Executive Director

Executive Director

Montclair Film, headquartered in Montclair, New Jersey, seeks an Executive Director to shepherd the organization through its next chapter of achievement and impact.

Responsibilities

• 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.

• Partner with the Director of Development in creating, executing, and reporting on the annual strategic fundraising plan, including 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.
• Collaborate with the Sponsorship Manager to create and implement the menu of festival and year‑round benefits for all sponsors.
• Support the needs of sponsors and other donors, engaging and collaborating with the Artistic Director to create relevant programming.

• 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 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.

• 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.

• 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 businesses and organizations, in order to both serve the community and benefit from neighborly relationships.
• Represent Montclair Film at community and partnership events.

• 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.

• 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.
• 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

• Proven experience in a leadership position of a non‑profit, preferably with 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, with a proven track record in designing and executing successful fundraising campaigns.
• 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.

Compensation

The salary for this position is $125,000–150,000. Montclair Film provides comprehensive benefits, including medical insurance with a substantial employer contribution; the opportunity to participate in a 401(k) plan after a preliminary work period; paid time off; and parking. Employees contribute to their health insurance coverage and can purchase dental, vision, and life insurance through Montclair Film.

EEO Statement

Montclair Film is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment. Montclair Film prohibits discrimination on all legally protected characteristics. Montclair Film expects that all employees shall be treated equally without regard to these characteristics. All terms and conditions of employment, including promotion, demotion, recruiting, layoff, termination, training, and rates of pay, will be administered without regard to any protected characteristic.

Application Instructions

To apply, visit the online application and submit your materials. Your cover letter should include any training or experience relevant to the job profile, why you consider yourself a good fit, and anything else you’d like us to know about your qualifications. Applications will be accepted until this role is filled. We encourage you to apply by April 28, 2025, for priority consideration.