Operations Director

OPERATIONS DIRECTOR

Frozen River Film Festival (FRFF) is excited to announce the search for a visionary leader to fill our Operations Director role.About FRFF and Winona, MN

Frozen River Film Festival (FRFF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization presenting an annual winter all-documentary film festival and offering year-round opportunities for people of all ages to connect with and through film and filmmaking. Celebrating its 21st anniversary, FRFF aims to present film experiences that inspire curiosity, connection, and community. FRFF is looking for an Operations Director who will help develop the organization’s festival, educational programming, and community building, and contribute to the thriving film and arts culture in the charming river valley community of Winona, MN.

Winona, MN is a micropolitan community on the banks of the Mississippi River, situated on Mni Sota Makoce, the ancestral lands of the Dakota people. Winona is a hub of cultural festivals and experiences, highlighting the community’s love of film, art, music, dance, and theater. Home to Winona State University and St. Mary’s University, this idyllic college town enjoys access to nature and outdoor recreation year-round. Winona is walkable and home to multiple lakes, over 2,200 acres of public parks, and the picturesque bluffs that surround the city. For more information about the Winona arts scene, please visit: https://visitwinona.com/things-to-do/arts-theatre/.

Location & Modality

• Winona, MN

• In person with some exceptions

Application

To apply for this position, please submit apply@frff.org. Application review begins after March 6th, 2026. Please feel free to reach out with any questions.

Compensation

This role is a 1099 contracted position. The total compensation is $38,000 annually (to be paid every two weeks per the existing payment schedule or monthly/quarterly based on negotiation). The expected workload is 30-35 hours per week with heavy work weeks leading up to including the annual winter festival (January of each year). Additionally, there will be some night and weekend work for film screenings and events throughout the year.

Overview

The Operations Director (OD) is one of two (2) contracted staff members at FRFF and handles responsibilities in several areas: Board Governance, Organizational Mission & Strategy, Event Implementation, Financial Reporting, Marketing & Social Media, Grant Writing, Community & Public Relations, and Personnel Management. The OD is the primary stakeholder in delivering our primary programming event – the annual Frozen River Film Festival held in person each winter in Winona, MN.

As the senior most staff member, the OD will oversee all volunteers contractors, assess the work that needs to be completed, and oversee progress of all volunteers & contractors. The OD works with the Board of Directors to ensure the organization is functioning according to its mission statement and goals. The OD also works with the Board and a contracted grant writer to ensure the organization can meet budgetary goals of the organization.

FRFF is in the process of organizational revisioning and just transitioned to a new building, both of which will allow for increased programming opportunities and growth beyond the winter festival. The ideal candidate will be enthusiastic about creating and funding new programs, grant writing, navigating a changing nonprofit landscape, interfacing with vital stakeholders in the Winona and greater filmmaking community, and wearing many hats.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Board Governance (10% Time):

• Prepare a monthly Operations Director report to be shared at monthly board meetings

• Prepare a monthly board meeting agenda template to be used for monthly board meetings

• Work with committee chairs to schedule monthly committee and board meetings, including setting up zoom links

• Serve as point person for FRFF Google account including setting up email addresses, sharing permissions, etc.

• Serve as one of the point people on updating FRFF website

• Attend committee meetings (executive, finance/development, etc. each month)

• Other duties as assigned

• Organizational Mission & Strategy Event Implementation (30% Time):

• Implement programs that carry out the organization’s mission including the following:

• Annual winter festival in person (in Winona, MN)

• Off Season Screenings (TBD based on budget – typically 4 per year)

• Educational Camps for Kids (typically 2-3 weeks each summer)

• Includes the following subcomponents:

o Hiring out or designing the poster

o Hiring out or designing the program

o Developing the ‘block schedule’ of film sets, days, and times with the Programmer Screening Committee Coordinator

o Signing up all volunteers training them for their shifts

o Developing the cue card used for each film set announcement training volunteers/staff/board in its use

o Coordinate set up and tear down of all equipment needed throughout the week – screens, projectors, speakers, audio systems, tabling, box office, merchandise, step & repeat, etc.

• Organize and oversee the planning, development, and implementation of all ‘off season’ screenings

o Set up tables, chairs, merchandize, screens, projectors, box office, etc. for each off-season event

• Other duties as assigned

• Strategic Planning

• Work with Board Staff to ensure that FRFF can successfully fulfill its mission each year

• Assist Board in scheduling and planning annual Board Retreat (typically in August)

• Assist the Board with any materials needed for the Board Retreat (paper pads, pencils, markers, laptops, snacks, beverages, etc.)

