POSITION OVERVIEW

The Associate Director, Partnerships Marketing leads corporate partnership marketing efforts across the Institute, overseeing pre- and post-sale support for all corporate partner relationships, including activations at the Festival. This role manages a team of direct and indirect reports and works in close collaboration with the sales team to ensure revenue goals are met.

Working closely under the Director of Partnerships, this role is responsible for supporting the cultivation and retention of long-term partnerships with leading global organizations and brands that align with Sundance Institute’s mission. The Associate Director supports the department’s goal of $12-13 million dollars in contributed and earned revenue, representing 25% of the Institute’s total revenue, and plays a key role in driving continued revenue growth.

This full-time position may work remotely from within a state of operation until the Festival relocates for its 2027 iteration, at which point the role will be based within a commutable distance to Boulder, CO. This full-time role requires extended hours, including evenings and weekends, with ample opportunities to work from home. Travel to other Institute events, including Park City, UT, will be required.

Top priorities include but are not limited to…

• Leading a team that delivers thoughtful project management, proactive communication, excellent execution and exceptional customer support to ensure partner satisfaction.

• Overseeing the research, prospecting, solicitation, renewal, negotiation, and execution of contracts for corporate relationships tied to Festival and year-round artist programs.

• Managing the department’s budgets and the annual fundraising portfolio of cash revenue and donated in-kind goods and services that offset Festival budgets.

• Collaborating with Festival programming, operations, and external relations to build viable and creative sponsorship opportunities and overseeing the creation of effective pitch materials.

• Managing a team of employees, including selecting and training highly effective individuals, delegating appropriate and meaningful work while providing direction, feedback, and support to ensure employees understand responsibilities and are effective in their roles.

• Managing, maintaining, and cultivating corporate relationships tied to Festival and artist programs to ensure renewal of support.

• Developing lasting, trusted, and strategic relationships with new and established partners, local businesses, and venues as needed.

• Supporting proposal writing and developing innovative, custom activation ideas for target sponsors.

• Contributing to ideation and packaging of new business opportunities, especially in emerging markets such as Boulder and Denver, through market research and trend analysis.

• Developing timelines and resource planning for custom proposals, tracking cross-team inputs and managing internal deadlines in support of the sales cycle.

• Leading cross-functional collaboration with internal stakeholders to vet feasibility of sponsor activations and obtain alignment before proposals are finalized.

You have the following direct or transferable skill sets:

• 8 years experience in partnership marketing, corporate partnership marketing in the media world, or corporate development fundraising, with expertise in leading event activations.

• Excellent leadership skills with a background that includes demonstrated excellence managing employees.

• Experience in working with large corporations’ marketing and agency teams.

• Extensive contract negotiation experience.

• Ability to express a clear and compelling value proposition to potential corporate partners.

• Strong presentation and relationship-building skills, with the ability to build and maintain successful relationships with donors and colleagues from various backgrounds in order to achieve results.

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

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

• Legal authorization to work in the United States.

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

• Lead teams in successfully supporting our corporate partners achieving their objectives, ensuring long term relationships with them.

• Partner with the sales team effectively to achieve the department’s revenue growth objectives.

• Collaborate across the organization to strategically develop new opportunities that can be sold to partners.

• Utilize your experience activating large-scale events.

• Inspire, support, and help mentor direct reports.

In addition to an annual salary of $100,000.00 to $120,000.00*, 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.