Associate Director
Sonoma International Film Festival
Location: Sonoma, California
Position Type: Full-Time, Exempt
Reports To: Executive Director
Salary Range: $110,000–$150,000 annually
Application Deadline: September 1, 2026
Target Start Date: September 15, 2026, or as soon as possible thereafter
About the Role
Sonoma International Film Festival is seeking an experienced, collaborative, and
community-minded Associate Director to help lead fundraising, partnerships, organizational
operations, and festival planning.
Working closely with the Executive Director, the Associate Director will develop new revenue
opportunities, strengthen relationships with donors and sponsors, manage grants, support staff
and volunteers, and help deliver the annual international film festival and year-round programs.
This is an opportunity for a strong nonprofit and arts leader who enjoys building relationships,
developing sustainable funding, managing complex events, and connecting people through film
and cultural exchange.
Key Responsibilities
Fundraising and Development
● Lead fundraising, corporate sponsorship, membership, and donor-development
initiatives.
● Research, write, submit, and manage grant proposals, reports, and compliance
requirements.
● Build and strengthen relationships with corporate sponsors, institutional funders, donors,
and community partners.
● Identify new funding sources and opportunities for revenue growth.
● Build and manage a pipeline of prospective sponsors and funding partners.
● Track fundraising activity and progress toward monthly, quarterly, and annual goals.
● Report on outreach activity, stakeholder meetings, proposals, and confirmed financial
commitments.
Community and Industry Relations
● Build relationships with community leaders, businesses, nonprofit organizations, cultural
institutions, educational partners, and film organizations throughout Sonoma, the Bay
Area, and the broader region.
● Represent the festival at screenings, community events, meetings, and industry
gatherings.
● Serve as a professional ambassador to donors, sponsors, filmmakers, members, and
community partners.
● Support programs and partnerships that promote diversity, equity, inclusion, accessibility,
and meaningful cultural exchange.
Organizational Leadership and Festival Operations
● Partner with the Executive Director to carry out organizational goals, annual plans, and
strategic initiatives.
● Help lead the planning and execution of the annual Sonoma International Film Festival
and year-round programs.
● Oversee box office operations, customer service, venue operations, house management,
VIP experiences, and special events.
● Develop project timelines, master schedules, staffing plans, training procedures,
budgets, and operational workflows.
● Lead and support staff, contractors, interns, and volunteers.
● Clearly communicate goals, responsibilities, timelines, and expectations to internal
teams and external partners.
● Identify operational risks early and develop effective solutions.
● Collaborate across programming, marketing, membership, sponsorship, development,
production, and operations.
● Help create a welcoming and consistent experience for patrons, members, passholders,
filmmakers, volunteers, VIP guests, and community partners.
Financial, Administrative, and Board Support
● Assist with organizational budgets, financial reporting, forecasting, and fiscal planning.
● Track expenses and manage contracts, vendors, and operational costs.
● Help ensure compliance with nonprofit regulations, grant requirements, and
organizational policies.
● Coordinate with staff, consultants, bookkeepers, accountants, and other financial
partners.
● Prepare professional communications, reports, and meeting materials for the Board of
Directors.
● Support board committees with governance responsibilities and organizational initiatives.
Qualifications
● Bachelor's degree in Arts Administration, Film Studies, Nonprofit Management,
Business, or a related field.
● Master's degree preferred.
● At least eight years of progressive management experience within film festivals, arts and
cultural institutions, or large-scale event management.
● Proven success in nonprofit fundraising, institutional grants, corporate sponsorships, and
donor development.
● Experience building and managing sponsorship or fundraising pipelines.
● Demonstrated success setting and achieving fundraising or sponsorship goals.
● Experience managing budgets, complex projects, public events, staff, contractors, and
volunteers.
● Strong understanding of nonprofit governance and board relations.
● Excellent leadership, communication, organization, negotiation, and relationship-building
skills.
● Ability to manage multiple priorities in a collaborative, fast-paced environment.
● Experience developing international cultural relationships, particularly for sponsorship
and grant opportunities.
● Genuine passion for film, the arts, community engagement, and cultural exchange.
● Bilingual or multilingual abilities are a plus.
Work Location and Schedule
This is primarily an on-site position. The Associate Director is expected to work fully on-site
during the first several months. Some hybrid work may be considered in the future, but it is not
guaranteed.
On-site presence is required from January through the conclusion of the festival in March.
The position also requires a flexible schedule, including significant evening and weekend work
during festival season.
Occasional travel may be required for industry events, meetings, and partnership development.
Compensation and Festival Access
● Opportunity to attend Sonoma International Film Festival programs and events as part of
the staff.
● Access to festival experiences, including industry mixers, opening-night events,
filmmaker discussions, and industry Q&As.
How to Apply
Please submit a current resume and cover letter to
In your cover letter, please highlight:
● Your experience developing sponsorship, grant, or fundraising pipelines, including the
goals, approach, and results.
● A complex event or project you led, including how you managed timelines, budgets,
staff, volunteers, external partners, and operational risks.
Applicants should be prepared to discuss both their fundraising achievements and their
experience leading teams and festival operations.
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Carl Spence
Sonoma International Film Festival
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