• Implement Mission, Vision, and Strategy statements into public facing materials

• Assist in the development of boiler plate documents to be used in granting opportunities including needs, outcomes, and organization capacity

• Work with OD MFD (Marketing & Finance Director) to identify which grant opportunities should fund which events throughout the year

• Other duties as assigned

• Financial Management Reporting (plus Bookkeeping, Payroll, & Taxes) (20% Time):

• Prepare a monthly Finance Director Report to be shared at monthly board meetings

• Prepare the monthly finance reporting documents – Cash Flow, Dashboard, etc.

• Maintain a monthly balance sheet for all accounts – checking, savings, and credit card

• Create quarterly financial projections for the board to review

• Attend finance/development committee meeting and full board meeting each month

• Pay all FRFF bills each month and prepare/run payrolls for all contractors and employees

• Other duties as assigned

• Pay all FRFF bills each month

• Run payrolls for all contractors and employees

• Prepare annual 990 form for submission to accounting firm

• Pay any required local, state, or federal taxes

• Other duties as assigned

• Marketing & Social Media (5% Time):

• Organize and oversee the planning, development, and implementation of the social media campaigns to support film screenings throughout the year

o Direct work of Marketing Associates and/or Interns in posting to social media

o Develop posting schedule for social media to ensure continuous engagement with our audience

o Develop strategies to grow social media channels

o Organize and oversee installation of posters delivery of programs in December/January ahead of the winter festival

• Other duties as assigned

• Grant Writing: (20% Time):

• Organize and oversee the planning, writing, and submission of all grant opportunities throughout the year including the following subcomponents:

o Closely adhere to grant guidelines for each individual submission

o Develop narratives for grant opportunities including multiple revisions if needed

o Follow Grant Schedule to ensure Grant submissions are developed with enough lead time for board and Grant Writer contractor feedback

o Coordinate feedback from Grant Writer contractor (Marcie)

o Plan to align potential grant funds with programming throughout the year (I.E. which grants support which programs)

• Other duties as assigned

• Community Public Relations Duties (5% Time):

• Establish and Maintain relationships with other festivals and film arts organizations

o Including researching, identifying, & communicating with other film festivals in the state of MN, setting up opportunities for leadership of other festivals to attend FRFF, and attending other film festivals in the state (if possible) for relationship and network building

• Establish and Maintain partnerships with other aligned organizations

o Including identifying collaborative opportunities, proposing partnerships to the Board, and budgeting said opportunities

• Responsible for the enhancement of FRFF’s image by being active and professionally visible in the community

• Work closely with other professional, civic, and private organizations to develop partnerships & collaborations that strengthen the Winona arts community

• Other duties as assigned

• Personnel Management (10% Time):

• Oversees all staffing of the annual winter festival including venue managers, box office personnel, Technical Director, and venue Technicians

• Oversees recruitment and training of all volunteers for both the winter festival and all off season screening events

• Works with AD and MFD to recruit and hire interns for both the fall & spring semesters as well as summer period

• Handles all contractor Letters of Agreement (LOA) year-round including creating and executing contracts that are approved by the Board

• Other duties as assigned

• Potential Yearly Division of Labor:

o The Operations Director spends most of the fall and winter focused on executing the annual winter festival. Post festival, the Operations Director reconciles the festival and prepares the next fiscal year budget (fiscal year starts 5/1). The Operations Director spends most of the summer early fall laying the groundwork for the next winter’s festival – meeting with community members, soliciting feedback on the festival experience, scheduling off-season events to stay relevant in the community, and working on grants.

• September – February:

• Board Governance - 5%

• Mission & Strategy – 5%

• Event Implementation - 30%

• Financial Management – 10%

• Marketing social media – 10%

• Grant Writing – 5%

• Community Public Relations - 10%

• Personnel Management - 25%

• March - August:

• Board Governance - 5%

• Mission & Strategy – 10%

• Event Implementation - 10%

• Financial Management – 20%

• Marketing social media – 5%

• Grant Writing – 25%

• Community Public Relations - 20%

• Personnel Management - 5%

Preferred Qualifications

• 2 years nonprofit management

• 2 years fund development and donor stewardship experience (fundraising)

• 2 years of personnel management experience

• 2 years event management experience

• Background in budget creation and management

• Understanding of marketing and strategic planning

• Grant writing and reporting experience

Required Qualifications

• Strong written and verbal skills

• Must have own transportation

• Must be able to lift 30 lbs.

• Cooperative collaborator

Skills

• Attention to detail

• Self-motivated and self-starter

• Consistent follow-through and accountability

• Project management

• Interpersonal communication

• Multi-tasking

• Creative & critical thinking

• Consensus building

• Personnel management and conflict resolution

• Public speaking

• Creative problem-solving

Benefits

• Flexible schedule

• Flexible workspace

• 8 paid days off – holidays

Pay: $38,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Flexible schedule
• Paid time off

Work Location: In person

Salary : $38,000