Pearlstone Executive Director

Position Overview
Pearlstone’s Executive Director will be the third Pearlstone leader in its 25-year history, a new chapter after 15 years of leadership from Jakir Manela, Adamah’s CEO, and the first new Pearlstone leader since the merger with Hazon to form Adamah. This leadership transition presents a tremendous opportunity to help shape what Pearlstone becomes in the years ahead, building on the Adamah merger with a strong programmatic foundation and campus master plan, and profound potential for one of the most dynamic institutions in American Jewish life. This transition is therefore a top priority for Pearlstone, for Adamah, and for The Associated Jewish Community Federation of Baltimore.

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.

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 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

Financial Sustainability & Business Strategy

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

Campus Master Plan & Facilities

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

Jewish Environmental Education & Land Stewardship

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

Qualifications

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