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MEDIA ARTS CENTER DIRECTOR

About the Role

Sisters in Cinema is an organization dedicated to social justice through media arts. We’re seeking a visionary Media Arts Center Director to help shape the trajectory of our organization’s future. The Media Arts Center Director will oversee Sisters in Cinema’s day-to-day operations and serve as the primary decision-maker regarding operational, financial, and Media Arts Center management. This role will report to the CEO. The Director will directly supervise the Program Manager and the Program and Media Arts Center Assistant, in addition to an independent accounting contractor.

The Objectives You Will Meet

Oversee the launch of the Sisters in Cinema Media Arts Center on the South Side of Chicago in the South Shore neighborhood
Develop and implement human resource structures and operational systems needed to ensure the organization’s health, growth, and compliance
Shape the organization’s culture as a team manager and decision-maker
Catalyze and manage organizational change initiatives as the Media Arts Center’s team and onsite program offerings grow

How You Will Meet These Objectives

Leadership:

Contribute to developing and evaluating strategic plans and budgets.
Collaborate with cross-departmental colleagues to align operational practices with Sisters in Cinema’s strategic plan, optimize efficiencies, and support organizational growth.
Ensure direct reports on the Program and Media Arts Center teams clearly understand their roles, know what is expected of them, and can meet their goals.
Motivate the Program and Media Arts Center teams through clear and mission-aligned communication.
Develop and maintain stakeholder, community, and partner relationships.
Ensure compliance with legal and policy standards, working with the CEO and board.

Financial Management:

Manage Media Arts Center finances including budgeting, payroll, A/P, A/R, and reconciliations.
Oversee program budgets and guide staff in budget formulation. Facilitate multi-year budgeting with the CEO.
Lead the annual audit alongside the accounting contractor and external auditor.
Provide monthly budget, cash flow, and performance reports to the CEO, addressing key issues.

Facilities Management:

Serve as the main contact for facilities-related matters.
File and maintain city, state, and federal reports, returns, and licenses for legal compliance. Regularly assess ADA compliance standards and implement reasonable accommodations.

Vendor Engagement:

Maintain positive, productive relationships with Sisters in Cinema vendors, overseeing engagements from proposals and invoicing to impact reporting.
Meticulously analyze, draft, negotiate, and review vendor contracts with legal consultation.
Coordinate external vendors for IT maintenance, repair, and technological advancements.

People and Culture Development:

Plan, lead, develop, coordinate, and implement human resource policies, processes, training, initiatives, and surveys to support the organization’s compliance and strategy needs.
Administer human resource programs including, but not limited to, compensation, benefits, and leave; disciplinary matters; disputes and investigations; performance, talent management, and retention; productivity, recognition, and morale; occupational health and safety; and training and development.
Support staffing and recruiting needs, developing and executing best practices for hiring and onboarding.
Foster an inclusive and vibrant staff that reflects Chicago’s demographic diversity.
Promote collaboration, encourage professional development, and create a supportive work environment among Program and Media Arts Center employees.

Role Roadmap

Your First 30 Days:

In your first 30 days, you will focus on fully onboarding into the organization, as well as developing context and relationships across Sisters in Cinema’s full community. As part of this experience, you will:

Meet with each staff member at least once to learn about their roles and goals
Meet with the Board of Directors to introduce yourself and understand their expectations
Build a strong understanding of all existing internal systems and processes
Develop context on all planned and existing Sisters in Cinema programming
Review the organization’s current strategic plan, theory of change, community guidelines, and other relevant culture and governance-related materials

Your First 60 Days:

In your first 60 days, you will identify opportunities for the Media Arts Center and Program teams to implement day-to-day policies and practices that align with Sisters in Cinema’s strategic plan and support the organization’s future growth. You will:

Build a strong strategic relationship with the Program Manager and the Program and Media Arts Center Assistant through regularly occurring check-in meetings
Collaborate with the CEO to establish and refine facilities, HR, and operational policies and practices that support the organization’s health, compliance, and long-term growth.
Identify opportunities to develop new partnerships and vendor relationships
Evaluate Center utilities to align with Sisters in Cinema’s mission while optimizing cost-effectiveness.
Identify opportunities to innovate and improve financial procedures and processes.

Your First 90 Days:

In your first 90 days, you will begin introducing and refining Sisters in Cinema’s day-to-day operations and facilities practices based on the improvement opportunities you identified during your first 60 days. You will:

Lead the Media Arts Center’s launch in collaboration with the CEO and with support from the Media Arts Center and Program teams.
Introduce facilities guidelines that ensure effective use of Media Arts Center space and utilities.
Implement human resource structures and operational systems needed to ensure the organization’s health, growth, and compliance.

