The Executive Director (ED) will oversee all BMFI activities, functions, and operations of the organization. The ED will ensure that all activities, exhibitions, and communications are consistent with the mission of BMFI and are a direct response to its current and future goals and needs. In collaboration with the board of directors and staff, the ED will formulate current and long-range strategic plans and objectives, as well as develop and direct implementation of strategic initiatives.
Organization
Bryn Mawr Film Institute (BMFI) is a thriving nonprofit, member-supported motion picture theater and film education center housed in a beautifully restored Beaux Art building in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania. BMFI is dedicated to promoting shared experiences that entertain, engage, and educate audiences through a diverse range of independent-minded films, a full curriculum of courses, and an extensive program of special events. BMFI builds community through film culture while maintaining strong connections to its historic venue’s cinematic past. Supported by more than 8,800 members, BMFI has one of the country’s largest art house memberships. Nearly all of BMFI’s screenings, courses, and events are open to the public and sell more than 200,000 tickets yearly.
Once called the Seville Theater, BMFI’s home is a 90-year-old historic theater that has been a center of Bryn Mawr community life since it first opened. In 2002, the Seville Theater was in need of major repairs and renovation and on the brink of becoming a health club. That prospect spurred the founding of BMFI. After a robust fundraising campaign, BMFI purchased the building in December 2004 and began an extensive restoration and expansion project. Today the theater complex includes four state-of-the-art theaters, which show archival films in 35 millimeter digital and first-run films in digital formats, with a combined seating capacity of 854, classrooms, community gathering space, a café, and a listing on the National Register of Historic Places.
BMFI screens first-run, independent, international, repertory, and alternative film offerings and nearly 4,000 patrons visit BMFI each week for films, classes, and events. Screenings often include an introduction, Q&A, or discussion with a film professional. Stage on Screen features filmed and live performing arts, such as the National Theatre London, ballet from world-renowned companies, and operas from international venues. BMFI also hosts sold out sing-alongs, kids’ matinees, and screenings tailored to parents with infants to cultivate a new generation of theatergoers. Additionally, the PNC Arts Alive Senior Access Pass makes film programs accessible to the widest possible audience. BMFI also offers Talk Cinema, which provides subscribers a selection of films curated by film critic Harlan Jacobson to preview before the theatrical release. Screenings are followed by discussions led by scholars, critics, and filmmakers. Film celebrities, including Danny DeVito, Emily Blunt, Ben Kingsley, and Robert Osborne, have participated in BMFI’s programming and outreach activities.
Serving more than 1,000 adults per year, BMFI’s educational programs include month-long courses, semester-long seminars on film history, and onetime seminars on a specific film or director. In 2005 BMFI launched the Barrie Ford Film Education program, which presents the See, Hear, Feel Film curriculum developed at the Jacob Burns Film Center to 1,000 third grade students in the Delaware Valley each year. Additionally, BMFI serves junior high, senior high, and college students through a variety of film literacy and appreciation curricula, including the 12-week Summer Filmmaking Workshop at which high school students write, act, film, edit, and exhibit at a BMFI premiere. BMFI also houses the George Rehrauer Collection of film books, a gift from the Haverford School, in its Film Studies Library. This collection of more than 2,000 books is available for loan to BMFI members.
BMFI also provides opportunities to burgeoning filmmakers working to hone their craft. On the first Monday of every month, BMFI holds Open Screen Mondays, a chance for area filmmakers to screen their films and works-in-progress and engage in peer critiques, free of charge. In 2013 BMFI introduced the Silver Screen Inspiration Short Film Contest, inviting filmmakers to submit short films inspired by a select list of classic films. More than 250 filmmakers from around the world submitted work to compete for the four cash prizes.
BMFI is governed by an 18-member board of directors and the staff is comprised of 14 full-time and 17 part-time staff members. BMFI continues to demonstrate outstanding fiscal strength. Its 2015 operating budget was $2.9 million, with 73 percent of revenue from earned activities and 27 percent from contributions. The Executive Director acts as a member of the board of directors and an ex-officio member of all committees, and reports to the board, chaired by Samuel Scott. Founder and Executive Director Juliet J. Goodfriend currently leads the organization and will continue to serve on the board of the next Executive Director.
Community
Located just west of Philadelphia, Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania traces its roots back to a land grant given by King Charles II to William Penn in 1681. The community continued to flourish and grow throughout the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries as farmers established homesteads in the area. As Philadelphia thrived, many businessmen had summer homes in Bryn Mawr. By the end of the 19th century, many of them were living permanently in the community. Bryn Mawr is part of the picturesque and affluent Pennsylvania Main Line communities. Bryn Mawr is known for its strong school system and is home to Bryn Mawr College, a prestigious women’s college founded in 1885. There are seven other higher educational institutions within a few miles of BMFI.
