Festival Director

Kingston WritersFest seeks a Festival Director to lead and grow one of Canada’s finest literary festivals. Launched in 2009, Kingston WritersFest has a reputation for exciting programs and an intimate, inclusive atmosphere. Our charitable, not-for-profit organization is based in Kingston, a heritage-rich city on the north shore of Lake Ontario long celebrated for its dynamic arts scene and strong sense of community.

Position Summary

Reporting to the Board of Directors, the Festival Director is an inspiring leader who brings a powerful artistic vision to Kingston WritersFest’s (KWF) annual flagship literary festival and related off-season events. They are responsible for all aspects of the festival, including administrative oversight and production. The Festival Director works diligently to implement goals set by the Board of Directors in the Strategic Plan. They manage staff and volunteers and sustain the KWF’s financial resilience. They plan, develop and deliver innovative, high-quality literary arts programs and communications that cultivate participation and build the KWF’s contributions to cultural life throughout and beyond the region.

Duties and Responsibilities

Artistic Leadership: Programs

• Develops the vision and theme for the annual festival, its branding and menu of events, and ensures the integrity of program implementation and evaluation
• Drives growth in program impact through effective outreach, innovation, and strategic partnerships
• Researches and sustains expertise in and awareness of forthcoming publications and literary program innovations, selects author presenters and instructors, and develops and schedules events in collaboration with staff and the volunteer team
• Invites authors and negotiates travel and accommodation, creates and/or approves event/author materials for program notes, website and social media platforms; and oversees author hospitality
• Selects and prepares moderators, interviewers, and hosts; and performs as host and moderator as required

Operations

• Fosters teamwork and recruits and manages a mix of contract and volunteer staff, ensuring consistency of tone, vision, and professionalism in all their work, while cultivating volunteer appreciation and retention
• Develops event production to meet technical and staffing needs, arranges catering, and designs logistical flows and wayfinding for optimal audience and author experiences
• Hires and oversees contractors, implementing Board human resources policies and procedures including the development of job descriptions for contract staff and performance management.
• Identifies, evaluates, and manages risks to KWF staff, Board, and volunteers, property, finances, goodwill, and reputation, and implements measures to mitigate risks
• Ensures high standards of record-keeping to support operational continuity and integrity

Finance and fundraising

• Works closely with the Board, the Treasurer, and the Finance and Audit Committee to develop and present the annual KWF budget and budget projections. Prepares regular updates regarding budgetary goals and realities, tracking variances and adapting plans to sustain financial health
• Develops and implements annual fundraising plans and strategies to meet targets, pursuing revenue through a strategic mix of ticket sales, creative partnerships and sponsorships, philanthropic gifts, and public-sector grants at national, provincial and municipal levels
• Ensures effective stewardship of donors, sponsors and granting agencies, including timely completion of reports
• Negotiates and evaluates agreements with funders
• Tracks and responds to changing policies and priorities of funders and/or potential funders

Communications

• Represents the organization and acts as spokesperson for the KWFs artistic purpose and presence in speaking engagements, media interviews, public and social appearances, fundraising events and solicitations
• Conducts official correspondence regarding festival matters on behalf of the Board of Directors and jointly as required
• Cultivates positive working relationships with media representatives, publishers, government agencies, educators, sector partners, peer festivals, and other relevant organizations
• Develops KWF identity branding and oversees creative design and communications for effective audience development, ensuring all missives reflect the vision of the festival, and oversees marketing, publicity, and advertising for consistency and professionalism

Board Relations:

• Attends all Board and Standing Committee meetings as an ex-officio, non-voting member of the Board of Directors
• Collaborates with the Board to ensure all KWF corporate, regulatory and fiscal responsibilities are met, and that Board policies and procedures are followed throughout the organization
• Informs the Board of program plans, changes in the sector, and emerging risks and opportunities
• Works with the Board to develop, implement and periodically update the KWF Strategic Plan, and develops an annual operational plan to meet strategic goals, reporting on progress quarterly

Job Requirements

1. Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in arts management/administration or a related field, or a combination of relevant degrees and post-degree training and experience
• Three to five years’ successful work experience, including artistic program development and production, budgetary and human resources management
• Non-profit/arts sector experience preferred

2. Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English
• In-depth knowledge of the literary sector in Canada supported by awareness of emerging trends and global contexts
• Demonstrated success in creative literary program design and delivery, and related grant-writing
• Strong time management and priority management skills
• Confident, engaging public-presentation skills
• Ability to inspire, motivate, and encourage others
• Superior interpersonal skills to work effectively with diverse contacts
• Excellent planning and coordination skills
• Astute financial management skills, and experience with budget development and management
• Successful fundraising experience
• Proven ability to manage conflict effectively
• Demonstrated ability to develop creative solutions to emerging challenges
• Awareness of and sensitivity to cultural diversity, with knowledge of equity, diversity and inclusion issues and dynamics
• Strong computer-use skills, with capability in Word, Dropbox, and Excel

3. Level of Direction Received

• The Festival Director’s performance management flows through the Board Chair, or in their absence, the Vice-Chair.
• Reporting to the Board of Directors, the incumbent must comply with the organization’s policies and procedures and consult with the Board regarding decisions that may have significant impact on the organization.

4. Contact

Within the organization:

• Supervises other employees, and contracts skilled service providers
• Supervises the volunteer Coordinators who comprise the “Festival Team”
• Works with the Board of Directors

Outside the organization:

• Writers and publishers
• Other arts, education, and community-based organizations
• Funding agencies
• Donors, sponsors and champions
• General public

5. Working Conditions

• Works remotely; resides in the Kingston region with availability to attend meetings and events in-person. Occasional other travel is required.
• Hours are flexed in accordance with the annual cycle of program requirements, with high demand periods in the summer and early fall. During the festival and occasionally throughout the year, evening and weekend work is required to support programs
• Must be a motivated self-starter, organized, and able to undertake periods of intense, focussed productivity
• Must handle multiple projects and deadlines, and respond resourcefully to change

Disclaimer

This job description is not a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities required of the incumbent. The incumbent may be asked to perform other duties as required.

Location of work

Kingston, Ontario

Compensation

The Festival Director is a year-round, full-time position.

Salary Range: $50,000 to $60,000 per annum, commensurate with experience

Application Deadline: 18 December 2025

To Apply: Please send your cover letter and CV in a single document (in .doc, .docx, or PDF format) to board@kingstonwritersfest.ca

Kingston WritersFest is committed to employment equity and diversity in the workplace and welcomes applications from women, people of colour, Indigenous Peoples, persons with disabilities, and persons of all sexual orientations and gender identities.

Kingston WritersFest acknowledges that Kingston is situated on the traditional territory of the Anishinaabe, Haudenosaunee, and Huron-Wendat. We are grateful to live and work here and acknowledge our responsibility to peaceably share and honour the land, water, and sky of this territory.