Who You Are

At Sisters in Cinema, we welcome and embrace a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and approaches to work. We also understand the importance of being transparent in our expectations. If you meet the expectations below, we welcome you to apply.

A well-matched candidate will bring the following:

Proven leadership experience with a track record of shaping organizational strategy and driving impactful change.
Comfort with technology and willingness to adapt to new tools. Proficiency in Microsoft Office, Google Suite, and Quickbooks is essential.
Media arts experience is preferred; non-profit arts knowledge is a plus.
Creative mindset to generate innovative solutions and think outside the box.
Commitment to collaborating productively with colleagues, vendors, and the Sisters in Cinema community.
Deep commitment to anti-racist practices and social justice values.
Proven track record of supporting Black women & Black gender nonconforming people in community-engaged work.
Passion for Sisters in Cinema’s mission and initiatives.

Physical Requirements and Work Environment:

Remain in a stationary position/location, often sitting for prolonged periods in an indoor office environment.
Must be able to navigate throughout various offices of the building.
Communicate with others to exchange information and perform duties.
Ability to read materials on a computer screen.
Repeat motions that may include the wrists, hands, and/or fingers.
Moderate noise level consistent with an office environment.
Ideally has a driver’s license and access to a car.

How We Invest in You

Compensation:

We offer competitive compensation ranging from $80,000-$85,000.

Health Insurance:

Sisters in Cinema provides 100% premium coverage of health, dental, vision, and life insurance. All employees are eligible to participate in the Organization’s medical benefit plan, pursuant to the medical benefit plan’s eligibility terms, effective on the first day of employment. The premiums are fully paid for by Sisters in Cinema, except in instances where employee contributions are mandated by the insurance carrier.

Retirement Plan:

Employees are eligible for a 401(k) retirement plan.

Paid Time Off:

Sisters in Cinema recognizes the importance of time off from work. Annually 10 vacation days (15 at the two-year mark) and 5 safe and sick leave days. The office is closed for 10 holidays, in addition to December 24 – December 31. Sisters in Cinema’s offices are closed the week between Christmas and New Year’s so our team can prioritize rest and well-being.

Location:

This position is based in Chicago, IL. All staff are currently working with a hybrid office/remote schedule until the Media Arts Center opens in November. The current office is located at 7140 S Yates Blvd., Chicago, IL 60649. The Media Arts Center is located at 2310 E 75th St, Chicago, IL 60649.

Equal Opportunity

Sisters in Cinema is an at-will and equal-opportunity employer. As such, we strongly encourage and seek applications from all backgrounds, including but not limited to women and gender nonconforming individuals, people of color, bilingual and multicultural individuals, people with working-class backgrounds, people with disabilities, as well as members of the LGBTQIA2S+ community.

Applicants with Disabilities

Reasonable accommodations will be made so that qualified disabled applicants may participate in the process. Please let us know how Sisters in Cinema might be able to meet your accessibility needs in writing at the time of application.

More About Sisters in Cinema

Sisters in Cinema was founded in 1997 as an online resource for and about African American women media makers. Today, we are a Chicago based 501(c)3 non-profit with an inclusive mission to center and celebrate Black girls, women, and gender nonconforming media makers, providing programs designed to educate, raise visibility, and support and serve our communities. We envision a world where all Black girls, women, and gender nonconforming media makers and storytellers have equal opportunities to create and thrive. To learn more, visit: www.sistersincinema.com.

How to Apply

To apply for this position, complete the application linked here in its entirety. In it, we will ask you to upload your cover letter, résumé, and a list of three work-related references who can speak to your qualifications for this position.

Application submissions are rolling until the position is filled. We will begin reviewing applications on September 28, 2023.

Start date: January 2024.

Hiring companies: We will not respond to emails about this position.

Have questions? Send an email to jobs@sistersincinema.com. We check our inbox daily Monday-Friday.

EXECUTIVE AND DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATE

About the Role

The Executive and Development Associate (ED Associate) is a new role at Sisters in Cinema. The ED Associate is an enthusiastic and motivated individual with a passion for administrative excellence and a drive for social justice. This individual’s primary responsibility is to assist the CEO and the Development team in any and all areas of their jobs. If you’re someone who thrives in a dynamic environment and understands the vital role administrative support plays in organizational success, we want to hear from you.

The ED Associate reports to the Chief Executive Officer, works closely with the Development team, and manages the Development & Administrative intern.

This position is full-time, salaried, and based on the south side of Chicago.

The Objectives You Will Meet

As the ED Associate, you will be responsible for assisting the CEO and the Development team by providing a wide range of administrative support focused on development activities including donor and grant management, internal and external communications, and general executive office duties.

