Director of Community & Strategy

Full Time - Sandpoint, Idaho

Salary Range: $75,000 - $95,000

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

1. 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.

2. 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.

3. 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).

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. 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.

7. 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.