About the Austen Riggs Center

The Austen Riggs Center is a distinctive psychiatric institution — an open, voluntary residential treatment center, therapeutic community, and institute for education and research. Unlike most psychiatric facilities, Riggs treats the most complex patients not through containment but through sustained clinical engagement, with the patient's own motivation at the center of the work. The community itself is a clinical instrument. Staff at every level contribute to a treatment environment that is serious, intellectually alive, and deeply committed to understanding rather than managing human suffering.

We are at a moment of strategic renewal: strengthening our financial foundation, developing new service models including an Intensive Outpatient Program, and welcoming new leadership as an opportunity to help shape senior leadership’s direction from an early stage. The CFOO will be a central partner in that work.

Job Summary

The Austen Riggs Center seeks a Chief Financial & Operations Officer (CFOO) to provide strategic and operational leadership as a core member of the Senior Leadership Team. The CFOO oversees Finance, Development, Facilities, Dietary, and Information Technology, leading six direct reports and approximately 20 staff in support of a $26M organization with 160+ employees and a 12-building campus in Stockbridge, Massachusetts.

This is a role for someone who can own the financial picture — not just manage it. The CFOO must be able to move fluently between the details of budgeting and modeling and the boardroom, translating complex financial realities into clear presentations for trustees, leadership, and external partners. The CFOO partners closely with the Medical Director/CEO and serves as the primary financial voice to the Board of Directors.

Beyond finance, the CFOO ensures that operations across the organization — facilities, technology, dietary services, and advancement — function at a level that supports exceptional patient care in both residential and IOP settings and aligns with organizational goals and strategies. The right candidate brings analytical rigor, operational range, strong leadership instincts, and a genuine interest in the mission and culture of our distinctive institution.

Specific Responsibilities

Serve as a key member of the Senior Leadership Team, contributing to strategy across programs, operations, revenue development, and community engagement.
Serve as lead executive for Board committees including Finance, Buildings and Grounds, Development, and ad hoc task forces; prepare and present financial reports with clarity and authority.
Lead director-level staff in Finance, Development, Dietary, Operations, Facilities, and IT; develop team culture and strengthen individual capacity.
Own the organization's financial narrative: translate budgets, forecasts, and financial models into clear, well-organized presentations for audiences with varying levels of financial expertise.
Strengthen business models by developing new revenue streams, adjusting pricing, identifying grant opportunities, and evaluating cost-saving strategies.
Ensure operational efficiency and patient-focused service across non-clinical departments, advancing innovation and continuous improvement.
Oversee financial planning, forecasting, budgeting, and analysis; act as primary financial liaison to the Board.
Manage contracts and agreements including leases, government contracts, purchasing, and legal coordination with a focus on risk mitigation.
Support the Director of Finance in overseeing budgeting, accounting, cash and investment management, audits, and regulatory reporting.
Supervise the Director of Facilities, responsible for campus maintenance and improvements, compliance, risk management, and accreditation.
Coordinate with Town, State, and government agencies on facilities matters.
Support the Director of IT with infrastructure, technology purchasing, and cybersecurity.
Support the Executive Chef in budgeting, providing nutrient rich meals and providing a welcoming dining experience.
Partner with the Director of Advancement to maximize grants, fundraising, and resource development.
Represent the organization in the Stockbridge community and at Board and community events; this is a visible civic role in a small town with a long institutional history.

Qualifications

Bachelor's degree required; MBA or CPA preferred.
10+ years of experience managing finance and complex operations.
Strong financial acumen including budgeting, modeling, and long-term planning — and the ability to present financial information to a Board with clarity and confidence.
7+ years of team management experience, including leading managers.
Excellent communication, collaboration, and relationship-building skills.
Demonstrated operational management experience in contracting, purchasing, and project management.
Demonstrated ability to navigate complex organizational transitions, including stewarding institutional knowledge through periods of change.
Broad analytical and strategic problem-solving capabilities.
High proficiency Microsoft Office products and comfort with technology; Salesforce and NetSuite experience a plus.
Nonprofit experience preferred; familiarity with philanthropy, government contracts and grants, and capital campaigns.
Healthcare experience helpful but not required; genuine interest in the mission and culture of Riggs is essential.
Ability to attend community and Board events during evenings and weekends.

Benefits

Health Insurance: Medical, Dental and Vision
Disability & Life Insurance
Retirement plan 403(b) with generous employer contribution
Flexible spending and Dependent Care accounts
Generous paid time off and 12 paid holidays
Tuition Reimbursement
Onsite Library
Employee assistance program

Austen Riggs Center Jobs

Chief Financial and Operations Officer (CFOO)