Jobs

Festival Manager (Nairn Book and Arts Festival)

Apply by Friday 5 May at 17:00 for this part-time, freelance position based in Nairn.

Nairn Book and Arts Festival is an annual celebration of the arts, deeply embedded in their community, with a reputation for producing a unique and innovative programme of cultural events, giving a platform to authors, musicians, artists and performers from across Scotland and the wider UK, while nurturing the local creative community. Now in its 23rd year, the Festival is seeking an experienced Festival Manager to deliver the 2026 festival (29th August – 6th September) and take this highly regarded, popular, and well-loved annual event forward into 2027.

Your role is to ensure delivery of this year’s festival programme (already in place) and work towards the delivery of the 2027 programme.

This role is a multi-faceted one with the following expectations:

• To deliver the 2026 programme of events, which is already confirmed subject to some minor adjustment.
• To line-manage the Festival Assistant (p/t) and Digital Content Assistant (p/t, 16 weeks May to September)
• To manage the working festival budget
• Deliver the target-driven marketing/sales strategy
• Oversee ticket allocations and monitor and report on sales to the Board on a weekly basis
• To liaise with artists, artist managers, venues and technicians as required to ensure smooth delivery of events
• To oversee the volunteer team and the associated timetable in liaison with the Festival Assistant
• To apply for and obtain all relevant licenses and permissions from Highland Council pertaining to outdoor festival events
• Complete/ oversee completion of risk assessments as appropriate
• Organise fundraising events such as stands at community events
• Submit post-event reports to funders in a timely fashion
• To be an ambassador for the festival at all times, nurturing key partnerships and sponsors, maintaining strong relationships with Highland Council, BID, local businesses and audiences

Remuneration: £8,250

Working Hours: Estimated working hours 21/week. Working hours are flexible with evening and weekend work during festival period plus attendance at Committee and Board meetings (evenings).

Contract: Freelance, part-time contract. 6 months initially from start date, with the potential to extend for a further year to programme and run the 2027 Festival

Location: Working from home but with regular meetings in Nairn and the absolute necessity of attending fundraising events and being onsite for the weeks leading up to, during and immediately following the festival. Own transport and clean driving license essential.

For more information and to apply, please visit the Nairn Book and Arts Festival