Summary
Description
At Sundance Institute, we believe in the transformative power of storytelling to inspire, challenge, and connect communities. Since our inception, we have been at the forefront of promoting independent storytellers, providing a platform for emerging artists, and showcasing diverse voices that enrich our shared cultural tapestry. The Director of Colorado Community Outreach and Government Relations is integral in extending our influence, fostering partnerships, and ensuring that we remain an inclusive and impactful presence both locally and beyond.
Working under the General Counsel, and in close collaboration with the Managing Director, Festival and Institute Operations, the Director will lead Sundance Institute’s efforts to engage the Boulder and wider Colorado community. The Director will work across departments to develop and execute strategies to make the Festival and the Institute an active and positive community member and successfully advance opportunities for storytellers in Colorado. The Director will be charged with representing the Institute to forge new partnerships, engage our constituencies and existing partners, develop strategy, and execute on those strategies to strengthen outreach and ties with local communities, stakeholders, and government.
This full-time position is based within a commutable distance to Boulder, CO in order to work onsite in a hybrid capacity throughout the year. The role requires flexibility, including extended hours, evenings, and weekends during peak periods, as well as travel to Institute locations, events, and meetings as needed.
Top priorities include but are not limited to…
- Forging and strengthening relationships between Sundance Institute and local communities, stakeholders, and government constituents.
- Identifying, developing, and nurturing existing and new partnerships with other cultural institutions and community organizations.
- Developing and overseeing Colorado-based community programs and is a liaison to key community groups that engage and uplift various demographic groups LGBTQIA, BIPOC, and other allied organizations.
- Providing inspiring and effective leadership and training to teams involved in community-based outreach events so they are clear on the Institute’s community outreach values and strategy to ensure alignment across events (i.e., Public Programming, Operations, Volunteers, and Film Festival).
- Build and apply a strong understanding of Sundance Institute’s artist programs to support outreach and stakeholder engagement across artist organizations, community, and government constituents.
- Representing Sundance Institute by attending and participating in community events, task-forces, and initiatives to ensure our organization's presence and message remain consistent.
- Collaborating with internal teams to develop strategies and identify opportunities that enhance our community presence, influence, and address challenges to enhance Sundance Institute as a community leader in Colorado.
- Collaborating with the Marketing team to promote community events, partnerships, and initiatives that support audience engagement.
- Supporting Board Relations, and Executive Office with preparing and managing key visitor relations during the Festival as requested.
- Acting as a liaison between the organization, and Colorado lobbyists to build the Institute's annual and short-term state and local government strategy.
- Managing Sundance Institute’s relationship with Colorado lobbyists under the General Counsel’s oversight, including meeting with them on a regular basis, ensuring timely communications to strategize on government matters and advocate for policies and funding opportunities that benefit the Sundance Institute community.
- Leading and overseeing all CO-based Grant proposals and facilitating best practices to earn grants.
- Leading and overseeing the annual Festival Economic Impact Report with our survey vendor to project manage the related budget, meet deadlines, assign deliverables, confirm analysis that aligns with agreed data points to capture impact.
- Collaborating with our survey vendor and the Managing Director, Institute and Festival Operations; and General Counsel to present the Festival Economic Impact Report and key findings to Leadership and key state and local government audiences as necessary.
- Maintaining a strong understanding of the policy landscape, ensuring that the Institute remains compliant and well-positioned to advance its mission.
- Representing Sundance Institute at panels, conferences, and other opportunities that are related to local, state, and federal government entities.
You have the following direct or transferable skill sets:
- 10 years of experience, with a minimum of 5 years in a senior community outreach or government relations role, preferably within a cultural or arts organization.
- Exceptional verbal and written communication skills.
- Ability to build strong relationships while working across the organization in order to drive results.
- Experience in a complex legal and compliance environment.
- Strong consultation, presentation, meeting design, project management, and facilitation skills including public speaking.
- Passionate about cultural arts and its role in community building.
- Bilingual or multilingual abilities are a plus.
- Proven ability to create, compose and edit legal contracts and other written materials or direct experience as a Paralegal preferred.
- Experience with Public Relations, Community Development, Arts Administration, or a related field preferred.
- Legal authorization to work in the United States.
You will be successful in this role if you…
- Strengthen the relationship between the Institute and the local communities, stakeholders, schools, business, and government officials.
- Build a strong community outreach and government relations strategies that identify opportunities that enhance our community presence and influence, while maintaining and building new partnerships that elevate Sundance Institute as a community leader.
- Are a strategic relationship builder, with a deep knowledge and affinity for Colorado, and the greater Boulder/ Denver areas.
- Build a strong internal constituency and can collaborate cross functionally to further embed Sundance Institute into the local communities we serve and expand our reach to new constituencies to advance the work of the Institute.
In addition to an annual salary of $120,000.00 to $140,000.00*, 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.
**Applications open 4/23/2026 and will be accepted for at least one week
