Pearlstone Executive Director

Adamah•Reisterstown, MD

38d•Onsite

About The Position

The Pearlstone Campus for Living Judaism is a vibrant 180-acre campus near Baltimore, MD, engaging over 15,000 people annually through retreats, farm-to-table dining, Jewish environmental education, camps, and more. As the largest impact platform for Adamah, a leading Jewish environmental organization, and an agency of The Associated Jewish Community Federation of Baltimore, Pearlstone operates with a $7M annual budget and nearly 100 staff. Adamah's mission is to create vibrant Jewish life in deep connection with the earth, catalyzing culture and systemic change through immersive experiences, education, leadership development, and climate action. Their vision is to spark a renaissance in Jewish life through this connection, transforming Jewish education and mobilizing collective action. Adamah impacts over 50,000 people annually through two retreat centers (Pearlstone and Isabella Freedman) and national programs amplified in six Community Impact Hubs. Adamah's core values include Community & Belonging, Joy-Love-Hope, Jewish Wisdom, Nature Connection, Youth Empowerment, Collective Action, and Peoplehood & Planethood.

Requirements

Basic Jewish literacy, passion and inspiration connected to Adamah’s mission, and resonance with Torah of the Earth.
8–10+ years in senior leadership, including 5+ years managing department heads & multi-million dollar budgets.
A track record of change management, growing earned revenue, and successful fundraising efforts.
Demonstrated ability to build organizational culture, staff accountability, and communication systems.
Experience working with boards, lay leaders, donors, funders, and institutional partners.
Experience navigating Jewish nonprofit landscape (familiarity with Baltimore or The Associated preferred).
Strong work ethic, professional demeanor, and excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Nice To Haves

Experience preferred in retreat centers, hospitality, camps, or complex, land-based, multi-department operations.

Responsibilities

Build and lead a high-performing Pearlstone staff team with consistent strong success in hospitality & programming.
Strengthen Pearlstone's financial sustainability through increased sales and philanthropic support.
Complete over $3M of fully funded facility projects as part of the Pearlstone Campus Master Plan.
Strengthen the Pearlstone board’s impact through better recruitment, engagement, inspiration, and empowerment.
Develop deeper strategic partnerships with the Associated, its agencies, and other Baltimore organizations.
Lead Pearlstone's operations, budget, hiring processes, business planning, fundraising, organizational partnerships, and facility maintenance and development.
Drive the Pearlstone budgeting process in partnership with department directors, supervised by Adamah’s CEO and in consultation with Adamah’s CFO.
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.
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.
Provide outstanding strategic supervision of Sales, Guest Services, Food Service, and Facilities.
Ensure strong systems for guest communication, staffing, scheduling, and post-event follow-up.
Drive continuous improvement based on guest feedback and satisfaction data.
Lead integration of the new amphitheater into operations, revenue strategy, and community engagement.
Build and manage Pearlstone's annual operating and capital budget across hospitality and programming areas.
Drive growth in retreat, rental, program, camp, and other revenue. Prioritize marketing, pricing, occupancy, & staffing.
Lead new business development, sparking organizational partnerships and new revenue streams.
Cultivate mission-money synergy, reinforcing impact, guest experience, earned revenue, and philanthropy.
Ensure facilities support guest experience, safety, accessibility, and sustainability—through outstanding maintenance systems, risk management, and planning in partnership with The Associated.
Lead the execution of the Pearlstone Campus Master Plan by maximizing the launch and impact of recently opened facilities, and driving forward the planning, construction, and integration of the next round of fully funded projects.
Collaborate with Adamah leadership, the Pearlstone board, and the Associated to look ahead towards additional master plan priorities and fundraising opportunities on the horizon.
Maximize nature connection, Jewish education, and farm & land stewardship as essential Pearlstone experience.
Ensure outstanding Pearlstone programming — retreats, camps, farm-based and wilderness education, and holiday programs —in full alignment with Adamah's mission and values.
Cultivate synergy and cross promotion with the Adamah network for follow-up and ongoing engagement and impact.