senior Educational Consultant & Director of Professional Learning - Center for the Advancement of Jewish Education (CAJE)
01.2004 - Current
Director of Lifelong Jewish Learning - Temple Judea
01.1997 - 01.2004
Hebrew Union College – Jewish Institute of Religion - Master of Arts, Jewish Education
Hebrew Union College – Jewish Institute of Religion - Master of Arts, Jewish Communal Service
Northwestern University - Bachelor of Arts, Comparative Literature
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