Chief Financial Officer, Jacob's Pillow

ABOUT JACOB'S PILLOW

Jacob’s Pillow, a National Historic Landmark and recipient of the National Medal of Arts, is a year-round center for dance and home to America’s longest-running international dance festival, located in the Berkshires of Western Massachusetts. The Pillow encompasses the 94-year-old, world-renowned Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival, presenting more than 40 dance companies and over 350 events each summer; The School at Jacob’s Pillow, one of the most prestigious pre-professional dance training centers in the U.S.; the Pillow Lab, a residency program supporting new choreography; growing Community Engagement programs serving local school children, artists, and community members; rare and extensive dance Archives, open to the public, that chronicle more than a century of dance through photographs, performance videos, talks with artists, costumes, and scholarly essays; a robust online platform that provides audiences all over the world with access to the Archives, regular livestreams and encore presentations available on demand; and an Internship Program that provides professional advancement and training opportunities.

Mission and Values

The Pillow’s mission is to support dance creation, presentation, education, and preservation, and to engage and deepen public appreciation and support for dance. Jacob’s Pillow is committed to providing an inclusive, diverse, accessible, and equitable environment that cultivates the celebration of the art of dance and its positive impact on communities. Organization-wide values include inclusion, leadership, integrity, flexibility, partnership, and sustainability.

Location

Jacob’s Pillow is in Becket, in the Berkshires of Western Massachusetts — a thriving cultural region roughly equidistant from Boston and New York City, with a mix of year-round and seasonal residents and a remarkable concentration of arts institutions. The Pillow’s campus sits within easy reach of Tanglewood, MASS MoCA, the Clark Art Institute, The Mount, Barrington Stage, and Shakespeare & Company, among others.

THE OPPORTUNITY

Over the last decade, Jacob’s Pillow has grown in every dimension. Year-round staff has increased from 36 to 53, and the organization’s reach now extends well beyond the Berkshires through online programming, international partnerships, and a significant investment in its digital platform through the Bloomberg Digital Accelerator. The completion of the $30-million Doris Duke Theatre in 2025 – one of three performance stages on the 220-acre campus – reflects both the ambition of the institution and the deep commitment of the community that has made the Pillow what it is. As the organization approaches its 100th anniversary in 2032, it has never been better positioned — or more ready — to grow.

 That growth demands financial leadership, systems, and infrastructure commensurate with what Jacob's Pillow has become and what it intends to be, and the organization is seeking an inaugural Chief Financial Officer to lead this work. By assuming primary operational and financial leadership for finance, IT, and facilities, the CFO will enable the Artistic and Executive Director to have more time to focus on artistic vision, partnership development, external fundraising and strategic planning. Reporting directly to Artistic and Executive Director Pamela Tatge, the CFO will be a key member of the senior leadership team and a trusted partner to her and the Board in shaping the financial and operational foundation from which Jacob’s Pillow will continue to build.

Given the nature of the role and the rhythms of a residential performing arts campus, the CFO must be based within one hour of Jacob’s Pillow in Becket, Massachusetts, and spend the majority of their time on-site throughout the year.

Jacob's Pillow's operating budget is $14.7 million, and the organization has an endowment of $24.9 million. There 53 year-round staff, and, during the 10-week summer festival the staff grows to 140.

