Head of Commercial and Marketing

Salary: £60,000 - £65,000

Dublin International Film Festival is recruiting for a Head of Commercial and Marketing.

Taking place in spring each year, the Dublin International Film Festival (DIFF) is Ireland’s premier film festival event. The festival curates and presents the best in emerging international and Irish film and moving image culture for a wide audience through its flagship annual festival, along with a range of year-round events. DIFF creates landmark experiences for its audiences, filmmakers, actors and industry professionals, and plays a leading role in the Irish film industry.

Celebrating its 21st year, DIFF is now at a key stage of its strategic development (DIFF Strategy 2022-2027.pdf) and has created an exciting new role on its executive team for a Head of Commercial and Marketing. This is a dynamic position for the right individual and will help shape the future of one of the most prestigious and vibrant arts events in Ireland.

About the role

DIFF is seeking a motivated and energetic person to act as the lead in driving its commercial sponsorship efforts and as the key point of contact for its partners and sponsors. You will help the organisation build on its existing, vibrant relationships with its community of funders and sponsors. You will also use this experience to help shape and lead the marketing strategy for the festival.

Previous iterations of DIFF have had a title sponsor, but the organisation now seeks to work with a broader community of supporters, partners, and sponsors, to help reimagine what Dublin International Film Festival is – and can become. And this is where you come in.

Purpose of the role

• There are two core areas of responsibility: pitching and securing sponsorship; delivering same while managing and servicing the relationships with our sponsors and partners (70%); and overseeing marketing (especially strategy and repositioning) throughout the year (30%), with the support of an augmented marketing team during the months around the festival.
• The Head of Commercial and Marketing will source, develop and nurture excellent sponsor and funding partners, relationships and communications. As part of the executive team, you will implement and secure a robust financial base for the company.
• You will work closely with the Executive Festival Director and Festival Manager to deliver a world-class festival experience. Key to this is creating and sustaining positive working relationships with all stakeholders, funders, partners, supporters and suppliers, and the board of directors.

Sponsorship and revenue

DIFF works with a range of public and private sector funding partners. In addition, it has a growing patrons and friends programme.

• You will source, maintain, and develop category and major sponsorships and partnerships.
• As Commercial Lead you will look for new, imaginative and alternative forms of funding and partnership. And you will identify and develop potential revenue sources of growth and development.
• You will be a key point of contact for all sponsors and partners at the highest level and ensure the respective objectives of the festival and sponsors are addressed during the festival and throughout the year.
• You will implement a robust financial management system of sponsorship and partners and ensure that marketing operations deliver on strategic objectives and budgeted targets.

Marketing strategy

• At this critical juncture in DIFF’s development, having committed to its strategic direction, you will help expand and deepen the repositioning of the festival.
• You will work with the marketing team and the Festival Publicist to lead an effective communications strategy for DIFF. You will implement and manage these strategies with the core staff, festival team and contracted suppliers.
• Your role will involve promoting the festival as a key national event and to further enhance the festival’s international reputation.
• You will look for strategic opportunities for growth for the festival.
• You will inspire, shape and lead the marketing team and oversee their recruitment, training and development.

Key responsibilities

• Lead the strategy, research, development, and creation of funding requests for submission to all levels of partners and prospects (individual, corporate, foundations) and manage and service these relationships.
• Develop and implement overall strategies for successful cultivation and solicitation of support from philanthropic donors.
• Monitor funding secured and progress to meet annual goals.
• Provide strategic direction, develop, mentor, and supervise a team of direct reports.
• Work and collaborate closely with other senior revenue generators.
• Build strong working relationships with key internal stakeholders, including programmers and other colleagues.
• Development, management and achievement of annual operating budgets.
• Lead strategy on Planned Giving opportunities, including legacy giving.
• With the Executive team, create and organise initiatives and events driving fundraising and cultivation of corporate support or private individual potential donors.
• Development and administration of departmental/giving policies and procedures to enhance operations and compliance.

Experience required

You will ideally have four years+ experience at senior level in sponsorship and fundraising within the arts, culture or not-for-profit sector. Given the duality of the role, you will ideally also have a background in marketing and/or communications.

What will make you great in this role

• Independent self-starter with strong negotiation skills and high levels of initiative.
• Proven ability to deliver results in a fast-paced, non-profit environment and deliver on ambitious commercial and sponsorship targets.
• CFRE an asset.
• Knowledge of Ireland’s philanthropic community with a track record of success.
• Strong track record of professional relationship-building and aptitude for building the loyalty of members and donors.
• Excellent networking skills, with an ability to act with tact and diplomacy.
• Highly developed communication skills (written, oral, negotiation, coaching, strategic communication planning).
• Ability to manage up and present professionally to large groups, Board of Directors and key stakeholders.
• An excellent, collaborative team player adept at building relationships.
• A creative problem solver with an agile and enthusiastic approach to their role.
• International experience an advantage.
• A passion for film.

More details

The position is offered as a three-year fixed term contract with a six-month probationary period.

The role will be based six months at the festival office in Digital Hub in Dublin (October to March) and working remotely for the remainder of the year.

The office hours are 9.30 – 5.30 Monday to Friday. However, due to nature of a Festival, evening and weekend work (in the run up to and during the festival) forms a natural part of the job. The Festival values and provides flexibility.

How to apply

For the full job description and details of how to apply, visit DIFF’s website.

The closing date for this position is 16/06/2023 at 23:59