Chief Marketing, Brand & Communications Officer

Chief of Marketing Brand & Communications Officer - Careers At Sundance Institute

POSITION OVERVIEW

Sundance Institute seeks a visionary, strategic, and deeply collaborative leader to serve as its Chief of Marketing, Brand & Communications Officer (CMBCO). Serving as a member of the Executive Leadership Team, the CMBCO is responsible for leading the Institute's integrated marketing, communications, brand strategy, public relations, digital marketing, audience development, and creative functions.

As steward of the Sundance Institute and Sundance Film Festival brands, this executive shapes how the Institute is understood and experienced by artists, audiences, donors, partners, media, and the public.

This executive role unites the Institute’s marketing and communications functions under a single strategic umbrella, ensuring coherence, cultural relevance, and authentic storytelling across all organizational touchpoints.

Reporting directly to the Chief Executive Officer, this leader serves as the connective tissue across all departments, from the Festival to Advancement, Artist and Public Programs, and Institutional Strategy, uniting internal and external messaging, brand identity, and community engagement that elevate the Institute’s reputation, strengthen engagement, support fundraising and earned revenue, and expand audiences through a single, authentic voice.

The position is both strategic and hands-on, shaping how Sundance Institute shows up in the world today and well into the future.

This executive leads a high-performing multidisciplinary team responsible for brand, marketing, communications, creative services, digital marketing, social media, public relations, and audience engagement while championing innovation, accessibility, data-informed decision-making, and operational excellence.

This is a full-time, hybrid leadership position.

The Chief Marketing, Brand & Communications Officer must reside within a reasonable commuting distance of one of Sundance Institute's primary locations: Boulder, CO; Los Angeles, CA; or New York City, NY. Regular in-person collaboration is an important component of this role, including participation in executive leadership meetings, organizational planning, artist and donor engagement, and key Institute events.

Significant travel, including extended hours during the Sundance Film Festival and other major Institute programs, is expected.

You will be successful in this role if you...

• Are deeply embedded in the world of storytelling, art, and culture, with a proven track record of strategic vision, campaign excellence, and collaborative leadership.
• See interconnection as strategy, understanding how internal teams, external audiences, and institutional vision must align to create lasting impact.
• Believe that culture is built through language and story, and that institutions can evolve through how they communicate.
• Build accountability and alignment across teams while empowering individuals to do their best work.
• Are as comfortable leading a press briefing or board presentation as you are mentoring a team member or rolling up your sleeves on a campaign.
• Are committed to reducing the organization’s environmental footprint through sustainable marketing practices.
• Want to help Sundance Institute endure, not just through sustainability, but by nurturing soul, voice, and belonging.

Top priorities include but are not limited to...

Brand Stewardship

• Own and evolve Sundance Institute’s brand narrative to ensure cultural resonance, authenticity, and longevity.
• Act as guardian of the Institute’s identity across internal programs and external campaigns, including the Labs, Festival, Development, Community & Belonging, and public programming.
• Unify visual, verbal, and experiential branding across the organization, ensuring each group feels empowered while working toward a shared vision.
• Strategically position Sundance across all platforms and channels, including social media, video, design, print, and the annual report.
• Strengthen the Institute’s commitment to accessibility and environmentally sustainable marketing practices.

Marketing Strategy & Integrated Campaigns

• Develop and execute integrated marketing strategies that expand audiences, increase engagement, strengthen philanthropic participation, and drive earned revenue across all programs.
• Lead digital marketing strategy to expand brand awareness, grow, retain, and cultivate the Institute’s supporter base, and build engagement with key constituents.
• Spearhead storytelling that elevates Sundance Institute alumni, programs, and partners across platforms and communities.
• Oversee creative development including advertising, design, digital content, and campaign execution.
• Collaborate with Corporate Partnerships to support sponsor activations through integrated marketing and storytelling.
• Identify innovative ways to position Sundance Institute as a leader in arts and independent storytelling, leveraging press, partnerships, and cultural moments.

Communications & External Relations

• Serve as the Institute’s chief storyteller and lead ambassador, deepening relationships with industry partners, filmmakers, media, donors, and global audiences.
• Build productive and strategic partnerships and service existing sponsor and partner activities across the organization.
• Oversee high-im Reference: ECNJOBID-66-249-73-129 in the application