CORE RESPONSIBILITIES

•  Serve as a credible, trusted, and strategic thought partner to the CEO, Board, and the executive team — shaping financial and organizational strategy through forward-looking insight and scenario planning and bringing the independent judgment and candor that sound financial leadership requires.
• Act as the primary financial liaison to the Board of Trustees and the Finance Committee, including providing executive oversight of the annual audit process and investment portfolio management.
• Working with the Director of Finance, ensure the full range of financial operations — including cash management, payroll, grants compliance, and vendor and contract management — are well-run, well-controlled, and aligned with organizational priorities.
• Oversee the IT function with a strategic lens — treating technology as an enabler of programming, audience experience, and organizational effectiveness, not merely a cost center; partner with the Director of IT to address both immediate infrastructure needs and longer-term priorities.
• Oversee facilities planning and capital budgeting in close partnership with the Director of Facilities, supporting the development of short- and long-term maintenance and capital investment plans across Jacob’s Pillow’s 200-acre campus; partner with the Director of Facilities as staff liaison to the Board of Trustees Facilities Committee, ensuring the Board has the information and analysis needed to support sound decision-making.
• Lead the continued evolution of the finance function, building systems, structures, and capabilities that enable long-term sustainability and organizational effectiveness.
• Drive the development of meaningful business intelligence, including multi-year financial models, scenario analyses, and other actionable insights.
• Partner with the incoming Chief People Officer to clarify shared accountabilities — including payroll authority and HRIS integration — and to co-lead an enterprise systems review in the CFO’s first year.
• Identify and implement opportunities to leverage technology, including AI and automation, to improve efficiency, reduce manual work, and enhance decision-making.
• Oversee all organizational insurance programs — including general liability, property, event, and workers’ compensation — managing carrier relationships, annual renewals, and claims in coordination with legal counsel and relevant department heads.
• Lead and develop a high-performing team, strengthening team structure, clarity, and accountability.
• Partner with the Chief Philanthropy Officer to align financial and philanthropic reporting, support endowment stewardship and growth in advance of the organization’s centennial in 2032 and serve as a financial resource in donor relationships when appropriate.
• Model and reinforce Jacob’s Pillow’s adaptive, transparent, and mission-centered culture.

Jacob’s Pillow’s Chief Financial Officer will be a seasoned executive and organizational leader who brings the expertise to strengthen its financial infrastructure as well as the curiosity, flexibility, and interpersonal skills to thrive in a nonprofit performing arts organization with a complex operating model. A strategic partner to the Artistic and Executive Director, the Board, and every member of the senior leadership team, the ideal candidate will possess an affinity for Jacob’s Pillow’s mission and be energized by the opportunity to have a meaningful impact in advancing one of the world’s leading performing arts organizations.

EXPERIENCE

• 10+ years of progressive senior finance leadership experience
• BA/BS required; CPA, MBA, or equivalent credential preferred
• Knowledge of nonprofit finance, including multi-fund and restricted fund accounting, grants management, GAAP, and federal and state compliance
• Demonstrated success leading budgeting, forecasting, and long-term financial planning in a complex organization with multiple revenue streams
• Demonstrated experience building or rebuilding financial infrastructure, such as strengthening a monthly close process, implementing budget modeling tools, and integrating disparate financial systems
• Experience overseeing audit and financial reporting, including 990 preparations
• Fluency with CRM-integrated financial environments; familiarity with Tessitura preferred

The salary range for this position is $160,000 to $200,000, commensurate with experience.

Jacob’s Pillow offers a generous benefits package including medical, dental, and vision insurance through Blue Cross Blue Shield of MA, Delta Dental, and VSP, with coverage beginning day one of employment, plus an employer-funded Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA) that covers the majority of the medical deductible. Employees can also enroll in pre-tax Flexible Spending Accounts for medical and dependent care. Life insurance and AD&D (up to 3x salary), short- and long-term disability, the Employee Assistance Program, and travel assistance are all 100% employer-paid. Time off includes paid vacation, holidays, and sick leave, alongside Massachusetts Paid Family & Medical Leave through a private plan with Unum. For retirement, we offer a 403(b) plan with a 2% employer contribution toward annual salary. On campus during the Summer Festival season, employees enjoy three free meals a day, complimentary tickets to performances, and access to Pillow programs and archives.

Jacob’s Pillow has retained Diane Carlyle Executive Search (DCX Search) to support the search for the Chief Financial Officer. We welcome comments, nominations, or expressions of interest. All applicants are asked to include a letter of interest with their resume. Please send an email with supporting materials to: JPCFO@dcxsearch.com

 Not sure you meet 100% of the qualifications? Research shows that some candidates apply for jobs when they fulfill an average of 60% of the criteria, while others tend to apply only if they meet every requirement. If you believe that you could excel in this role, we encourage you to apply. We are dedicated to considering a broad array of candidates, including those with diverse workplace experiences and backgrounds.

 Jacob’s Pillow is a registered 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization that provides equal opportunity for all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, age, marital status, mental or physical disability, pregnancy, military or veteran status, or any other basis prohibited by state or federal law.