Executive Director

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. Together, these leaders face the opportunities of further growth for the organization, as Montclair Film continues to build upon its esteemed reputation across the national film festival circuit and sustains its impact on the local cultural and civic community it inhabits in northern New Jersey. At the same time, they are entrusted with leading a staff and Board, as they both strengthen the organization’s operations, and remain committed to the organization’s strong familial, inclusive, and generous values.

The Executive Director oversees the organization’s Managing Director, Director of Development, Education Director, and collaborates with the Artistic Director on the supervision of the Director of Marketing and the Community/Volunteer Coordinator. Through that oversight, they are charged with developing key performance indicators, establishing and implementing strategy, and building capacity to achieve Montclair Film’s operational, artistic, community, and fundraising goals. They will be skilled in laying the groundwork for plans, communicating objectives to both the Board and the staff, and overseeing the steps needed to accomplish goals. Throughout their duties and responsibilities listed below, they will need to continue to develop and engage diverse audiences, expand revenue sources, and build on the national recognition of Montclair Film.

Compensation

The salary for this position is $125,000-150,000. Montclair Film provides comprehensive benefits, including providing access to 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.

Montclair Film’s offices are located at 505 Bloomfield Avenue in Downtown Montclair. Team members generally work onsite in the office three days of the week.

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 including, but not limited to, age, ancestry, race, color, disability, military or veteran status, marital status, civil union status, domestic partnership status, genetic characteristic, national origin, religion, creed, gender, gender identity or expression, sex, pregnancy, witnesses to or victims of crime, or any other consideration made unlawful by federal, state, or local law “collectively, “Protected Characteristics” and will provide reasonable accommodation where appropriate and required by law. Montclair Film expects that all employees shall be treated equally without regard to these characteristics.

All terms and conditions of employment, including, but not limited to promotion, demotion, recruiting, layoff, termination, training, and rates of pay will be administered without regard to any of the Protected Characteristics listed above or any other category protected by law.

Requirements

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 Montclair Film’s 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.

Application Instructions

The Executive Director search is being conducted on behalf of Montclair Film by Tom O’Connor Consulting Group, a New York-based executive search and consulting firm specializing in the arts and culture industries. The search is being led by Search Consultant Brenna Thomas, in consultation with VP, Organizational Strategy Edie Demas, and with support from the TOCG search team.

To apply, visit the online application (https://tinyurl.com/wy79pkw5) and submit your materials. Your cover letter should include any training or experience relevant to the job profile that you would like to highlight, why you consider yourself a good fit for this opportunity, and anything else you’d like Montclair Film to know about your qualifications that may not be present in your resume.

Applications will be accepted until this role is filled. Montclair Film encourage you to apply by April 28, 2025, for priority consideration. Interviews may begin at any time, and they encourage you to apply as early as possible for best consideration. Please note that applying before the priority deadline does not guarantee an interview, and all applicants will receive a response regarding the consideration and status of their candidacy. No phone calls, please.

Not sure you meet 100% of Montclair Film’s qualifications? Research shows that cis men apply for jobs when they fulfill an average of 60% of the criteria, while others tend only to apply if they meet every requirement. If you believe that you could excel in this role, they encourage you to apply.

Montclair Film is dedicated to considering a broad array of candidates, including those with diverse workplace experiences and backgrounds. So, whether you’re returning to work after a gap in employment, simply looking to transition, or taking the next step in your career path, Montclair Film will be glad to have you on their radar.