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Full Time Festival Director Jobs (NOW HIRING)

West Valley City

Festival Director

West Valley City, UT · On-site

$79K - $138K/yr

Job Type Full-time Description Come join a team dedicated to making a positive impact in our ... The Festival Director is responsible for the conceptual creation, strategic planning, operational ...

Newfields

Festival Producer

Indianapolis, IN · On-site

$43K - $46K/yr

Title: Festival Producer FLSA: Full-Time Exempt Salary Range: $43,000 - $46,000 Reports To: Director of Festivals Responsibilities * Oversee and manage festival component production, on-site ...

By Landmark

Festival Manager & Promoter

Plainfield, NJ · On-site +1

$70 - $80/hr

... (full-time eligibility) Direct creative, strategic, and operational support from the executive team and Pie Lab Full access to festival programming, including staff tastings, chef events, music, and ...

Festival Foods

Senior Director of Marketing

De Pere, WI · On-site

Name Green Bay Support Office Position Type Full-Time Company Overview ABOUT FESTIVAL FOODS: We are ... Senior Director of Marketing FLSA Status: Salary/Exempt Reports To: Chief Merchant This role is ...

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Full Time Festival Director information

What does a full time festival director do?

A Full Time Festival Director is responsible for overseeing all aspects of planning, organizing, and executing a festival. This includes developing the festival's vision, managing budgets, securing sponsorships, coordinating with vendors and performers, and ensuring compliance with laws and regulations. The director leads a team to handle logistics, marketing, and on-site operations to create a successful and safe event. They also evaluate the festival's outcomes and plan for future improvements.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a full time festival director, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Full Time Festival Director, you need strong event planning, leadership, and budget management skills, often backed by a degree in event management, arts administration, or a related field. Familiarity with project management software, ticketing systems, and event logistics platforms is typically required. Outstanding communication, problem-solving, and networking abilities help you coordinate teams and engage stakeholders effectively. These skills are crucial for successfully organizing large-scale events, ensuring smooth operations, and creating memorable experiences for attendees.

What are some common challenges a full time festival director faces during the planning and execution of a festival?

A Full Time Festival Director often encounters challenges such as managing tight budgets, coordinating with multiple vendors and stakeholders, and ensuring compliance with local regulations. Balancing the creative vision of the festival with logistical realities requires strong organizational and problem-solving skills. Additionally, adapting to last-minute changes—such as weather disruptions or artist cancellations—demands flexibility and quick decision-making. Effective communication with a diverse team, sponsors, and the public is key to overcoming these challenges and delivering a successful event.

What is the difference between Full Time Festival Director vs Part Time Festival Director?

AspectFull Time Festival DirectorPart Time Festival Director
Work HoursTypically 40+ hours per week, full-time commitmentFewer hours, often scheduled around other commitments
ResponsibilitiesOversees entire festival planning, management, and executionHandles specific tasks or segments of the festival
CredentialsExperience in event management, festival planning, or related fieldsSimilar credentials, but may require less extensive experience
Work EnvironmentOffice, event sites, team coordinationEvent sites, part-time office work

The main difference between a Full Time Festival Director and a Part Time Festival Director lies in the hours worked, scope of responsibilities, and commitment level. Full Time Festival Directors manage the entire festival lifecycle with a comprehensive role, while Part Time Festival Directors focus on specific tasks or segments, often with flexible hours.

More about Full Time Festival Director jobs

What states have the most Full Time Festival Director jobs?

States with the most job openings for Full Time Festival Director jobs include:

What job categories do people searching Full Time Festival Director jobs look for?

The top searched job categories for Full Time Festival Director jobs are:

Full Time Festival Director jobs near you
Infographic showing various Full Time Festival Director job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Full Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution.

