Seeking Applications for Festival Manager

Cork Midsummer Festival is now seeking applications for the role of Festival Manager.

Reporting to: Festival Director, Cork Midsummer Festival.

About Cork Midsummer Festival 
Cork Midsummer Festival is one of Ireland’s leading multidisciplinary arts festivals that takes place annually in June.  Our vision is to ignite bold ideas and build bridges that connect art and audiences, artists and communities, Cork and the world. CMF presents ground-breaking and exciting new work by Irish and international artists; and supports the development of work by Irish artists across art forms. It has a unique partnership model, collaborating with arts organisations in Cork to commission, produce and present the programme. During CMF, the city becomes the stage, with events taking place in unusual and site-specific locations. It has a reputation for the development of pioneering participatory and socially engaged projects, working year-round with communities and artists to create unforgettable events. 

Purpose of the Role
This is a senior leadership position within the organisation, working in partnership with the Festival Director to deliver the strategic vision and objectives of the festival. Areas of direct responsibility include the management of logistical, administrative, financial and HR aspects of the festival in addition to ensuring that the organisation remains fully compliant and operates to the highest standards of good governance.

Key Responsibilities
Strategy and Leadership

• Motivate, support and inspire the festival team in all of their work, fostering a positive, productive team culture
• Build and strengthen relationships with existing and new funders, stakeholders and partners across arts, education, business and other sectors
• Identify and monitor performance goals across all areas of festival operations, advising on how structures, policies and processes might be adapted
• Build and develop new strategies to improve audience experience across all areas of our operations
• Representing the festival publicly and protecting the image and integrity of the festival at all times.
• Keep updated on relevant new developments within the arts community and policies.

Festival Programme and Operational Management

• Responsible for the management of the festival office including systems and all box office management
• Working with the Festival Director and Festival Producer to ensure that programme plans align with our artistic ambitions and financial and producing capacities
• Lead on final contract negotiations with companies, artists, producers and partners, preparing and issuing those contracts
• Overseeing the management of the festival production timeline, and with the Festival Director, ensuring each Head of Department delivers the aspects of their role on time and within budget
• Meeting the organisations insurance, legal, contractual and statutory requirements

Finance and Governance

• Draft and update budgets, working closely with the Festival Director
• Oversee the annual audit and preparation of financial statements in collaboration with auditor and bookkeeper
• Daily management of the finances, working with the bookkeeper
• Ensure that all legal and regulatory obligations of the company are met
• Arrange Board meetings and papers, and ensure that Board minutes and papers are accurate and filed
• Develop, maintain and oversee all company policies, ensuring they are signed off by the Board as necessary

Communication, Fundraising and Development

• Assists with all funding applications, leading processes where appropriate
• In collaboration with the Festival Director and Communications and Development Manager is responsible for cultivating, securing and managing relationships with commercial sponsors and partners
• Is responsible for cultivating and maintaining good relationships with key partners and funders
• Identifies and develops productive relationships with strategic partners, in both the public and private sector to enhance and the festivals strategic goals
• Supports the successful implementation of the comprehensive marketing and PR strategies and budgets including institutional marketing and friends scheme
• Coordinates reports to stakeholders and funders as required.

People and Management

• Hold regular check ins with the team to support progress in their roles and development
• Anticipate and recruit any additional administrative, production, marketing and box office team members
• Issue and update all employee and contractor contracts, in collaboration with the Festival Director
• Ensure clarity of structure and responsibilities across departments and the organisation, coordinating team meetings and facilitating communications between departments
• Maintain and update employment files and administration

Key skills, attributes and experience

Essential

• At least 5 years’ experience of management or producing in the arts
• Proven track record in financial management with experience of setting, managing and monitoring budgets, particularly in the arts
• Experience of staff management and development
• A high level of organisation and attention to detail
• A passion for festivals and working with and for artists and audiences
• Proven track record in fundraising, particularly successfully raising money from grants and other bodies
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal
• Excellent writing skills, with the ability to write copy for funding applications and reports.
• Experience of initiating and developing partnerships
• Ability to work on own initiative and also in a team with flexibility and an ability to prioritise a varied workload
• A high level of computer literacy and willing to learn new software

Desirable

• Experience of producing arts events
• Knowledge of a wide range of funding sources
• Designing and implementing monitoring and evaluation systems
• Designing and implementing policies

Terms and conditions of employment

Salary range: Starting salary of €47,000, with potential to increase subject to funding outcomes.

Contract: This is a full-time position and offers a 3 year contract.

Hours: 40 hours per week, Monday – Friday. This position involves working flexible hours where necessary to fulfil the duties of the post, for example, evening and weekend work.  It may also involve some travel from time to time in Ireland and overseas.

Benefits Include: Paid annual and sick leave. Training and Development opportunities.

Holidays: 21 days per annum plus Public Holidays.

Place of work: The Festival will be moving to a new office in Cork city centre in January.

Disclosure: This post requires disclosure of all criminal record information via the Garda Vetting.

How to apply:

Please send CV and a covering letter (max 2 A4 pages) outlining your interest and experience to info@corkmidsummer.com with the subject line 'Festival Manager application'

Closing Date for applications: Thursday 18 December 2025

Interview date: Interviews will be held in Cork on Thursday 8 January 2026

Cork Midsummer Festival is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all sectors of the community.