POSITION OVERVIEW

The Director, Production and Operations leads the development, planning, and implementation of production operations for the Sundance Film Festival. Working collaboratively with the Festival Director and Head of Public Programming, this position’s main function is to operationalize the artistic vision of the Festival by leading the Operations team to ensure audience and artist experience is smooth and efficient. The Director will also lead operations for other Institute events and community programs, while working across functions to support Institute labs and workshops. This role is both strategic and operational and directly manages six employees.

Working closely under the Chief Operating Officer, the Director, Production and Operations will lead teams to prepare and execute a wide-range of production elements for the Festival and collaborate with the Director, Program and Guest Operations to successfully manage operations across all annual programs.

Following the 2026 Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah, this role will need to be based within a commutable distance to Boulder, CO, as the Festival prepares to relocate for its 2027 iteration. The role requires extended hours, including evenings and weekends, with ample opportunities to work from home. Travel to other Institute events will be required.

Top priorities include but are not limited to…

• Strategizing and planning operations, logistics, management, and production elements associated with official Institute Festival venues, theaters, Festival temporary office setups and moves, as well as warehouses, storage units, inventory control and transportation logistics.

• Scheduling and conducting meetings with internal departments to set goals, plan procurement, and manage the load-in and out of Festival venues, theaters, offices, and other locations, ensuring effective communication across departments.

• Serving as Institute lead with Local City and Municipal officials on Festival operation plans, signage approvals, permits, and with working to obtain approval from City Council for the annual Festival Supplemental Plan that provides the overall permit to allow the Sundance Film Festival to occur for the year.

• Leading and facilitating negotiations and contract renewals for Festival venues working closely with the COO and Legal team to finalize and execute.

• Developing, managing, and ensuring adherence to timelines, policies, and procedures related to venues across multiple stakeholders.

• With guidance from the Festival Director, working to create and implement annual plans for improving audience experience, including look and feel of Festival venues.

• Working in collaboration with the Director, Program and Guest Operations to strategize on year-round production scheduling and related resource allocation.

• Managing employees including selecting and training highly effective employees, providing direction, feedback, mentoring, and support to ensure they feel empowered and effective in their roles.

• Working closely with department leadership to build and manage Festival budget strategy; purview may extend to budgets outside of Festival.

• Managing the annual Festival Operations and Production budget and keeping assigned Festival budget managers accountable for completing budgets on time and at budget.

• Overseeing project schedules with production vendors and official and in-kind providers that provide tents, equipment rentals, shuttles, parking lot attendants, and vehicles.

• Cultivating ongoing relationships with State and Local officials, external constituents, partners and vendors, etc. to ensure timely communication and professional working relationships.

• Developing operational plans that directly support the Institutes strategic goals over the next 3-5 years, while using data to identify trends, pain points, and opportunities and inform strategic plans.

• Optimizing cross-departmental collaboration, creating ways to break down operational silos between departments and ensure alignment across the organization.

• Working closely with finance to ensure that operational budgets are being used efficiently and in alignment with broader business goals and create ways that maximize resources for the best return on investment.

• Developing key performance indicators (KPIs) that tie directly to the business's financial goals while regularly assessing operational performance against these metrics to ensure that operations contribute to the bottom line.

• Focusing on how operational improvements can lead to better customer outcomes, seeking to fully understand customer pain points and ensure that the operational strategy supports a seamless and exceptional customer experience, which will lead to better retention and growth.

You have the following direct or transferable skill sets:

• 10 years of progressive leadership experience in managing large-scale Festival event operations, or related.

• Strong leadership skills with a background that includes managing and mentoring a large team of employees across different functions and locations.

• Strong project management skills with experience in organizing, planning, and executing large-scale projects from design phase through to implementation.

• Excellent interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills to communicate effectively, understanding the implications their actions will have on the organization.

• Ability to collaborate effectively and affect change by applying best practices.

• Experience managing a large budget and with contract negotiation.

• Ability to maneuver through complex political situations effectively.

• Valid driver's license and ability to successfully pass MVR check.

• Legal authorization to work in the United States.

You will be successful in this role if you...

• Operationalize the Director, Sundance Film Festival and Public Programming‘s vision of the annual Sundance Film Festival by working and communicating effectively across the Institute.

• Build and mentor a team that works collaboratively to produce successful and efficient event production operations that meet the goals of the organization’s program activities.

• Drive clear communications between programs, departments, and external constituents.

• Successfully managing the Production and Operations budgets throughout the year, interfacing with the Institute Financial Planning and Analysis team.

In addition to an annual salary of $120,000.00 to 140,000.00*, 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.