Festival Director

Dublin International Film Festival are currently recruiting for a Festival Director to join their team.

About 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 Responsibilities:

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 throughout the organisation.

Partners & 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 Recruitement & 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.
• Ensure best practice is followed in all departments.
• Clearly articulate the responsibilities and team and structural reporting lines.

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 for 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 & Sustainability Policies, Plans & Reporting:

• With the EFD, research and update all policies and plans relating to both EDI and Sustainability and implement 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 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 GDPR.

Personal Attributes:

• Strategic
• Organised
• Leadership
• Financial
• Diplomatic
• Resilient
• Accountable
• Inclusive
• Passionate

How To Apply:

Please send 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: Friday, 10th October at 5pm

Applicants must be eligible to work in the Republic of Ireland.

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

About Dublin International Film Festival:

For 11 unforgettable days in February, Dublin transforms into a vibrant hub of cinematic excellence. DIFF brings the best of Irish and international cinema to the capital for a celebration of storytelling. We welcome the lovers, the dreamers and the curious newcomers. From world premieres to intimate screenings, exclusive Q&As to parties and celebrations, DIFF offers a unique journey into the world of film, all set against the backdrop of buzz of the Irish capital. Join us and be part of a contemporary cinema experience that connects communities, ignites ideas, and inspires a love for cinema that lasts all year round.