Executive Director

[SEE THE FULL RECRUITMENT PROFILE - NEWFEST, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR]

ORGANIZATION OVERVIEW:

Based in New York City, NewFest is a vibrant, community-centered nonprofit and one of the world’s leading LGBTQ+ film and media arts organizations. Among its programmatic offerings, NewFest produces the largest queer film festival in the country and is the largest convener of LGBTQ+ audiences in New York City. Its mission is to champion LGBTQ+ stories and storytellers through film and media, creating an inclusive and joyful space where community gathers, industry connects, and creative expression thrives.

Founded in 1988 in direct response to the AIDS crisis, NewFest was born from a grassroots effort to create space for queer stories at a time when LGBTQ+ lives were being stigmatized, marginalized, and erased. Since then, the organization has grown into a vital cultural hub, recognized for its bold curation, year-round programming, and deeply relational approach to audiences and artists.

OPPORTUNITY:

The next Executive Director of NewFest will lead a vital New York City and LGBTQ+ cultural institution at a time of significant momentum and opportunity. Larger, more visible, and more connected than at any point in its history – and with a 40th anniversary approaching in 2028 – NewFest is uniquely positioned to celebrate its remarkable legacy while elevating its profile, deepening relationships with supporters and partners, and building a foundation for continued growth and impact. The Executive Director will inspire and lead a passionate community of staff, volunteers, filmmakers, storytellers, partners, and audiences in service of a mission shaped by both historic purpose and present-day urgency. Against a backdrop of LGBTQ+ rights and visibility facing renewed opposition, NewFest stands as a resilient cultural force—amplifying queer voices, fostering connection, and strengthening solidarity across generations and across LGBTQ+ communities.

POSITION:

The Executive Director serves as NewFest’s chief executive and is responsible for providing strategic, operational, financial, and administrative leadership in support of its mission and long-term sustainability. Working collaboratively with Board and staff, the Executive Director will steward the organization’s overall vision and direction, as informed by its recently completed Strategic Plan. They will have ultimate responsibility for fundraising, financial management, team leadership, and external relations, and for ensuring the success of programs and events.

The Executive Director will function as an ambassador for NewFest’s festivals and programs, cultivating relationships with artists, audiences, donors, sponsors, and community partners to elevate the organization’s public profile and advocate for the people and communities NewFest represents.

RESPONSIBILITIES

[NOTE: It is understood that no single candidate will have equal expertise across all areas of responsibility. Successful candidates will demonstrate a compelling combination of many of them, and the self-awareness and professional maturity to leverage existing or new resources where they lack personal depth.]

Organizational Leadership & Strategy

• Lead, motivate, and inspire a team of committed and passionate professionals to advance NewFest’s mission, vision, and strategic goals;
• In collaboration with the Board of Directors, lead continued implementation of the recently completed Strategic Plan, engaging staff, Board, and partners in its successful execution;
• Work with the Director of Staff & Administration to strengthen organizational structures, systems, policies, and processes in pursuit of operational excellence and future growth;
• Continually assess programs, events, partnerships, and brand positioning to ensure alignment with NewFest’s mission, values, and evolving priorities.

Fundraising & Revenue Generation

• Work with Board and staff leadership to create and implement a comprehensive fundraising strategy – including identifying necessary infrastructure and investments – to meet all revenue and strategic goals and to broaden NewFest’s base of financial support;
• Lead fundraising efforts with a clear vision for diversifying revenue; in particular, growing individual and institutional giving programs to balance NewFest’s historical strength with corporate partners;
• Personally cultivate and steward relationships with funders, sponsors, and partners to ensure immediate and long-term financial sustainability;
• Partner with the Director of Development (when hired) to strengthen fundraising capacity across revenue categories with particular emphasis on building a robust annual and major gift program.

People and Team Management

• With the Director of Staff & Administration, assess and recommend changes to organization structure, reporting lines, roles & responsibilities, and staffing models – as necessary and within budget parameters – with an eye toward maximizing capacity and impact;
• Provide direction, thought partnership, and professional development to the heads of Development, Staff & Administration, Programming, Production/Events, and Marketing/Communications to advance strategic and operational priorities;
• Foster an environment that promotes professional growth and success while maintaining accountability and clarity in roles;
• Help to create and maintain a diverse, collaborative, respectful, and inclusive organizational culture.

Finance & Administrative Management

• Provide transparent fiscal stewardship of NewFest, ensuring appropriate resource utilization and a positive financial position;
• Work with the Director of Staff & Administration and the Board Finance Committee to develop, approve, and manage annual revenue and expense budgets;
• Collaborate with the Executive Committee and Treasurer to ensure NewFest operates within budget, maintaining financial integrity and sustainability;
• Support the Director of Staff & Administration in evolving and improving NewFest’s operations, systems, and workflows across departments.

Programs and Events Leadership

• In partnership with Board and staff, shape and execute strategies to grow and diversify audiences, expand NewFest’s visibility, and support the continued evolution and impact of its festivals and programs;
• Collaborate with and support the Programming and Production teams to ensure success of NewFest’s festivals, events, and year-round programs;
• Work across the organization and with partners to ensure that programs and events are mission-aligned, financially sustainable, and reflective of NewFest’s commitment to LGBTQ+ storytelling and community.

External Affairs, Marketing & Messaging

• As a primary voice and face of NewFest, publicly advocate for the organization’s mission and the artists and communities it represents;
• Build and sustain strategic relationships with key industry players (studios, streamers, distributors, etc.), LGBTQ+ Movement organizations, community partners, and other stakeholders to strengthen NewFest’s reputation, visibility, and reach;
• Lead efforts to tell a cohesive story of NewFest, its programs, and impact, and to refine brand and messaging across platforms.

Board Relations

• Report regularly and transparently to the Board on operational, financial, and programmatic progress and challenges;
• Support the development of a strong, diverse, and engaged Board by identifying and recommending candidates whose backgrounds represent the full diversity of NYC’s LGBTQ+ community;
• Interface between the Board and staff to maintain a communicative, supportive relationship.

DESIRED SKILLS & EXPERIENCE

EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP: Minimum of 10 years of professional experience, including senior management or executive leadership roles (Executive Director/CEO/President, Vice President, Deputy Director, Chief Development Officer, or similar), preferably within a mission-driven nonprofit environment

FUNDRAISING & REVENUE GENERATION: Demonstrated success building and leading comprehensive fundraising programs across revenue streams – individual/annual fund, major donor, corporate, foundation, special event, and in-kind – with particular emphasis on diversifying revenue sources and cultivating long-term relationships

TEAM & ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT: Proven ability to build, mentor, and develop high-performing teams while strengthening systems and structures, and implementing strategies needed to guide organizations through growth and increasing complexity

FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT: Experience with budgeting, financial oversight, and resource allocation in organizations of comparable (or larger) size and complexity, and with similar funding sources

COMMUNICATIONS & EXTERNAL RELATIONS: Exceptional written, verbal, and presentation skills, with the ability to serve as a compelling ambassador and inspire support among diverse audiences and stakeholders

PROJECT & EVENT MANAGEMENT: Experience overseeing complex projects and/or large-scale events, including responsibility for budgets, logistics, operations, and mission alignment

LGBTQ+ CULTURAL COMPETENCY: Seasoned, intersectional understanding of LGBTQ+ and allied social, cultural, political, and equality issues and history of involvement – personally or professionally – in these movements

Benefits include 100% employee-sponsored health, dental, and vision coverage, life and short- and long-term disability insurance, 25 days of paid vacation, unlimited sick and safe leave, paid holidays, access to an EAP, health and flexible spending account options