Job Description
Job Description
Director of Finance
Western Massachusetts | Hybrid (2–3 days onsite)
Recruiter Contact: Sal Fiorillo - Sal.Fiorillo@Roberthalf
Reference: SF0013374476
This is a senior leadership role for an operations-leaning finance leader who wants to stay close to the mission, modernize how the organization operates, and serve as a trusted partner to executive leadership and the board.
What You’ll Do
- Serve as a senior financial and operational partner to the Executive Director
- Present to and collaborate closely with the Board and its committees
- Help evolve governance frameworks, operating documents, and reporting practices
- Own budgeting, forecasting, financial controls, and reporting for a ~$20M operating environment
- Translate complex cost structures (overhead, utilities, capex, shared services) into clear, actionable financial models
- Partner cross-functionally with IT, Facilities, and Operations in a highly infrastructure- and capital-intensive setting
- Simplify and modernize business processes (job costing, inventory, automation, documentation)
- Drive continuous improvement while balancing flexibility and diverse stakeholder needs
- Support grant compliance, audits, and relationships with funding agencies
Qualifications
- BS Degree in Accounting, Finance or related / MBA or advanced degrees and certifications are preferred
- A minimum of 10 years of experience in financial management or a similar leadership role.
- Operations-minded finance leader comfortable balancing strategy with hands-on execution
- Strong background in budgeting, forecasting, and financial oversight
- Experience in nonprofit, higher education, research, healthcare, or grant-funded environments
- Board-facing executive presence with the ability to communicate effectively with senior, highly technical stakeholders
- Proven track record of driving operational efficiency and process improvement
Nice to Have
- Experience scaling organizations or stepping into newly created leadership roles
- Exposure to utility-heavy, infrastructure-heavy, or capex-intensive operations
- Strong understanding of overhead allocation, rate structures, and cost modeling
Why This Role Stands Out
- High-impact leadership seat with real influence over how the organization operates
- Rare opportunity to work at the intersection of finance, research, infrastructure, and advanced technology
- Exposure to some of the most sophisticated research ecosystems in the country
- Ideal opportunity for either: 1) A seasoned leader who has run something large and wants to get closer to execution and mission, or 2) A high-potential finance leader ready to stretch into broader enterprise leadership
If you meet the minimum requirements and want to learn more about this opportunity, please email your resume to the email listed above and reference SF0013374476
All inquiries are confidential. Please note at Robert Half we never present your background to a client company without your permission.
- BS Degree in Accounting, Finance or related / MBA or advanced degrees and certifications are preferred
- A minimum of 10 years of experience in financial management or a similar leadership role.
- Operations-minded finance leader comfortable balancing strategy with hands-on execution
- Strong background in budgeting, forecasting, and financial oversight
- Experience in nonprofit, higher education, research, healthcare, or grant-funded environments
- Board-facing executive presence with the ability to communicate effectively with senior, highly technical stakeholders
- Proven track record of driving operational efficiency and process improvement