Director, and Public Programming

Job Description

POSITION OVERVIEW

The Director, Sundance Film Festival and Public Programming is a highly visible member of Sundance Institute’s Senior Leadership team, who is responsible for molding the artistic integrity and organizational excellence, and seamless operation of the annual Sundance Film Festival. The Director, in collaboration with the Senior Director of Programming, develops and oversees Festival programming while working in tandem with Core Leadership to bring an inspiring artistic and programmatic vision to the Sundance Film Festival. The Director will be responsible for leading the operational planning and execution of the Festival to ensure the successful production of the in-person and digital elements of the Festival.

The Director also oversees extensive public programming activities to amplify the importance of Independent Film and media; champion the social and cultural role and rights of artists; advance original storytellers, and develop audience engagement programs that seek to foster dialogue and community with Sundance supported work at the center.

Working under the direction of the Chief Executive Officer, the Director, Sundance Film Festival also cultivates artists and industry to secure the most exciting projects for the program and to build long term relationships. The Director will act as a spokesperson, conducting media interviews, emceeing special events, and representing the Institute at donor and industry events. This position works full-time out of our Los Angeles and/or New York office and will be required to travel to and work onsite at other Institute offices, festivals, and events. This role will also be required to work extended hours, including evenings and weekends, at key points throughout the year.

Top priorities include but are not limited to…
• Leading ongoing program design, strategy, evaluation, and planning of the Sundance Film Festivals and other public programs from the development phase through audience engagement.
• Overseeing, along with the Senior Director of Programming, the selection process and programmatic curation of the Sundance Film Festival, and Sundance Satellite Film Festivals.
• Prioritizing a wide range of voices and perspectives in hiring and curatorial decision-making.
• Cultivating artists and industry film communities to create a rich and supportive network and to stay at the leading edge of key business and creative trends.
• Collaborating with Marketing and Communications to develop Festival key messages, review programming-related materials (print and digital), and advise on content to be captured.
• Leading employees to continually improve processes, procedures, and services to support artists creatively and tactically.
• Designing and executing concepts for new programs working collaboratively with the Chief Executive Officer and existing Institute program leaders.
• Serving on the Institute’s Core Leadership, which is charged with organizational strategy, management, and planning.
• Managing employees, including selecting and training highly effective individuals, delegating appropriate and meaningful work while providing direction, feedback, and support to ensure employees understand responsibilities and are effective in their roles.
• Setting high-level program priorities and strategy that cut across programs (Ex: hybrid labs model, curatorial equity plan, granting strategy, stipends/honorariums).
• Setting grounding principles and values to guide programs and culture.
• Creating more unity and alignment across programs and departments of Institute
• Clarifying cross-program activities, collaboration, and efficiencies to minimize duplication.
• Establishing metrics and standards for data collection and analysis in order to tell the story of collective impact across programs.
• Creating accountability for commitments to racial equity and important cultural perspectives across programs.
• Partnering with Operations, Marketing, Finance, Tech, Advancement to align with Institute-wide priorities and initiatives.

You have the following direct or transferable skill sets:
• Legal authorization to work in the United States.
• Over 5 years of experience in executive leadership positions.
• 10 years of film programming and leadership experience within an arts nonprofit or similar industry.
• Creative thinker with a deep knowledge of film, artists, and the film industry.
• Established relationships with emerging and established domestic and international filmmakers and film industries.
• Experience and demonstrated ability to succeed in a highly collaborative, team-driven work environment.
• Demonstrated ability to strategize, set, and meet goals.
• A genuine passion for and excitement about Sundance Institute’s nonprofit mission, and a culture defined by collaboration, curiosity, and creativity.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills—ability to express a creative vision that effectively promotes the Institute’s varied efforts and is clear and inspiring to internal and external stakeholders.
• Dedication to teamwork and transparency.
• Leadership skills including demonstrated experience managing a team.
• Ability to generate a positive image for the organization.
• Highest levels of integrity and ethics.
• Advanced degree in related field or equivalent experience preferred.

You will be successful in this role if you...
• Maintain Sundance Film Festival’s position as the preeminent US/North American Film festival.
• Increase Festival participation by a diverse range of audiences across the socioeconomic, geographic, and demographic spectrum.
• Rightsize the Festival footprint and program in-person and online balancing revenue, sustainability, and prominence.
• Continue to innovate SFF’s role as a mission-driven celebration of independent art and artistry while navigating the changing Festival landscape regarding form and purpose.
• Expand the range and diversity of artists and artistry showcased by the Festival in terms of form, content, and perspective.
• Successfully implement a year-round public programming strategy that: achieves audience engagement and impactful social discourse; amplification of Sundance-supported films in their launch and release windows; and acts as a convener and connector of different parts of the independent media ecosystem.

In addition to an annual salary range of *$185,000.00 to $275,000.00, this position comes with awesome benefits & perks, including:
• 25 paid holidays
• Health, vision, and dental insurance
• Paid sick, family, and medical leave
• 401(k) with automatic 3% employer contribution after one year of employment
• Sundance Film Festival passes and benefits (varies each year)

*Location and experience will be taken into consideration when making the final offer.

Jobcode: Reference SBJ-d8zb6k-3-16-81-94-42 in your application.