Vice President for Administration (BF)

Barr Foundation - Boston, MA; Boston (MA); On-site; USD 180,000 - 280,000; Full time

Job summary

The Barr Foundation in Boston seeks a visionary Vice President for Administration to lead operations, grants management, and talent development on the senior leadership team. This role will shape the organization’s infrastructure and guide strategic use of technology and data.

Reporting to the President, the VP will manage a six-person team, strengthen DEI initiatives, and partner with program leaders to advance Barr’s mission of arts, climate solutions, and educational opportunity.

Qualifications

• Experience leading operations and administrative functions in large civic organizations.
• Track record of developing talent and fostering DEI.
• Strong interpersonal, communication, and leadership skills.
• Ability to guide organizational growth and change.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership for operations, grants management, and talent development.
• Oversee work planning, performance reviews, and information/document management.
• Collaborate with senior leaders and report to the President and Trustee.
• Strengthen organizational infrastructure and technology systems.

Skills

Leadership

Management

Strategic thinking

DEI

Job description

The Barr Foundation, one of New England’s largest private foundations, seeks a talented, inspirational, and innovative Vice President for Administration. This new position on the senior leadership team will provide leadership and oversight for Barr’s operations, grants management, and talent development functions. This is an exciting opportunity for a talented leader with demonstrated managerial acumen and experience guiding organizations through growth and change.

Based in Boston, with assets of more than $2 billion and a 2020 grantmaking budget of $95 million, the Foundation focuses regionally and selectively engages nationally, working in partnership with nonprofits, foundations, the public sector, and civic and business leaders to elevate the arts and creative expression, advance solutions for climate change, and expand educational opportunity. Since 2014, Barr’s staff size has doubled as the amount it awards in grants has grown by 80%.

Reporting to Jim Canales, President and Trustee, the Vice President for Administration will manage a team of six staff and provide strategic leadership on a range of issues that cut across the 38-person organization. The Vice President for Administration will bring a record of leading operations and administrative functions in the civic sector and demonstrated experience around issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion. Outstanding interpersonal, communication, leadership, and management skills, along with a deep‑seeded passion for the mission, legacy, and core values of the Foundation are essential for the role.

This new leader will have the opportunity to strengthen the organizational infrastructure, enhance the grants management process, accelerate the development of technological systems solutions, and support the development of talent and culture. They will be expected to establish a vision and definition of organizational effectiveness; create and implement systems to gauge and ensure achievement of that vision; and provide data, analysis, and support to the President and Vice President for Programs and Strategy in shaping strategic initiatives for the Barr Foundation. This position will also manage organization‑wide processes such as workplanning, performance reviews, and information/document management.

The Barr Foundation has retained the services of Isaacson, Miller, a national executive search firm, to assist the Search Committee in its identification and review of candidates.

Barr Foundation is an equal opportunity employer, with a commitment to building and fostering a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace. The Barr Foundation welcomes candidates who would both contribute to and learn from working in such an environment.