Manager, Communications

This is a Full Time Job

POSITION OVERVIEW

The Manager, Communications is responsible for developing highly creative, effective, and visible media relations and publicity campaigns, maintaining regular communication with media and internal stakeholders, and working as the lead media relations liaison to assigned programs.

The position is output-intensive and results-driven, encompassing year-round strategic publicity alongside interdepartmental communications. This role will play a crucial role in publicizing the Sundance Institute, including Sundance Film Festival, and will be responsible for annually hiring, training, and managing the seasonal Festival Press Office employees.

Working directly under the Institute's Director, Communications, and with a dotted line of collaboration to the CCO, the Manager also supports departmental communications and spearheads process implementation. This position is full-time and will be based in the greater Los Angeles, CA area with regular opportunities for remote work. This role will be required to work extended hours, including evenings and weekends, at key points throughout the year. Occasional travel to other Institute offices and events will also be required.

Top priorities include but are not limited to…
• Managing all media communications for assigned programs, including researching and gathering information, drafting media materials, and creating and executing a strategy to engage targeted outlets and writers.
• Training and management of an expanded seasonal team for the Festival employees and overseeing Festival Press Office operations, including leading up to and on-site at the Festival.
• Creating and refining systems for the operations of the press team alongside and in collaboration with other departments with interdependencies.
• Crafting storytelling across film, television, tech, and related areas of focus through various mediums.
• Leading Utah media relations, managing press relationships and creating strategies around local, year-round programs and initiatives.
• Writing, editing, and managing press releases, media alerts, tip sheets, and other announcement materials.
• Creating and pursuing media opportunities on behalf of the breadth of programs that empower historically underrepresented storytellers, the Festival, and additional areas throughout the year.
• Building and leveraging strong relationships with press and influencers to ensure inclusion around artist programs and industry trend pieces to help build the profile of the Sundance Institute.
• Routing and responding to requests for information, materials, and interviews.
• Working collaboratively with colleagues in marketing and social media to develop thorough communication plans and to coordinate announcements.
• Managing department operations and organizing information, including functions and processes.
• Developing international media relationships for executives and key employees for relevant opportunities to help broaden the global awareness of the organization.
• Staying well informed on industry trends in the film, festival, nonprofit, and entertainment landscape and updating internal teams as applicable.
• Developing systems for and reporting coverage results and metrics, along with regular data analysis, to program leads and leadership.

You have the following direct or transferable skill sets:
• Legal authorization to work in the United States.
• 5 years of experience in increasingly responsible positions within communications, publicity, public relations, or media relations.
• Strong leadership skills with a background that includes demonstrated excellence in managing employees.
• Excellent interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills to build strong relationships and work across the organization in order to drive results.
• Solid consultation, organizational, presentation, meeting design, and facilitation skills.
• Ability to maintain discretion and confidentiality, understanding the implications their actions will have on the organization.
• Experience within a comparable arts, culture, or film organization preferred.
• Experience in film festival press office management or related preferred.

You will be successful in this role if you...
• Demonstrate a proactive approach to building media relations, developing strategies for visibility of programs, and securing press.
• Deliver your projects on time and with excellence in execution.
• Enjoy and possess strong writing and editing skills.
• Effectively manage and motivate those you are leading, rallying the team around common goals.
• Communicate clearly with internal and external stakeholders of varying levels and positions.
• Bring expertise in media relations and execute successful PR campaigns.

In addition to an annual salary of $62,400-70,000*, this position is eligible for our comprehensive benefits package, highlights include:
• Health, vision, and dental insurance
• 25 paid Institute holidays plus accrued vacation time
• Paid sick, family, and medical leave
• Employee Wellness initiatives
• 401(k) with automatic 3% employer contribution after one year of employment
• Sundance Film Festival passes and benefits (varies each year)

*Final rate of pay is determined based on the applicant's geographic location, relevant experience and skills, and internal equity among similar positions within our organization.