Festival Manager Vacancy
This role represents an excellent opportunity to play a key management role in one of the UK’s most successful and fast-growing classical music festivals. The ideal candidate will be enthusiastic, resourceful and organised, able to manage a team and build good working relationships with the festival’s many stakeholders. They will establish a stable and effective presence at the heart of the festival, ensuring operational excellence and contributing at many different levels.
Job Profile
The role reports to the Artistic Director, who has overall responsibility for the festival’s strategy, programming and operations. Key responsibilities include:
Team
- Working closely with the Artistic Director to ensure all aspects of the festival’s activities run smoothly and professionally
- Line managing the Festival Assistant, Assistant Treasurer, Box Office Manager, Membership Secretary and seasonal freelance staff
- Working closely and collaboratively with the festival’s many volunteers, nurturing the goodwill that is a key component of the festival’s success
Festival Office
- Overall responsibility for the efficient running of the festival office and Box Office
- Managing the contracting of all artists and venues, and sustaining positive working relationships with all supporters and suppliers
- Overseeing budgeting and financial management
- Managing of office software, databases and the festival website
- Ensuring compliance with statutory reporting requirements in relation to Companies House and the Charity Commission
- Maintaining and implementing the festival’s policies, ensuring appropriate standards
Events
- Working closely with the Artistic Director and seasonal freelance staff to manage the planning, implementation and logistics of all festival events
- Ensuring effective team presence and management responsibility at all festival events
- Coordinating artist liaison, transport, accommodation and hospitality
Marketing and Communications
- Overseeing the festival’s annual marketing, advertising and PR campaigns
- Coordinating publications and communications relating to the festival’s subscribers
- Maintaining and developing positive and beneficial relationships with the festival’s many donors, sponsors and supporters-in-kind
Funding
- Working closely with the Artistic Director and Chairman to support fundraising, including developing an annual schedule of applications to Charitable Trusts and Foundations
- Overseeing the festival’s annual drive to secure advertising revenue, meeting core targets
Person specification
Essential
- A team player with excellent interpersonal skills
- Good written and verbal communication
- Excellent organisational skills, attention to detail and the ability to prioritise workload
- Ability to manage a team
- Office, IT and budget management skills
- Enthusiasm for the festival and its aims
- Current driving licence
Desirable
- SAGE literate
- Arts or charitable sector experience
- Management experience
- Marketing experience
- Love of classical music
Salary
- This is a permanent position for either four or five days per week, but also flexible and responsive to the seasonal demands of the festival.
- The salary will be commensurate with experience but is expected to be in the range £33,000 – £38,000 FTE, with NEST pension.
- Holiday entitlement is up to 30 days per annum (including Bank Holidays)
- The role is based at the festival’s office in Pickering, with flexibility for a mix of part-office/part-home working each week once established in the role.
How to Apply
- Please submit a CV and covering letter to recruitment@ryedalefestival.com
- The deadline for applications is 21st December 2023
- First interviews will be held by video call on 4th and 5th January 2024. Final interviews will be held before the end of January at the festival offices in Pickering, N Yorkshire.
- The Ryedale Festival is an inclusive employer and warmly welcomes and encourages applications from people from all backgrounds and experiences.
- If you have a disability, please indicate in your application whether you need any specific assistance or adjustments to enable you to be interviewed if invited.