Manager, Documentary Fund

Job Description

POSITION OVERVIEW

The Sundance Documentary Fund supports the work of nonfiction filmmakers from all around the world by offering non-recoupable grants to projects that elevate and advance cultural dialogue and break new ground in creativity and innovation. The Fund prioritizes elevating the voices of artists from traditionally underrepresented and historically marginalized communities in the service of building a more equitable media landscape and a more just society.

The Manager, Documentary Fund is a key position within the Documentary Film Program and plays a vital role in project review and selection across all the Documentary Fund granting opportunities. Working closely under the Film Fund Director, Documentary Film Program (DFP), this position is also responsible for managing grantmaking processes, fund timelines and deliverables, as well as acting as a key point of contact for grantees, contributing to provide a high-level continuum of artist support.

This position works full time either out of our Los Angeles, CA office or remotely. Occasional travel to Sundance Institute offices as well as Industry events (e.g. festivals, forums, etc) may be required throughout the year. This position 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…
• Cultivating and identifying new voices for consideration, in collaboration with the broader DFP team.
• Reviewing artist’s submissions across all Fund granting opportunities and recommending the best projects to support.
• Managing grant-making processes, fund timelines, and deliverables.
• Supporting the Director, Documentary Fund, in periodically revisiting priorities and processes to ensure the Fund remains responsive to the field and true to its values and mission.
• Managing all activities related to the general fund and special opportunity funds, including the Kendeda, Luminate, and Sandbox funds.
• Leading project outreach and artist cultivation.
• Developing timelines and managing key processes, including project submission, multi-stage review, selection and grant-making/contracting processes.
• Working closely with the Fund Coordinators to ensure that such processes are carried out in a timely, accurate, transparent, and efficient manner.
• Leading the gathering of periodical updates from our grantees for reporting purposes.
• Acting as the team’s key point of contact for reporting purposes, liaising with the Advancement team by providing the necessary information to support the timely and accurate delivery of reports and deliverables to funders.
• Managing research and/or evaluation projects that the Fund team is leading.
• Periodically reviewing the Fund processes to design and implement new protocols and frameworks of evaluation that comply with the evolving priorities of the program.
• Acting as a key contact to answer questions, provide consultancies, manage expectations, and assist artists through the program’s pipeline with everything from development to completion.
• In collaboration with the broader DFP team, providing creative and strategic feedback to grantees, including rough cut notes, pitch preparation, and matchmaking for specific grantee issues.
• Supporting DFP Deputy Director and the Director, Documentary Fund to identify gaps of artist support within the field and contribute to develop new formalized avenues of support within the Program.
• Supporting the Director, Documentary Fund to ensure that the DFP is applying best practices and protocols developed in partnerships with other funders and foundation partners with all our active grantees.
• Planning and executing artist sustainability and education activities (e.g. Legal clinic).
• Managing year-round staff, including selecting and training highly effective staff, providing direction, feedback, mentorship, with support by the Director, Documentary Fund.
• Ensuring employees understand responsibilities and are effective in their roles, while delegating meaningful work.
• Identifying independent project reviewers and Fund advisors, executing contracts through Human Resources , and ensuring paperwork is processed and invoices are paid within 30 days of the work being completed.
• Collaborating with the Marketing and Communications Department to increase press for the Fund and to develop social media strategies.
• Ensuring that the Documentary Fund page on Sundance.org is periodically updated to reflect overall DFP strategy and meet our foundation and corporate partners contract deliverables.

You have the following direct or transferable skill sets:
• Legal authorization to work in the United States.
• 3 years directly related experience, including grant management.
• Extensive experience in documentary programming, production, and/or impact and engagement related work.
• Excellent curatorial skills specifically with an ability to evaluate nonfiction work-in-progress and provide creative feedback.
• Strong organization and problem solving skills including attention to detail and accuracy in recording, tracking, and issuing information.
• Outstanding verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills required to work effectively with a wide variety of people.
• Ability to collaborate effectively and affect change by applying best practices.
• Working knowledge of databases along with proficiency in Google Products.
• Ability to self manage workload.
• Ability to maintain confidential information.
• Knowledge of basic web tools such as HTML, Photoshop, and InDesign preferred.
• Ability to understand and speak a language in addition to English is a plus.

You will be successful in this role if you…
• Are passionate about nonfiction storytelling and committed to contributing to building a more equitable field for documentary film.
• Are dedicated to discovering new voices, nurturing artists and supporting innovative work.
• Are highly organised, a critical thinker and an excellent team player.
• Embrace a positive and supportive attitude at all times.

In addition to an annual salary of $58,240.00, 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)

• Mission-driven workplace and amazing co-workers
*Location and experience will be taken into consideration when making the final offer.

Jobcode: Reference SBJ-rox1b3-3-22-51-241-42 in your application.