Support the Development team’s administrative needs by ensuring the department and all donor systems and procedures run smoothly
Engage with every member of the Development team and facilitate cross-departmental activities, projects, and communication
Assist in ensuring the Executive office runs smoothly
Manage scheduling and logistics for staff meetings
Lead a successful internship program for the Development & Administrative intern each semester/quarter that results in identifiable learning outcomes for the intern
Assist CEO and Development team as needed

How You Will Meet These Objectives

Executive Support:

Schedule appointments and maintain calendars
Organize internal and external meetings using administrative software
Prepare meeting minutes
Assist with management of projects and priority issues
Track project timelines and priority issues
Draft, proofread, and submit correspondence and documents
Maintain various spreadsheets to track budgets, projects, and contacts
Handle correspondence and reports
Maintain electronic and physical filing systems
Coordinate travel arrangements
Continuously improve administrative processes

Development Support:

Support the Development team’s administrative needs
Manage supplies and donor recognition products
Maintain internal donor and grants databases and calendar
Draft, proofread, and submit grant applications
Process contributions and pledges
Generate donor acknowledgment letters
Respond to contribution inquiries
Assist with individual and institutional grant reporting
Oversee grant coordination
Assist with logistics for donor-related events
Prepare for prospect meetings and research prospective donors
Document departmental processes and procedures
Improve Development processes continually

Your First 90 Days

Assist the CEO with all activities related to and resulting from the opening of the Media Arts Center
Assist the Development team with all donor and grant activities related to and resulting from the launch of the Media Arts Center.
Design and manage an internship program that results in identifiable learning outcomes for interns.

Who You Are

Motivated and Organized: You’re highly organized, motivated, and adaptable to changes in our dynamic organization.
Detail-Oriented: You have a keen eye for detail, and you’re able to anticipate potential issues and address them proactively.
Strong Communicator: Whether you’re communicating through emails, phone calls, or collaborative efforts, you are always clear and concise.
Tech-Savvy: Proficiency in Microsoft Office, Google Suite, Calendly, and Zoom scheduling is essential. You’re comfortable with technology and can adapt to new tools.
Flexible and Resilient: You’re ready to pivot and adapt to new challenges and opportunities as our organization evolves.
Team Player: You work well within a team, collaborating effectively with colleagues and supporting their efforts.
Cultural Sensitivity: You have experience fostering diverse and inclusive work environments, and you’re open to continuous learning.

Desired Qualifications:

Familiarity with Sisters in Cinema’s mission and initiatives
Previous experience with non-profits or social justice organizations, including working with databases and donor-communication systems
Professional demeanor, trustworthiness, and discretion
A 3-5 year track record of success in administrative roles
A strong interest in social justice and access
Ability to offer strategic insights and guidance to align tasks with organizational goals to help the CEO stay focused and make informed decisions.

Physical Requirements and Work Environment:

Remain in a stationary position/location, often sitting for prolonged periods in an indoor office environment.
Must be able to navigate throughout various offices of the building.
Communicate with others to exchange information and perform duties.
Ability to read materials on a computer screen.
Repeat motions that may include the wrists, hands, and/or fingers.
Moderate noise level consistent with an office environment.
Ideally has a driver’s license and access to a car.

How We Invest in You

Compensation:

We offer competitive compensation ranging from $45,000 – $50,000.

Health Insurance:

Retirement Plan:

Employees are eligible for a 401(k) retirement plan.

Paid Time Off:

Sisters in Cinema recognizes the importance of time off from work. Annually 10 vacation days (15 at the two-year mark) and 5 safe and sick leave days. The office is closed for 10 holidays, in addition to December 24 – December 31. Sisters in Cinema offices are closed the week between Christmas and New Years so our team can prioritize rest and well-being.

Location:

Equal Opportunity

Sisters in Cinema is an at-will and equal opportunity employer. As such, we strongly encourage and seek applications from all backgrounds, including but not limited to women and gender nonconforming individuals, people of color, bilingual and multicultural individuals, people with working class backgrounds, people with disabilities, as well as members of the LGBTQIA2S+ community.

Applicants with Disabilities

More About Sisters in Cinema

How to Apply

To apply for this position, complete the application linked here in its entirety. In it, we will ask you to upload your cover letter, résumé, and include a list of three work-related references who can speak to your qualifications for this position.

In your cover letter, we invite you to respond to the following prompts:

Why is being Sisters in Cinema’s Executive and Development Associate the next best step for you professionally?
What motivates you to want to join Sisters in Cinema?
Tell us why our vision statement is important to you. (We envision a world where all Black girls, women and gender nonconforming media makers and storytellers have equal opportunities to create and thrive.)

Applications are rolling.

Hiring companies: We will not respond to emails about this position.

Have questions? Send an email to jobs@sistersincinema.com. We check our inbox daily Monday-Friday.