Festival Director

West Valley City, UT • On-site

West Valley City
Public Administration • 51 - 200 employees

8.2

Company rating: 8.2 out of 10

Based on 6 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

309th of 851 rated public administrative organizations

Good employer

Respectful managers

Learn more about West Valley Cityexternal

$79K - $138K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 7 days ago

Job description

Job Type
Full-time
Description
Come join a team dedicated to making a positive impact in our community, where the well-being of our residents is always our top priority. We offer flexible scheduling options (based on position) and foster professional growth through comprehensive training programs and learning opportunities. Shape your future in a career that empowers you to make a difference and thrive in a collaborative, purpose-driven environment.
The Festival Director is responsible for the conceptual creation, strategic planning, operational execution, and long-term local, regional, and national growth of West Valley City's signature, large-scale annual festival. The Director leads the entire event lifecycle from master planning, site layout, infrastructure build-out, partner relationships, sponsor cultivation, vendor procurement, marketing, public-safety coordination, and financial accountability.
Starting Pay: $79,000.00 - $138,000.00 - Open to exceeding the top of the payband for an exceptional candidate with proven track record of directing, national-scale event production experience.
Benefits: Full Benefits; health, dental, vision, life insurance, paid time off, paid holidays, parental leave, pet insurance, tuition reimbursement
Retirement: Utah Retirement Systems, pension and/or 401(k)
Schedule: Flexible 40 hour work week
FLSA Status: Exempt
Application Deadline: Open until filled
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Executive Event Planning & Execution:
  • Serve as the director and project manager for the City's signature, large-scale annual festival.
  • Build, maintain, and execute the comprehensive multi-year master plan, production timeline, and operational scripts for the entire festival footprint.
  • Research best practices for cultural festivals, food festivals, arts events, destination events, and community celebrations to inform festival planning and improvement.
  • Design the physical site layout, crowd flow maps, electrical/water infrastructure networks, and waste management plans for a massive-scale outdoor venue.
  • Direct all real-time, on-site event operations, managing the rapid setup, live execution, and complete teardown of the festival marketplace and stages.

Logistics, Permitting, & Public Safety:
  • Lead meetings with City Police, Fire, Public Works, and Risk Management to build and execute mass-gathering security and traffic control plans.
  • Work with City departments to coordinate resources and event needs.
  • Identify staffing and volunteer needs.
  • Secure all necessary municipal, county, and state health, structural, and operational permits.
  • Work with WVC business licensing and state tax commission.
  • Contract and oversee third-party logistics firms, heavy equipment operators, stage production crews, and structural engineers.

Local & National Procurement & Asset Management:
  • Identify and work with local food vendors and restaurants that will participate in the festival.
  • Identify and work with local entertainment acts, community groups, non-profits and partners.
  • Scout, negotiate, and legally contract with high-volume food vendors, regional and national commercial merchants, and entertainment acts.
  • Build out highly competitive sponsor packages and pitch national brands, corporate donors, and tourism boards to secure elite multi-year funding partnerships.
  • Control the festival's full multi-year business plan, ensuring strict adherence to public-sector procurement laws, ethical standard compliance, and revenue-generation goals.

Analytics & Quality Control:
  • Establish data-driven key performance metrics evaluating visitor satisfaction, economic impact, and vendor profitability.
  • Manage comprehensive post-event audits to fix operational bottlenecks, streamline multi-million-dollar budgets, and expand national visibility.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:
  • Directly exercise supervision over contracted event management firms, seasonal staff, third-party operators, and large-scale volunteer networks assembled to execute the festival.

Requirements
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Education and/or Experience
  • Possess five (5) or more years of relevant professional experience in large-scale event planning, directing, and/or implementation.
  • A Bachelor's Degree in Event Management, Hospitality, Business Administration, or a related field is preferred, but not required.
  • A combination of education and work experience may be substituted one for the other on a year-for-year basis.

Language Skills
  • Must possess excellent written and verbal communication skills in the English language.
  • High-level negotiation and contracts capability to communicate directly with national partners, corporate executives, and City leadership.

Certificates, Licenses, and/or Registrations
  • Possess a valid Utah driver's license or have the ability to obtain one.
  • Professional certifications in Event Management (e.g., CSEP, CMP) or crowd safety management are highly desirable.

Other
  • Deep, practical knowledge of commercial vendor logistics, heavy event infrastructure (power distribution, structural staging), and complex mass-gathering safety regulations.
  • Proven track record of pitching, closing, and managing high-dollar corporate sponsorships and municipal event partnerships.
  • Mastery over fast-paced, high-stress, real-time crisis management during live multi-day outdoor productions.
  • Ability to work independently.

WORKING CONDITIONS
Physical Demands
  • The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
  • This is a highly active operational role. The employee must be able to stand and walk for extended periods, work outdoors in varying weather conditions, and lift up to 50 pounds.
  • While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand, walk, sit, talk, and hear.

Work Environment
Shifts between a professional office environment and on-site event grounds. Expect non-traditional hours including late nights, early mornings, and full weekends, especially during peak festival production cycles.
Any position in which the employee handles currency, has access to computer terminals, is responsible for the care or instruction of children, has access to building master control or key systems, has access to the personal information or identifying information of another person, has access to the financial information of the employer or another person, or works in an area of the City which has been designated as a security sensitive area, such as a server or evidence room; and is in a position of trust that requires restraint and the ability to keep a high level of confidentiality. Employees in security sensitive positions will be required to successfully complete a criminal history check and be determined to be position qualified as per BCI Standards. Employees in security sensitive positions are required to self-report convictions of a Class C Misdemeanor or above.
If you are reading this and hesitating to click "apply" because you do not check every box in the posting, we encourage you to go for it! A true passion and excitement for making an impact is just as important as work experience.

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