Overview

About the Role

We are seeking a highly organized, versatile and enthusiastic Festival Manager to lead the operational delivery of our upcoming literary festival. Reporting to the Board of Directors while also working closely with the Artistic Director, you will be the “team captain” of logistics, ensuring that our celebration of books and ideas runs seamlessly for authors, audiences and partners alike. Applicants must have a valid Ontario driver’s license and their own personal transportation as Eden Mills is not located on transit routes.

Key Responsibilities
●       Operations & Logistics: Manage all festival operations and periodic events, including site layouts, equipment rentals, hospitality and accessibility.

●       Rentals: Administer bookings for festival headquarters (Rivermead building in Eden Mills) by handling inquiries and tours, overseeing contract compliance (including legal permits) and monitoring all financial transactions from deposits to refunds.

●       Team Leadership: Recruit, train and supervise 3-4 short-term staff and a large team of volunteers.

●       Financial Management: Track the festival budget, manage invoices and ensure financial goals are met.

●       Stakeholder Engagement Support: Act as a key point of contact for sponsors, vendors and community partners.

●       Data Collection: Set up systems to collect agreed upon metrics in order to track Key Performance Indicators.

●       Reporting: Report monthly on project milestones, sales and spending actuals vs budget targets. Present festival weekend run of show overview, post-festival debriefing and final board report, including impact report, including KPIs, for stakeholders.

●       Artist Relations: Coordinate travel, accommodations and on-site hospitality for guest authors and speakers.

●       Marketing Support: Collaborate with the team to execute promotional campaigns for all festival events and Rivermead rentals and oversee the production of the festival program.

●       Writing Contests: Organize children, teen and adult writing contests with guidance from the team.

●       On-Site Execution: Oversee the “live” festival period, solving problems on the fly and ensuring a top-quality experience for all attendees.

Qualifications & Skills
●       Experience: 3-5+ years in event management or arts administration, preferably within the cultural or literary sector.

●       Organizational Mastery: Exceptional project management skills and a self-starter with the ability to juggle multiple tasks within tight timeframes.

●       Communication: Strong written and verbal skills; ability to negotiate contracts and maintain diplomatic relationships with diverse stakeholders.

●       Technical Savvy: Proficiency in Microsoft Office/Google Workspace and familiarity with event management or ticketing software (e.g., Zeffy), Square and Mifi.

●       Problem-Solving: A “calm under fire” attitude with the ability to make decisive judgements during high-pressure events.

●       Passion: A genuine love for literature and a commitment to creating inclusive, accessible community event spaces.

Compensation

Position Type: 8-month Contract (May to December 2026) Compensation: $34,000 - $39,000. Workload will fluctuate from month to month and will peak from June through September.

How to Apply

Please submit a cover letter and resume (maximum 4 pages) detailing your interest in the position along with your relevant experience to info@emwf.ca and with the subject line "Festival Manager Application – [Your Name]". We appreciate the time and effort each applicant puts into their submission and are grateful for your interest, however, only those selected to move forward in the process will be contacted. Application Deadline: April 15, 2026