Overview
The Festival HQ & Lounge Manager is a twofold role, responsible for the design, build out, and management of both the hospitality lounges and staff working spaces during the SFFILM Festival, supported by the HQ & Lounge team. For the 2022 Festival, this will mean managing hospitality activity at SFFILM’s year round office space as well as additional satellite venues, with this role responsible for the creation of a welcoming aesthetic at both, ensuring smooth operations for all festival staff and guests, and serving as a primary liaison to venue partners. The role will also manage temporary staff office spaces for the duration of the Festival, including establishing a primary Festival HQ at SFFILM’s year round office along with satellite offices spaces at additional venues where needed.

The HQ & Lounge Manager will work closely with the Health and Safety Coordinator to ensure all hospitality and office spaces are adhering to COVID-19 safety protocols. This team will also work with the Director of Operations to ensure all spaces are accessible to patrons with a variety of accommodation needs. The SFFILM Festival often creates partnerships with new hospitality venues each festival, so the Festival HQ & Lounge Manager is expected to be flexible and nimble in shifting priorities and plans, especially in 2022 when we will be monitoring evolving guidelines and practices around COVID-19 policies leading up to the festival.

This is a full-time temporary role from February 21 – May 13, at an hourly rate. This role has the expectation of some overtime required pre-festival, with overtime hours increasing during the SFFILM Festival (April 21 – May 1).

Covid-19 Safety: Seasonal staff at the 2022 SFFILM Festival may be required to engage in public-facing roles and thus are required to provide proof of vaccination for employment. 

Remote Work Accommodation: Seasonal staff are expected to be based in the Bay Area, however if your contract begins before March 1, 2022, SFFILM may be able to accommodate fully remote work prior to that date. Remote work policies are subject to change based on city and state recommendations around COVID-19 safety.

Responsibilities
Create an effective design plan for each hospitality and office space, coordinating closely with the Office Manager and SFFILM Makers/Filmhouse team to establish functional spaces in the year-round SFFILM offices
Manage an Assistant Manager and Coordinator, as well as HQ & Lounge volunteers
Work closely with the Director of Operations and Festival Operations Manager on all pre-Festival planning, scheduling, and contracts for the external Festival Lounge and satellite venue offices, including securing any necessary licenses and permits 
Work with the Development department to procure food and beverage donations for Festival HQ and Lounge, and to fulfill sponsorship contracts in those spaces, including managing deliveries, leading activations, and programming sponsored events
Program and operationally plan for public and badge-holder events and entertainment in Lounge spaces such as mixers, receptions, and panels – all in line with the Festival’s Health and Safety plan
Work with Tech and Media Manager on AV equipment needs, load in, and load out, including tech staffing when necessary
Work with Communications and other teams as needed to ensure HQ and Lounge information is properly disseminated to the public as needed, including accessibility information and communication of COVID-19 safety protocols
Work with multiple departments to manage and communicate a schedule of Festival Lounge events, including private receptions when applicable
Act as host for festival guests, maintaining clean, well-stocked hospitality spaces
Manage the Festival Lounge bar when necessary, including tracking inventory and staffing volunteer bartenders 
Procure, build out, and maintain satellite venue offices with the essential equipment on-site staff need to operate efficiently (printers, WiFi, tables, etc.), 
Work with all departments to ensure office functions are being met, including incorporating potential Green Room, Press Line, and COVID-19 testing spaces into planning layouts at according venues
Work closely with the Director of Operations and others on accessibility at all venues
Act as office manager for temporary office spaces, clearly communicating policies and procedures to staff, and maintaining clean, well-stocked office spaces through organizing inventory
Procure all furniture and décor for Festival HQ, Lounges, and all satellite office spaces
Work with the Production Manager to project manage the movement of furniture, product, equipment, and supplies to temporary venues throughout the Festival 
Work with the Production Manager to schedule Production Assistant support in the HQ and offices as needed
Manage physical set-up and breakdown of these spaces, including delivery, return, and payment of all rented furniture and equipment
Manage budgets and maintain thorough tracking of all expenses incurred during the festival
Create a written wrap-report and summary of all necessary timeline info, including a summary of outreach timing to sponsors and artists regarding programming events and decor acquisition
Qualifications
Excellent communication and customer service skills
Experience managing a team, with strong ability to delegate 
Experience designing, physically producing, and managing functional and welcoming public spaces on a tight budget, including the programming and planning of events.
Experience with project management, scheduling, and organization systems like Excel 
Excellent decision-making and creative problem-solving skills
Ability to juggle multiple tasks and deadlines across several Festival spaces while maintaining high quality of work and a positive attitude 
Experience navigating events in a COVID-19 landscape, flexibly pivoting operational plans and logistics to meet evolving Health and Safety standards
At ease interacting with people with vastly different backgrounds and roles
Comfortable with the heavy lifting and labor inherent in loading in and out festival sites
Comfort in Photoshop, Visio, PowerPoint/Keynote a plus
Familiarity with Bay Area event venues, artists, and performers a plus
Familiarity with permitting and licenses in the Bay Area a plus 
SFFILM is proud to be part of a wider film festival circuit and shares many seasonal staff with other festivals. We have been paying close attention to conversations and feedback from film festival staff directly and via social media. We have created policies and practices that address these concerns including increasing hourly rates and providing overtime, abiding by a Code of Conduct since 2018, and creating more flexible remote work policies to prioritize staff health and safety during COVID-19.

SFFILM is deeply committed to Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, and Inclusion (DEAI) in both its internal management and external programming. Since 2018, the organization has actively been working in collaboration with two Advisory Boards focused on accessibility and inclusivity and officially began work with a DEI consultant in 2019 to further invest in and build on that work. Candidates are invited to discuss their interest and involvement in DEAI practices in their cover letter, and ask us more about our DEAI process in their interview.

SFFILM, in accordance with federal and state law, is an equal-opportunity employer. SFFILM does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, pregnancy/childbirth, medical condition, disability, age, ancestry, marital status, citizenship or veteran status. This nondiscrimination policy covers all candidates, staff members, interns, and volunteers.