Jobs

Front of House Assistant (Edinburgh International Book Festival)

Apply by 7 May 2026 at 11:59 pm for this full-time, fixed-term role based in Edinburgh.

The Edinburgh International Book Festival is looking for enthusiastic, motivated, and hardworking Front of House Assistants for this year’s festival. Ideally, you’ll have previous experience in a customer-facing role, high standards of presentation and confident communication skills. You will also have the ability to work as part of a large team, problem solve under pressure and a strong attention to detail.

The Edinburgh International Book Festival is a world-leading cultural festival, with democracy, creativity and ideas exchange at its heart. They celebrate the power of words and writing in all of their dynamic and imaginative forms, bringing diverse perspectives together, and empowering their audiences to deepen their understanding of our ever-changing world.

The team:

The Front of House team comprises the Manager, Assistant Manager, Supervisors and Front of House Assistants. They are responsible for looking after our customers on site and ensuring our audiences are seated promptly.

The role:

Front of House Assistants have specific responsibility for:

• Managing queues and seating audiences efficiently to ensure events start on time
• Monitoring venues and public areas to ensure that they are kept clean, tidy, safe and fully stocked with relevant supplies
• Answering customer queries, providing up-to-date information and excellent customer care at all times
• Assisting families with young children and patrons with disabilities around the site
• Assisting in venue set up, including preparation of reserved seating for disabled customers and distribution of materials for children’s workshops and interactive
  events
• Operating roving microphones for question and answer sessions
• Liaising with teachers to check large school groups on and off site
• Monitoring the audience and venues to prevent and detect emergency situations
• Evacuating the public in the event of an incident
• Contributing to Edinburgh International Book Festival’s environmental sustainability work by encouraging visitors to use the on-site recycling facilities

Person specification:

This is an ideal opportunity for individuals who wish to build on their existing customer service skills in a high-pressure festival environment. Excellent customer service and communication skills, enthusiasm, and an ability to work effectively as part of a team are all essential for this role. The successful candidate will possess the following:

Essential

• Previous customer-facing experience, preferably in a large-scale festival or arts environment
• Excellent customer service and confident communication skills
• High standards of presentation, commitment and responsibility
• Attention to detail and ability to problem-solve under pressure
• The ability to work as part of a team
• An enthusiastic personality and a flexible, positive attitude

Desirable

• Experience or an understanding of a live events or festival environment
• Experience of working with children and families

Pay Rate: £13.45 per hour, paid weekly in arrears by bank transfer (plus holiday pay).

Contract: Fixed-term contract from Wednesday 12 August — Sunday 30 August 2026, full-time. In general, staff are required to work an average of 42 hours per week (6 days out of 7), on a shift basis, between Monday and Sunday. Morning shifts can start from 08:00 and evening shifts generally finish at 23:30. Rotas will be issued at the beginning of your contract but may be subject to change. There will be two training days, Wednesday 12 August and Thursday 13 August 2026. Attendance at all training days is compulsory.

Location: This is an on-site role at the Edinburgh International Book Festival site at the Edinburgh Futures Institute, Lauriston Place, Edinburgh.

For more information and to apply, please visit the Edinburgh International Book Festival website.