Chief Operating Officer
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Job Location:
Boston, NH - USA
Monthly Salary:
$ 150000 - 165000
Posted on:
7 hours ago
Vacancies:
1 Vacancy
Job Summary
About The Vilna Shul Bostons Center for Jewish Culture
The Vilna Shul is a cultural center in a historic synagogue building in downtown Boston. Our mission is to spark excitement and curiosity about Jewish arts and culture and our American immigrant story through vibrant and meaningful experiences.
Position Overview
As The Vilna enters a period of organizational growth - expanding programming fundraising staffing and infrastructure - we are creating a new Chief Operating Officer (COO) role to strengthen our leadership team and build the internal systems required for long-term sustainability.
In 2025 alone we established an ambitious strategic plan integrated the Jewish Arts Collaborative launched the quiet phase of our capital campaign and raised 20% of the total campaign goal. Alongside these milestones we diversified our program strategy expanded our reach grew our database and more than doubled our operating budget.
The COO will serve as the organizations senior leader for internal operations and organizational infrastructure. As a core member of the Executive Leadership Team the COO is responsible for building and managing the systems people finances and processes that enable The Vilna to grow with discipline clarity and sustainability. Working in close partnership with the Executive Director the COO translates strategic priorities into operational reality - ensuring the organization is financially strong well-governed efficiently run and built for growth.
This is a newly created role with significant opportunity to shape systems culture and structure across the organization. The ideal candidate brings both strategic perspective and operational discipline balancing long-term planning with pragmatic hands-on execution.
Core Responsibilities
1. Strategic Finance & Business Operations
- Lead multi-year financial planning forecasting and scenario modeling
- Develop and manage cash flow liquidity and investment strategy (short- and long-term)
- Oversee budgeting financial controls and reporting systems
- Lead audit process and financial compliance
- Partner with the Executive Director on board-facing financial leadership
- Support strategic growth and capital planning through financial analysis
- Serve as management lead for internal committees including Budget & Finance Committee Audit Committee Investment Subcommittee and Facilities Security & IT Committee
- Coordinate agendas advance materials and follow-up for committee meetings and board reporting
2. Strategic Execution Partner to the Executive Director
- Translate strategic plan into operational roadmaps
- Manage KPIs and organizational performance metrics
- Lead internal change management and cross-department alignment
- Prepare operational dashboards and materials for board review
3. People & Organizational Systems (HR)
- Design and evolve organizational structure and role clarity
- Lead hiring systems onboarding processes and workforce planning
- Develop compensation frameworks and benefits strategy
- Oversee staff policies performance systems and culture stewardship
- Build professional development and leadership pathways
4. Facilities Capital & Risk
- Lead long-term facilities strategy and participate in capital planning for a historic site
- Serve as internal owner for major renovation infrastructure and capital projects
- Manage insurance strategy organizational risk management and business continuity planning
- Oversee vendor and contract management across facilities IT security finance and professional services
5. IT Data & Internal Systems
- Oversee internal technology infrastructure (CRM finance HR ticketing)
- Establish data governance and internal dashboards
- Lead cybersecurity and data privacy strategy
- Drive continuous improvement of workflows and organizational processes
6. Operations & Compliance
- Lead day-to-day organizational operations and policies
- Ensure legal regulatory and compliance requirements are met
- Strengthen cross-department workflows and internal communication
Leadership Qualities
- High emotional intelligence and strong listening skills
- Calm structured and steady in complex environments
- Highly collaborative and low-ego in leadership style
- Ability to bring clarity to ambiguity
- Motivated by building systems rather than personal visibility
Experience & Skills
- Senior operational leadership experience (nonprofit arts and culture and/or Jewish communal organization preferred)
- Strong financial acumen and systems thinking
- Experience leading organizational growth transformation and scaling
- Comfort working with boards and senior leadership
- Exceptional project management and communication skills
- Demonstrated experience leading organizational systems (CRM finance HR or ticketing platforms)
- Strong negotiation and vendor management skills
- Ability to translate organizational needs into system requirements
- Experience overseeing facilities capital projects or complex physical operations is a plus
This role is ideal for someone who enjoys building systems strengthening teams and turning strategy into sustainable operations - serving as the architect for institutional strength at a growing mission-driven organization.
Salary & Benefits
Salary Range: $150000 $165000 commensurate with experience. Competitive benefits.
This is a full-time position based at The Vilnas Beacon Hill office. The COO is also expected to be present at approximately two Vilna programs or events per month which may include evenings weekends or holidays.
How to Apply
To apply please submit a cover letter and resume in one pdf using the apply button on this page or at No phone calls please. If you are having trouble uploading please email .
Priority deadline: April 24 2026. Applicants will be interviewed on a rolling basis. We thank you for your interest in career opportunities at The Vilna.
Equal Opportunity Employer
The Vilna Shul provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race color religion sex national origin age disability or addition to federal law requirements The Vilna Shul complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment including recruiting hiring placement promotion termination layoff recall transfer leaves of absence compensation and training.
About Us
Mission
The Vilna Shul is a cultural center in a historic synagogue building in downtown Boston. Our mission is to spark excitement and curiosity about Jewish arts and culture and our American immigrant story through vibrant and meaningful experiences.
The Vilna Shul is a cultural center in a historic synagogue building in downtown Boston. Our mission is to spark excitement and curiosity about Jewish arts and culture and our American immigrant story through vibrant and meaningful experiences.
Vision
Our vision is to be a place where arts culture tradition and ideas power personal connections community and the pursuit of a more inclusive society.
Our vision is to be a place where arts culture tradition and ideas power personal connections community and the pursuit of a more inclusive society.
Values
- Welcoming and Inviting - Guided by the Jewish value of welcoming the stranger the Vilna is inclusive and open to people of all backgrounds. We believe that we must do and act with kindness and respect for everyone.
- History and Tradition - Rooted in ancient traditions Jewish culture continues to evolve. The Vilna brings people together to learn about this ever changing story as it is unfolding.
- Meaning and Relevance - It is in our nature as humans to seek meaning and purpose in our lives. The Vilna identifies and organizes experiences that are timely and compelling to help people better understand themselves and the world they live in.
- Belonging and Connection - No matter our stage in life we need to feel that we are part of something larger. We provide opportunities for shared experiences to help ground you combat loneliness and lift you up in moments of both joy and sadness.
- Creativity and Ideas - The arts offer new avenues for discovery and learning. By introducing inspired and out-of-the-box experiences we cultivate memorable moments that spark reflection and growth.
Required Experience:
Chief