Bryn Mawr offers residents small-town charm combined with convenient access to the big city amenities of Philadelphia. Located on the Pennsylvania Railroad Main Line, which first connected towns in the 19th century, the area now includes some of the wealthiest communities in the country. A hotbed of arts and culture, Philadelphia offers world-class performing and visual arts, including the Philadelphia Orchestra, Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, Philadelphia Museum of Art, Pennsylvania Ballet, The Barnes Foundation, Opera Philadelphia, and countless others. Philadelphia also boasts a world-renowned dining scene, which has been featured recently in Bon Appetit, Food & Wine, The New York Times, The Washington Post, and GQ.
Sources: brynmawrpa.org, livability.com, brynmawr.edu, visitphilly.com
Position
The Executive Director (ED) will oversee all BMFI activities, functions, and operations of the organization. The ED will ensure that all activities, exhibitions, and communications are consistent with the mission of BMFI and are a direct response to its current and future goals and needs. In collaboration with the board of directors and staff, the ED will formulate current and long-range strategic plans and objectives, as well as develop and direct implementation of strategic initiatives.
This individual will be a financially savvy and politically astute leader, comfortable with philanthropic, business, and arts leaders in the region and will have an understanding of retail marketing strategy. The ED will play a key role in raising funds to support the organization’s annual operations and strategic initiatives. In addition, this individual will represent BMFI in relations with key industry executives, local and regional government officials, strategic partners, donors, members, patrons, and the business and non-business communities.
Roles & Responsibilities
Administration
Direct BMFI staff and activities, including programming, exhibition, education, fundraising, and communication.
Review theater attendance and program plans.
Coordinate with film buyer for main attractions.
Convey the mission to staff and collaborate with them to determine annual plans and strategic vision.
Oversee the management of the building, including leases and physical plant.
Build relationships both internally and externally through civic and community development activities.
Attend festivals in order to maintain industry centric focus and relationships.
Team Leadership
Serve as chief spokesperson for BMFI and regularly represent BMFI in a wide variety of interactions involving various constituents.
Supervise and develop the members of the BMFI leadership team who head the various functions of the enterprise, demonstrating commitment to the future development of the senior level staff.
Supervise and oversee Director of Theater Operations and theater staff.
Create and maintain a culture of collaboration and inclusion in order to hire and retain the best talent.
Maintain the efficiencies and efficacies of the BMFI strategic and business models through human resource functions.
Fiscal Management
Manage the resources of BMFI within board approved budget.
Collaborate with Controller to determine yearly budget.
Engage with board and funders to ensure financing to support short and long-term goals.
Coordinate fundraising initiatives with the Director of Development.
Serve as chief spokesperson in securing key contributions or financing from banks, individuals, corporate funders, and foundations.
Board Activities and Governance
Serve on the board of directors and all committees.
Regularly report to the board on financial results, operations, and strategic initiatives.
Interact with board officers and committee chairs and utilize industry best practices to maximize involvement and engagement of every board member.
Traits & Characteristics
As a seasoned manager, the ED will create a sense of teamwork in the staff. This individual will demonstrate intellect, detail orientation, and conceptual thinking in creating an environment of continual learning. While outgoing and an excellent public speaker, the ED will value collaboration and be an excellent listener, soliciting ideas and information from diverse stakeholders. The ED will simultaneously balance return on investment of time and resources and the value of outreach and educational programming.
Other key competencies include the following:
Leadership – Organizes and motivates others in order to achieve extraordinary results through people, collaboration, and artistic excellence.
Customer Focus – Maintains a commitment to the satisfaction of all stakeholders by anticipating customer needs and developing appropriate solutions.
Interpersonal Skills – Builds rapport and demonstrates a sincere interest in others. Effectively communicates and relates well to all kinds of people.
Problem Solving Ability – Identifies and analyzes the root of current obstacles, creating several alternative solutions for a favorable outcome.
Qualifications
A bachelor’s degree from an accredited university or college and previous senior level management experience managing high level teams, budgets, products and/or programs, marketing, and fundraising are required. Qualified candidates will have a demonstrated ability of excellent coalition building skills. A persuasive negotiator, this individual will have an ability to communicate and work effectively with a variety of internal and external stakeholders. Strong written communication and public presentation skills and a finely developed film-centric taste in the arts are expected. Candidates must be able to work nights and weekends on a fairly regular basis.
Compensation & Benefits
Highly competitive compensation, commensurate with experience, and benefits include health care, a savings plan, a simple IRA with company match, and generous paid time off.
Applications & Inquiries
Please submit a letter and resume (electronic submissions preferred) with a summary of demonstrable accomplishments to:
Ms. Pamela A. Pantos
Vice President, Arts Consulting Group
292 Newbury Street, Suite 315
Boston, MA 02115-2801
Tel (888) 234.4236 Ext. 204
Fax (888) 284.6651
Email BMFI@ArtsConsulting.com
Bryn Mawr Film Institute is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to diversity in the workplace.