Operations Director Job Description

Operations Director
Frozen River Film Festival (FRFF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization presenting an annual winter documentary film festival and offering year‑round opportunities for people of all ages to connect through film and filmmaking.

Celebrating its 21st anniversary, FRFF aims to present film experiences that inspire curiosity, connection, and community. The organization is looking for an Operations Director to help develop the festival, educational programming, and community building, and contribute to the thriving film and arts culture in Winona, MN.

About Winona, MN
Winona is a micropolitan community on the banks of the Mississippi River, situated on Mni Sota Makoce, the ancestral lands of the Dakota people. It 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 college town enjoys access to nature and outdoor recreation year‑round.

Location & Modality

In person with some exceptions

Application
To apply, send a cover letter and resume to

apply@frff.org . Application review begins after April 1 2026. The position will remain posted until filled.

Compensation
This is a 1099 contracted position with an annual compensation of $38,000, paid every two weeks or monthly/quarterly per negotiation. The expected workload is 30–35 hours per week with heavier weeks leading up to and during the annual winter festival (January). Additional night and weekend work for film screenings and events may be required.

Overview
The Operations Director (OD) is one of two 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 the annual Frozen River Film Festival and oversees volunteers and contractors, works with the Board to ensure alignment with mission, and collaborates with a grant writer to meet budgetary goals.

Duties & Responsibilities

Prepare a monthly Operations Director report for board meetings

Prepare a monthly board meeting agenda template

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 email address setup

Assist in updating the FRFF website

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

Organize and oversee the planning, development, and implementation of:

The annual winter festival in Winona, MN

Off‑season screenings (typically 4 per year)

Educational camps for children (typically 2–3 weeks each summer)

For the winter festival:

Hire or design posters and programs

Develop the block schedule of film sets, days, and times with the Programmer and Screening Committee Coordinator

Recruit and train volunteers for shifts

Create and train volunteers, staff, and board members on cue cards for film set announcements

Coordinate setup and teardown of equipment (screens, projectors, speakers, audio systems, tables, box office, merchandise, etc.)

Organize and oversee planning and implementation of off‑season screenings, including setting up tables, chairs, merchandise, screens, projectors, and box office

Assist the Board in scheduling and planning the annual Board Retreat (typically August) and provide needed materials

Implement mission, vision, and strategy statements in public‑facing materials

Assist in developing boilerplate documents for grant opportunities, including needs, outcomes, and organization capacity statements

Work with the Marketing & Finance Director to align grant opportunities with events throughout the year

Prepare a monthly Finance Director report for board meetings

Prepare monthly finance reporting documents (cash flow, dashboard, etc.)

Maintain monthly balance sheet for all accounts and create quarterly financial projections

Attend finance/development committee meetings and full board meetings each month

Pay all FRFF bills monthly and manage payroll for contractors and employees

Prepare annual Form 990 for accounting firm and pay required local, state, or federal taxes

Organize and oversee social media campaigns to support film screenings:

Direct work of marketing associates and/or interns in posting to social media

Develop a posting schedule to ensure continuous engagement

Develop strategies to grow social media channels

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

Organize and oversee the planning, writing, and submission of all grant opportunities throughout the year:

Adhere to grant guidelines for each submission

Develop narratives with multiple revisions as needed

Follow grant schedule to ensure timely submissions with board and grant writer feedback

Coordinate feedback from grant writer contractor (Marcie)

Plan alignment of potential grant funds with programming throughout the year

Other duties as assigned

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