Program Director

The Redford Center; San Francisco (CA); Hybrid; USD 122,000 - 128,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible schedule

Generous paid time off

Health, dental, and vision insurance

403(b) retirement plan with employer contribution

Job summary

An environmental nonprofit organization in San Francisco is seeking a Program Director to lead strategic development and oversee program implementation. The ideal candidate has over 5 years of filmmaking experience and proven leadership. This full-time position offers a flexible schedule, generous benefits, and a hybrid work environment.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of filmmaking experience related to production or the film industry.
• 4+ years managing internal teams with coaching and leadership experience.
• 3+ years of impact campaign experience.
• Experience with grant making and community engagement.

Responsibilities

• Lead the strategic development and implementation of programmatic work.
• Manage and support a high-performing internal program team.
• Oversee program operations, budgets, and reporting.

Skills

Filmmaking experience

Leadership

Strategic thinking

Collaboration

Communication skills

Organizational skills

Job description

The Redford Center is seeking a strategic and operationally minded Program Director to join our team! Based in the Bay Area, this person will oversee program strategy, team leadership, and partnerships while advancing our mission to drive environmental progress through powerful storytelling.

Job Type: Full Time, Exempt

Compensation: $122,000-$128,000 DOE

Schedule: Monday‑Friday 9am – 5pm

Location: San Francisco (Presidio), CA Hybrid

About the Position

The Program Director will lead the strategic development, implementation, and evaluation of The Redford Center's programmatic work. This role requires a strong background in impact filmmaking, a commitment to environmental progress, and proven leadership in department and people management. As a senior leader, this individual will shape and oversee a portfolio of programs that advance the organization's impact, theory of change, and mission.

What You’ll Do

Strategic Leadership & Organizational Alignment

• Serve as a senior leader contributing to overall strategy, planning, and decision‑making.
• Lead and evolve programmatic vision, priorities, and systems to ensure alignment with strategic goals and drive organizational impact.
• Collaborate across departments to advance integrated strategies and strengthen organizational culture.

Program Design, Management & Evaluation

• Oversee the development, execution, and evaluation of strategic programs, campaigns, events, and creative projects.
• Oversee program operations, budgets, and reporting with support from program and finance staff.
• Ensure effective implementation, equity, and accountability in all program activities.
• Oversee and manage the programmatic engagement of the advisory board.

Team Leadership & Development

• Manage and support a high‑performing internal program team.
• Foster an inclusive, equitable, and collaborative work environment.
• Oversee performance management, professional development, and equitable workload distribution across all internal staff.

Partnerships & Field Leadership

• Represent The Redford Center with partners, funders, filmmakers, and sector leaders.
• Build and maintain strategic partnerships within the filmmaking and impact fields.
• Lead public engagement efforts, including events, panels, and capacity‑building initiatives.

Communications & Development Collaboration

• Collaborate with the Communications team to create content and strategies that amplify program impact, and share out learnings and leadership.
• Support fundraising efforts by contributing to proposals, reports, and relationship‑building with funders.

You’ll be a great fit if:

• 5+ years of filmmaking experience related to production, producing, the film industry, or artist development.
• 4+ years managing permanent internal teams with demonstrated coaching, leadership and performance management experience.
• 3+ years of impact campaign experience.
• 2+ years of experience working in an office setting.
• Experience with grant making, community engagement, fiscal sponsorships and partnerships.
• Strong operations experience.
• Background and interest in environmental solutions and progress preferred.

You are:

• A strategic thinker who can see the big picture and translate vision into action.
• A collaborative leader who thrives on building strong and inclusive teams.
• A builder who enjoys creating new systems, improving processes, and scaling impact.
• Highly organized and reliable, with the ability to manage complex projects and shifting priorities.
• A strong communicator who understands storytelling, relationship‑building, and public engagement.
• Adaptive and resilient, ready to problem‑solve and lead in dynamic environments.
• Passionate about film as a tool for culture change and deeply committed to environmental progress.
• Community‑oriented, valuing partnerships and diverse perspectives to strengthen impact.

All candidates must:

• Work legally in the United States and maintain proper work authorization throughout employment.
• Currently live in the California Bay Area.
• Able to assist with events, which includes lifting up to 35 lbs.
• Work occasional evenings, and weekends.
• Ability to successfully pass a background check for all candidates who receive a contingent offer.

Benefits

We offer a flexible schedule and an excellent benefits package, including generous paid time off, a $100 monthly phone/internet stipend, $500 per year toward professional development, 100% coverage of employees' health benefits, 50% coverage for dependents, dental and vision insurance, and participation in a 403(b) retirement plan with an employer contribution of 3% after six months.

About Redford Center

Cofounded in 2005 by activists and filmmakers Robert Redford and James Redford, The Redford Center is a nonprofit organization that advances environmental solutions through the power of stories that move. We believe that environmental films are some of the most effective tools we have to shift culture, build empathy, support frontline communities, and move people into action. As one of the only U.S.‑based nonprofits solely dedicated to environmental impact filmmaking, The Redford Center develops and invests in projects that foster action and strengthen the reach of the grassroots efforts driving the environmental movement.

Equal Employment Opportunity Policy

We are an equal opportunity employer and welcome diversity in the workplace. Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records. We strive for equity, diversity, and inclusion and prioritize these values in our organization, programming, and employment practices. We are committed to building a team that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, cultures, skills, and experiences, knowing that the more inclusive we are, the more successful we will be. We are an equal opportunity employer and Black, Indigenous, People of Color, and LGBTQ+ candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.