C.S. Lewis Festival – Executive Director
Part-time, Year-round
Petoskey, Michigan
Reports to:
C.S. Lewis Festival Board. Direct Report to Board President.
Position Summary:
The Executive Director is responsible for overseeing the overall strategic direction of the annual festival. The position requires year-round work to plan and implement the festival weekend and to manage the operations of the organization. The Executive Director will serve as the leader of the organization with a focus on festival success.
The festival is typically three days in September, with additional events occurring in the weeks leading up to and after the September festival. Average 10-20 hours per month, with a highly flexible schedule. Festival weekend requires full-time attendance.
Key Responsibilities:
● Oversee all operations of the C.S. Lewis Festival: artistic, literary, and administrative functions.
● Oversee the marketing and promotion of the festival in collaboration with the Assistant Director.
● Work in a collaborative setting with contracted specialists.
● Innovate and introduce new program offerings year-round for the festival to enhance audience engagement and diversify content.
● Lead festival planning sessions and work collaboratively with the Board to develop and implement strategic plans for the organization’s growth and direction.
● Plan, manage, and monitor the festival’s budget.
● Manage the financial responsibilities, including accounts payable/receivable, banking, financial reporting, and filing required documents and reports.
● Lead and oversee fundraising activities, ensuring funds are raised to support the festival’s operations.
● Ensure the quality of all festival collaborations and events.
● Foster and maintain relationships with stakeholders, donors, and partners.
● Represent the C.S. Lewis Festival to the public and media in alignment with Board policies.
● Drive collaborations with community groups (e.g., public schools, colleges, churches, arts organizations.)
● Regularly report to the Board of Directors on all festival affairs, including key performance metrics that reflect the organization’s goals.
● Direct, inspire, and assess the volunteers, ensuring adherence to Board policies.
● Ensure organizational adherence to all legal, financial, regulatory, and internal governance and compliance requirements.
● Continuously evaluate and improve the organization’s processes, activities, and initiatives based on data, feedback, and best practices.
Skills and Competencies:
● Strong strategic planning and organizational skills.
● Proven experience in fundraising and securing sponsorships.
● Exceptional communication skills, both written and verbal.
● Proven leadership capabilities.
● Experience in guiding and motivating volunteers.
● Openness to deepening understanding of C.S. Lewis.
● Ability to form mission-driven collaborations.
● Commitment to continuous improvement.
● Highly self-motivated with the ability to work independently and take initiative.
Qualifications:
BA Degree or higher in a related field or the equivalent work experience. Prior experience in a nonprofit setting is preferred but not required.
Compensation:
This is a salaried position commensurate with experience.
About the C.S. Lewis Festival:
The C.S. Lewis Festival’s (CSLF) mission is to provide an enriching cultural experience that explores the life and work of C.S. Lewis through collaborations with the arts, education, and faith communities. Founded in Petoskey in 2003, CSLF achieves its mission through a months-long, award-winning collaboration across several humanities disciplines between schools, libraries, music and theater groups, arts programs, businesses, and religious fellowships in Northern Michigan. Since inception, over 22,000 have attended numerous events, seminars, and performances featuring renowned scholars, authors, and speakers.
C.S. Lewis is recognized as one of the most influential Christian writers of the modern era. He authored more than 40 books that have sold in excess of 200 millions copies. His beloved classic, The Chronicles of Narnia, is the most popular children’s fantasy series of the 20th century. Netflix is in production on Narnia movies, with the first two features being directed by Greta Gerwig.
Applications accepted through June 2, 2025
To apply, email a resume and cover letter to cslfdirector@gmail.com.
The cover letter should be addressed to: Elizabeth Ahrens, Consultant