Director of Community & Strategy

About the Festival at Sandpoint

The Festival at Sandpoint (FAS) is a historic non-profit arts organization best known for its Summer Concert Series, presenting world-class artists in rural North Idaho. Beyond our signature performances, FAS is committed to music education and community enrichment, offering year-round programming that is free and accessible. Looking to the future, FAS is focused on long-term sustainability by expanding facilities and programming and strengthening its educational initiatives.

Position Overview

The Festival at Sandpoint seeks a strategic, collaborative, and externally focused Director of Community & Strategy to help guide the organization into its next chapter. This senior leadership role provides high-level oversight of organizational strategy, community and partner engagement, fundraising alignment, marketing and brand leadership, and public communications.

Working closely with the Board Chair, Director-Level Leadership Team, and staff, the Director advances long-term strategic priorities, supports effective board governance, and serves as a key public representative of the Festival. While this role is not the organization’s sole or final decision-maker, it plays a central role in shaping direction, aligning teams, strengthening community and partner relationships, and modeling collaborative leadership that supports a healthy organizational culture and long-term success.

The Festival at Sandpoint operates under a shared Director-Level Leadership Model, in which senior leaders steward the organization collectively through collaboration, transparency, and clearly defined areas of responsibility. The Director of Community & Strategy serves as an equal partner within this model.

What We Offer

We believe in the power of music to bring people together, enrich our community, and inspire creativity year-round. Our team is passionate about producing unforgettable concert experiences and supporting free music education and community programs for all ages, year-round.

We value collaboration, innovation, and a shared commitment to excellence, both on stage and behind the scenes. Working at the Festival at Sandpoint means joining a small but mighty team dedicated to making a big impact in our community.

Our benefits are designed to support a balanced, fulfilling life and reflect the value we place on our team.

When you work full-time, year-round for the Festival at Sandpoint, you’ll enjoy:

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance 
• Simple IRA with matching contributions
• Paid time off
• Holiday pay
• Life insurance
• Hybrid work options
• Discounted Festival merchandise
• Reserved concert seating and complimentary tickets
• Professional development and career advancement opportunities

The Festival at Sandpoint is an equal-opportunity employer. Pre-employment background screening may be required for certain roles.

Key Responsibilities
Provide strategic leadership for the Festival by developing, implementing, and continuously refining long-term organizational plans. Guide cross-departmental planning efforts, track major initiatives, and ensure sustained momentum toward mission-driven goals and long-term sustainability.

Serve as a visible ambassador and trusted relationship-builder with city, county, and state partners, arts organizations, civic leaders, funders, sponsors, and community stakeholders. Strengthen year-round visibility and credibility, monitor relevant policy developments, and support appropriate external engagement.

Lead high-level fundraising strategy, major donor and sponsor cultivation, and strategic partnership development. Collaborate with development staff and contractors to align fundraising efforts with organizational priorities, and oversee stewardship of key institutional funders and top-tier supporters. Support capital campaigns and major initiatives at a strategic level.

Oversee marketing strategy and budget to ensure alignment with audience growth and brand positioning goals. Review and approve high-level messaging and public-facing communications to ensure clarity, consistency, and values alignment.

Serve as a public spokesperson alongside board leadership, supporting proactive communication and issue management when needed. Act as primary staff liaison to the Board Chair on matters of strategy and external affairs, and partner with senior leadership to align programming, operations, and budgets with long-term goals.

Model collaborative leadership, strengthen cross-department communication, and help cultivate a transparent, accountable, and mission-centered organizational culture.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent professional experience.
• High-level strategic thinking and planning skills, with the ability to articulate and advance an organization’s long-term vision.
• Strong ability to analyze information, identify challenges, and develop effective, practical solutions.
• Proven organizational skills, including planning, prioritizing, delegating, and managing multiple initiatives.
• Demonstrated success in building and maintaining relationships with funders, sponsors, partner organizations, and community stakeholders.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, including public speaking.
• Ability to represent an organization’s mission clearly and compellingly to diverse audiences.
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to build respectful, cooperative working relationships.
• High integrity, transparency, and accountability.
• Ability to manage time effectively and remain productive in a fast-paced, evolving environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in arts, culture, nonprofit, or community-based organizations.
• Demonstrated experience working effectively with a Board of Directors.
• Minimum of three (3) years of management or senior leadership experience.
• Familiarity with sponsorships, fundraising partnerships, or donor stewardship.
  Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office (Outlook, Excel, Word).
• Valid state driver’s license, access to a vehicle for work-related use, and proof of insurance.
• Ability to qualify for and maintain an organizational credit card.

Work Environment

This role is primarily office-based in Sandpoint, ID, with some flexibility for hybrid remote work. On-site presence is required for key meetings, donor visits, and FAS events. Occasional evenings and weekends are expected, particularly during the performance season.

See full job description at https://www.festivalatsandpoint.com/careers