Director, Communications

Job Description

POSITION OVERVIEW

The Director, Communications leads the Communications team. This role creates and executes the communications and press strategy for the Sundance Institute and its public and artistic programs. These initiatives extend from the Sundance Film Festival to Sundance Collab to artist programs supporting fiction, nonfiction, and episodic storytelling. The Director leads the crafting of key external communications and proactively secures opportunities among trade and consumer media to generate media exposure and positive publicity for the organization and its programs.

Working closely under the direction of the Chief Communications Officer (CCO), the Director, Communications will also support the brand narrative of the Institute by managing external profiles of the Core Leadership team. This role requires a strategic thinker with strong public relations skills and solid press relationships who is effective at collaboration with different internal and external stakeholders. Live event or festival publicity experience is required.

This full-time position will have ample opportunity to work remotely, however there is a strong preference for candidates who are located within commuting distance to our Los Angeles, CA or New York, NY office. This position will be required to travel to other Institute offices and events as well as work extended hours, including evenings and weekends at key points throughout the year.

Top priorities include but are not limited to…
• Developing strategies and executing publicity campaigns to promote and publicize events, initiatives, and artistic programs to secure impactful coverage and drive Institute goals.
• Leading the execution of an annual communications strategy and closely coordinating with the Marketing, Social and Editorial teams to consistently integrate efforts.
• Creating and managing Festival publicity and live event campaigns and overseeing all details related to media.
• Collaborating with the CCO on overall Institute positioning, messaging, and communications.
• Writing, editing, and performing targeted distribution of organizational communications, including announcements, articles of various lengths, blog posts, speeches, quotes, and news releases.
• Shape narratives and pitch story ideas that align with the Institutes priorities and goals
• Crafting and developing talking points, Q&As, quotes, statements, speeches, and messages on behalf of Institute employees.
• Managing year-round and seasonal 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.
• Conducting detailed reviews of news releases, including those issued by Institute collaborators to ensure consistency in message.
• Developing and conducting media training for the organization, including providing guidance, direction, media release approvals, and messaging best practices to relevant employees.
• Collaboratively managing agencies and contractors in pursuit of Institute goals.
• Developing and seeking out opportunities for Institute and executive visibility.
• Cultivating and maintaining an existing network of strong relationships with journalists and liaising with contacts to shape, develop, and pitch stories to secure news stories and features on the Institute and its programs.
• Actively ensuring best practices are applied and staying abreast of trends and progressive approaches to publicity.
• Creating and refining department workflows to ensure best practices are applied to Communications activities across the Institute and within the Communications Department.

You have the following direct or transferable skill sets:
• Legal authorization to work in the United States.
• 8-10 years experience in increasingly responsible positions within communications, public information, public relations, and media relations.
• Strong knowledge of the field including experience in media relations, development of press campaigns, and execution of strategic communication plans for live events or festivals.
• Extensive experience writing a range of materials, including news releases, remarks, positioning and messaging documents, and web copy.
• Strong leadership skills with a background that includes demonstrated excellence in managing employees.
• Excellent interpersonal communication skills to build strong relationships at all levels while working across the organization in order to drive results.
• Excellent writing, editing, and proofreading skills with outstanding attention to detail and ability to swiftly develop familiarity with a proprietary house style guide in addition to AP style guide.
• Strong consultation, presentation, meeting design, and facilitation skills.
• Knowledge of and relationships with national and international cultural, arts, and entertainment media outlets.
• Strong interviewing skills to obtain material for stories and news releases preferred.
• Bachelor’s degree in communications, public relations, marketing, a related field, or equivalent experience preferred.

You will be successful in this role if you…
• Are a strategic thinker with amazing storytelling skills and a strong attention to detail.
• Have a keen understanding of the entertainment and arts’ non-profit landscape and stay on the pulse of cultural conversations.
• Create and execute strategic public relations campaigns targeting audiences that affect culture
• Utilize exceptional writing and editing skills to craft engaging and compelling communications.
• Infuse a passion for independent storytelling in all forms into your work and think innovatively.
• Consistently deliver your projects thoughtfully within deadlines and with excellence in execution.
• Exude operational excellence, including the ability to problem solve within your work and the work of your team so change can happen quickly and efficiently.
• Effectively manage and motivate those you are leading, rallying the team around common goals.
• Demonstrate a positive attitude as a collaborative team player who is open to feedback and other perspectives.

In addition to an annual salary of $85,100.00 to $120,000.00*, 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-dy40k3-18-191-236-174-42 in your application.