Festival Manager

Purpose of the Role

This position offers a unique opportunity to work in the heart of the Irish film industry and contribute to the growth and success of a world-class film festival.

The Festival Manager will lead on developing and delivering a clear timeline and work plan for DIFF, ensuring that budget and deadline commitments are met while maintaining smooth operations, high-quality screening experiences, and the successful delivery of both the Festival and year-round activities.

The Festival Manager will recruit, manage and support the seasonal festival team and interns, and act as an ambassador for DIFF with audiences, funders, partners, donors and board members.

They will also play a key role in monitoring public sector funding opportunities and, working closely with the Executive Festival Director and the Director of Commercial & Marketing, prepare core funding applications. While the Arts Council and Screen Ireland remain central funders, the broader public funding landscape is expanding and should be continually reviewed to the benefit of DIFF.

Finally, the role carries responsibility for ensuring the organisation, its team and board remain fully compliant and operate to the highest standards of good governance.

Key Responsibilites

Leadership

• Ensure the logistical and operational delivery of all festival and year-round screenings and events within the annual budget and appropriate time frame.
• Deliver a quality festival to all stakeholders with professionally produced events and screenings.
• Be the key point of contact with festival partner venues.
• Coordinate gathering of information for Post Event Reports, ensuring all information has been collated before departure of season festival staff.

Timeline & Planning

• Manage the full life cycle of DIFF from planning to execution of all festival events.
• Oversee year-round DIFF event activities.
• Facilitate interdepartmental communications and ensure all deadlines are met.

Financial Control & Management

• Working with the Executive Festival Director and Director of Commercial and Marketing, create an overall financial strategy and reserve policy to secure the long-term viability of the festival.
• Work closely with the EFD to oversee and monitor annual budgets for the festival.
• Oversee strict adherence to budgetary policy and responsibility accounting thoughout the organisation.

Partners and Supporters

• Help secure and maximise annual public sector funding for the festival.
• Be the key point of contact with public funding bodies especially Arts Council, Screen Ireland, Coimisiún na Meán and Dublin City Council.
• Prepare Post Event Reports (PERs) for public sector partners and sponsors.

Staff Recruitment and Management

• Project staffing needs, recruit, manage and develop a festival team of the highest calibre.
• Encourage personal and professional development of all staff, in line with the festival’s objectives.
• Ensure that all staff are appropriately contracted, qualified and trained, and that they operate professionally and respectfully as representatives of the festival at all times.
• Proactively manage any new HR implicated legal changes for DIFF.

Strategy

• Monitor and measure activities against DIFF strategy KPIs and advise DIFF board and executive on performance.

Governance

• Oversee preparation of materials and communications for effective board and subcommittee meetings and decision making.
• Preparation of Festival Manager’s report of each Board Meeting.
• Support Chair in preparation and management of board and sub-committee meetings.
• Ensure the company is in strict compliance in all areas of governance and regulations including staff, insurance, health and safety, partnerships, venues, city authorities, funders, suppliers, the public and Board.
• Monitor adherence to Charities Regulator governance requirements and ensure that annual declaration is complete and submitted to meet deadlines.

EDI and Sustainability Policies, Plans & Reporting

• With the EFD, research and update all policies and plans relating to both EDI and Sustainability and inplement into the festival planning.
• Ensure that DIFF is fully up to date with all policies relating to both EDI and Sustainability and that these policies are accessible to all.
• Update EDI and Sustainability Plans and ensure collection of data and annual reporting is completed.

Office

• Secure and set up office space for 6 months (Oct-Mar) each year for the festival team.
• Organise and oversee moving of office equipment from storage to office and return to storage post festival.
• Monitor IT system to ensure that festival team has access to all necessary files while maintaining privacy and adherence to GDRP.

Personal Attributes

Strategic – Able to shape and deliver clear plans that align with DIFF’s vision, meeting deadlines and budgets.

Organised – Skilled at managing complex timelines, multiple venues, and year-round activities.

Leadership – Experienced in recruiting, managing and motivating teams to deliver at the highest level.

Financial – Confident with budget creation, monitoring, and ensuring resources are used effectively.

Diplomatic – Strong communicator who can represent DIFF with funders, partners, venues, board members, and audiences.

Resilient – Steady under pressure and adept at problem-solving in a fast-paced festival environment.

Accountable – Committed to compliance, best practice, and maintaining high standards of accountability.

Inclusive – Values equality, diversity, sustainability, and accesiblility in every aspect of delivery.

Passionate – Brings genuine enthusiasm for film and culture, with knowledge of the Irish and international sector.

Key Information

Reporting to: Executive Festival Director

Key Relationships: Executive Festival Director, Director of Commercial & Marketing, Festival Team, Volunteers, DIFF Chair and Board.

Key Departments: All Departments – Programming, Production, Box Office, Volunteers, Press & PR, Marketing, Hospitality

Salary: €45,000 per annum

Deadline: 10th October, 5pm

Start Date: February 2026 – The new post holder will join ahead of DIFF 2026 (19Feb – 1 Mar), working alongside the current Festival Manager as a critical part of the handover and induction process.

Place of Work: Dublin International Film Festival Office, Digital Hub, Thomas Street, Dublin 8

How to Apply

Please sind CV and a covering letter (max 2 A4 pages) outlining your interest and experience to jobs@diff.ie with the subject line ‘Festival Manager Application’.

Interviews will be held in Dublin on w/c 27 October

Deadline to apply: 10 October 5pm

Applicants must be eligible to work in the Republic of Ireland

Dublin International Film Festival is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applicants fron all backgrounds, ethnicities and communities.

Job Description

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