Salary: USD 75000.00 - 95000.00 annually

Category: Marketing/PR/Social/Events

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
• Organizational Strategy & Long-Term Planning
• Lead the creation, implementation, and ongoing updates of the Festival’s strategic plans.
• Guide long-range planning efforts in collaboration with fellow Directors and board leadership.
• Track progress on major initiatives, maintain timelines, and help ensure strategic momentum across departments.
• Lead long-term organizational sustainability by strengthening systems, partnerships, and strategic frameworks that advance FAS’s mission and future impact.
• Community & Partner Engagement
• Build and maintain strong relationships with city, county, and state partners, arts organizations, civic leaders, funders, and community stakeholders.
• Serve as a visible and trusted ambassador for FAS at community meetings, public forums, and partner gatherings.
• Strengthen year-round visibility, credibility, and community trust through consistent relationship-building and engagement.
• Monitor relevant policy or legislative issues and support appropriate outreach.
• Fundraising, Sponsorships & Strategic Partnerships
• Lead high-level sponsor and donor cultivation and major partnership development.
• Collaborate with development staff and contractors to align fundraising strategy with organizational goals.
• Oversee stewardship of top-level donors, sponsors, funders, and institutional partners.
• Support fundraising initiatives and capital campaigns at a strategic level (with day-to-day execution led by development staff or contractors).
• Marketing, Brand & Audience Leadership
• Oversee marketing strategy and budget to ensure alignment with strategic and audience development goals.
• Review and approve high-level messaging, branding, and public-facing communications.
• Ensure consistency and clarity in how FAS presents itself publicly.
• External Communication & Public Relations
• Serve as a public spokesperson alongside the Board Chair and other designated leaders.
• Support communication during sensitive issues, community conversations, or major announcements.
• Ensure proactive, values-aligned messaging to key stakeholders and the public.
• Board & Leadership Collaboration
• Serve as the primary staff liaison to the Board Chair for strategy, engagement, and external affairs.
• Partner with senior leadership to align strategy, budgets, programming, and operations.
• Support board engagement, onboarding, and external advocacy efforts.
• Help foster a culture of philanthropy within the organization and broader community.
• Team Leadership & Organizational Culture
• Model collaborative decision-making and shared accountability across departments.
• Maintain clear and effective cross-department communication.
• Support the development of a stable, healthy, and transparent leadership 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.
**To Apply: **Please email your resume and cover letter to president@festivalatsandpoint.com. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.