Executive Director

This is a Full Time Job

The Executive Director is one of two co-leaders of Montclair Film that report to the Board of Trustees, guide the staff, and set the strategic vision for the organization. Their partner and co-leader, the Artistic Director, leads all curatorial and programmatic planning, while the Executive Director is responsible for the overall administration, finance, and development activities of the organization. While their roles are distinct and cover a variety of different areas, they come together to lead the staff, collaborate with the Board of Trustees, make long-term strategic decisions, build an annual operating budget, and strengthen the brand of the organization.

Organizational Oversight/Staff Management

• Lead efforts to further develop strong operations and management practices throughout the organization's venues and activities

• Oversee the organization's pursuit of goals laid out in the recently articulated five-year strategic plan

• Own primary accountability for the overall P&L of Montclair Film, working closely with the Artistic Director in the creation, management, and reporting of an operating budget of $4.5 million

• Serve as the primary liaison with the Board of Trustees to support the strategic, governance, and operational responsibilities of the Board

• Establish a protocol for all staff members to set annual goals and conduct performance reviews within their departments, and provide those annual reviews for four direct reports

• Collaborate with the Managing Director on the continued improvement of staff resources and benefit programs

• Cultivate and maintain a positive, healthy, and safe work environment, building on our existing supportive tight-knit culture

Fundraising/Development

• Partner with the Director of Development in creating, executing, and reporting on the annual strategic fundraising plan, which includes support from grants, major donors, individual donors, sponsors, and other philanthropic organizations, and work to continuously grow those levels of funding, which reached approximately $2 million in 2024

• Directly solicit, nurture, engage, and steward major donors and sponsors

• Provide analytical thought partnership to the development and marketing teams, as they collaborate on annual membership campaigns and strengthen the membership program, which nurtures a pipeline of individual donor support for the organization

• Collaborate with the Sponsorship Manager, in creating and implementing the menu of festival and year-round benefits for all sponsors

• Support the needs of sponsors and other donors, by engaging and collaborating with the Artistic Director to create relevant programming

Marketing & Communications

• Act as a lead strategist in crafting the overall strategic marketing and branding of Montclair Film as an organization

• Manage and meet regularly with the Director of Marketing, who shares a reporting relationship with the Artistic Director, to develop and execute Montclair Film marketing including brand development/management, reputation management, website, advertising, collateral, and fundraising materials

• Support the Artistic Director in the development of in-Cinema and festival marketing materials, including on-screen assets, trailers, and cinema branding to ensure consistency across all Montclair Film marketing channels

• Participate with the Artistic Director in public relations activities aimed at building brand recognition and industry engagement

Education

• Work closely with the Education Director and their team, as they create and execute the strategic plan for education programs and implement new and ongoing classes for students and adults

• Oversee the Education department in their efforts to build a Workforce Development program, its annual plan, and calendar of events

Community Engagement

• Meet regularly with the Community Engagement/Volunteer Coordinator to understand how Montclair Film partners with members of the community and continues to engage an active group of volunteers for the Festival season

• Cultivate partnerships with local business and organizations, in order to both serve the community and benefit from neighborly relationships

• Represent Montclair Film at community and partnership events

Government Relations/Advocacy

• Serve as the primary liaison for government relations, leveraging the Board and other staff as needed to build and sustain outreach

• Oversee the organization's government strategist/lobbyist to make sure that their work achieves Montclair Film's goals

Board Management/Development

• Develop and execute a strategic vision to shape and grow the Board of Trustees, working closely with the Board President, Vice President, and the Vice President of the Nominating and Governance Committee

• Act as the staff liaison to all Board committees, including the Executive Committee, the Development Committee, the Nominating and Governance Committee, and the weekly Leadership Team meeting with Board leadership

• Oversee the Managing Director in ensuring the timely execution of all Board meeting materials, communications, and other requirements as needed

• Collaborate with the President and the Vice President of the Board on the annual review process for the Board overall and individual Board members

Qualifications and Characteristics

• Proven experience in a leadership position of a non-profit, with a strong preference for experience in the arts, with responsibility for strategic oversight, fundraising, operations and administration, marketing, and Board relations

• A passion for the arts, knowledge of film, and appreciation for their impact on culture

• Strong business acumen with the ability to effectively interpret financial statements, identify areas of improvement, develop business cases, address problems, and develop forecasts

• Extensive expertise and experience in fundraising principles and best practices. A proven track record in designing and executing successful fundraising campaigns, including all aspects of prospect identification, donor cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship

• An assured public presence and high comfort level with business and community leaders, trustees, and other stakeholders

• Ability and willingness to share responsibility and authority with the Artistic Director

• Excitement for engaging with the local community to understand the full impact of the organization and attending community events on behalf of Montclair Film

• Flexible, adaptable, organized, and nimble to match the culture of the organization; readiness to approach challenges with a growth mindset

• The ability to translate broad vision and new ideas into specific plans, with objectives and results in mind

• Willing to work on a hybrid basis in Montclair, NJ, spending three days a week in the offices