Pearlstone Executive Director

This role balances three interconnected responsibilities: 1. Build a vibrant, inspired team and culture working to weave together complex operations and multiple on-site enterprises through shared values, clear systems, consistent feedback loops, and focus on financial sustainability. 2. Advance Adamah's mission and values through immersive experiences grounded in community and belonging, joy-love-and hope, Jewish wisdom, nature connection, and more. 3. Represent Pearlstone in key public-facing moments with the Pearlstone board, donors, retreat clients, The Associated and its agencies, and beyond.

Reports to: Jakir Manela, Adamah CEO Salary: $170k/year, Exempt with benefits Supervision: Sales, Guest Services, Food Service, Program, Farm, and Facilities

What Success Looks Like Pearlstone's Executive Director (PED) is responsible for ensuring success is grounded in Adamah's core values, mission impact, and financial sustainability. Within the first two years in this role (2027 and 2028), the PED will work with Adamah leadership to achieve several important goals:

1. Build and lead a high-performing Pearlstone staff team with consistent strong success in hospitality & programming 2. Strengthen Pearlstone's financial sustainability through increased sales and philanthropic support 3. Complete over $3M of fully funded facility projects as part of the Pearlstone Campus Master Plan 4. Strengthen the Pearlstone board's impact through better recruitment, engagement, inspiration, and empowerment 5. Develop deeper strategic partnerships with the Associated, its agencies, and other Baltimore organizations

Key Pearlstone Stakeholders: Adamah, Pearlstone Advisory Board, and the Associated Under the supervision of Adamah leadership, in partnership with the Pearlstone board, and in collaboration and synergy with the Associated, the Pearlstone Executive Director leads Pearlstone's operations, budget, hiring processes, business planning, fundraising, organizational partnerships, and facility maintenance and development. Adamah provides ongoing support across strategy, fundraising, finance, marketing, data systems, and HR, giving the PED the infrastructure and resources of a national organization while retaining empowerment and responsibility for Pearlstone's operational success. Day to day operational decisions are owned by the PED, as are almost all hiring decisions—some senior hospitality and programmatic roles will merit interviews and/or consultation with Adamah leadership and/or Pearlstone board before the PED makes the final hiring decision. The PED will drive the Pearlstone budgeting process in partnership with their department directors, supervised by Adamah's CEO and in consultation with Adamah's CFO, before it is reviewed and eventually approved by Adamah's Finance Committee. Adamah and Associated involvement may increase within specific contexts, such as long-term Pearlstone strategy conversations, major fundraising efforts, Associated partnership and priorities, and major mission-centric programmatic initiatives such as summer camp and music festivals.

Key Responsibilities:

Institutional Leadership & Accountability

• Recruit, retain, & develop strong talent for the Pearlstone team, and provide clear goals, planning, & communication

• Build a culture of professionalism, warmth, and shared purpose and accountability across diverse staff teams

• Ensure Pearlstone's financial sustainability through hospitality business development and increased philanthropy

• Closely manage KPIs and operational reporting to guide decisions and course corrections

• Own crisis management and emergency response planning— including safety, legal, HR, and communications

Philanthropy & Community Relationships

• Serve as lead staff to the Pearlstone Board, working closely with the chair and engaging all members

• Build and strengthen Pearlstone's relationship with The Associated and the broader Baltimore Jewish community

• Serve as Pearlstone's ambassador with Jewish organizations, schools, camps, and funders

• Lead Pearlstone fundraising efforts, including solicitation, campaign support, and donor storytelling

• Personally cultivate and steward major donor relationships alongside the Pearlstone board and Adamah CEO

Hospitality Operations

• Provide outstanding strategic supervision of Sales, Guest Services, Food Service, and Facilities

• Ensure strong systems for guest communication, staffing, scheduling, and p