This is an exciting time for the Fringe as we emerge from the most challenging two years in the festival’s history, and work towards a Fringe renaissance. We are looking for an exceptional individual to be the Head of Artist Services who will put the artists and creatives who make the Fringe at the centre of everything we do. You will be a well-networked, creative thinker, an excellent communicator and relationship builder. You will be passionate about the performing arts, an excellent listener, and will be able to balance a varied portfolio of support services for Fringe participants, whilst also adding value from your own leadership and wider perspective.

The Artist Services team offers advice, support and facilities to all participants, including performers, producers, companies, venues and arts industry professionals coming to the Fringe. Reporting to the Chief Executive, the Head of Artist Services holds strategic oversight of the extensive work of this department, working as part of the senior management team on the overall operations of the Fringe Society and being representative of the Society to stakeholders and the Board of Trustees. The role provides direction to the team of managers within the department, overseeing the development of the services provided to the diverse range of stakeholders.

Reporting to the Chief Executive, the Head of Communications is part of the Fringe Society’s Senior Management Team. The role leads on media relations, PR and wider marketing for the organisation, and the postholder manages a small, talented team of four permanent staff members, along with a number of seasonal media office posts.

Within the expected Maternity Cover period, the postholder’s primary responsibilities will be to manage the Edinburgh Festival Fringe external communications and brand during its 75th anniversary year through a targeted programme of proactive media activity as well ensure research and insight is captured to inform 2023 planning.

Working closely with the Head of External Relations and the wider Senior Management Team, they will lead on the development and rollout of key messages tailored to a range of audiences – from the general public to artists, local communities and residents, stakeholders and policymakers.

Boasting an excellent network of contacts and a clear understanding of the changing media landscape in Scotland and further afield, the successful candidate will help continue to position the Fringe as a truly global festival rooted in Edinburgh and Scotland.

They will also act as a first point of contact for media enquiries and will lead on everything from drafting key press announcements to managing urgent or reactive comms.

Leading up to and during the Fringe, the Society provides a media centre for artists and over 1,000 of the world’s media, including providing media and marketing advice to venues and participants. This activity is led by a seasonal Media Office Manager and will be supported as necessary by the Head of Communications and the wider Fringe Society team.

At the expected time of starting, the seasonal team for 2022 will be in place. Full training on how this office works and functions will be provided.

Role and responsibilities

Your duties will include:

• maintaining the strong and positive PR and brand of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and the Fringe Society
• implementing the Fringe Society's communications strategy, underpinned by robust key messages, that raises the profile of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, the Fringe Society and our work locally, nationally and internationally
• supporting the Chief Executive in managing the reputation of the Fringe and the Society, ensuring responses to media enquiries and interviews are in line with our wider media and PR strategies
• working closely with colleagues across the organisation to develop key messages for a range of target audiences – from the general public to artists, local communities, influencers and other stakeholders – and play a lead role in their delivery
• acting as the Society’s lead on reactive and urgent comms
• working with the Head of External Affairs to support bespoke, proactive messaging and communication channels to political stakeholders and policymakers, residents of Edinburgh, businesses and investors
• supporting the Marketing Manager on the rollout of the annual Fringe marketing campaign, leading on key media moments such as programme launch day / first day of the Fringe / closing release
• monitoring and evaluating media coverage and producing comprehensive reports on activity and outcomes, including monitoring ROI
• providing timely and accurate progress reports to the Chief Executive and Fringe Society Board as required
• overseeing the delivery of the seasonal Media Office
• leading and managing the year-round Marketing and Communications team
• undertaking any reasonable duties as requested by the Chief Executive.

Essential

• Experience of taking a big picture, strategic approach to communications and PR.
• Demonstrable communications and PR experience working at a similar level in an agency, organisation or event of comparable reputation nationally and internationally.
• Understanding of the Scottish and UK media landscape, with an established network of contacts.
• Excellent writing and proofreading skills, with experience in drafting news releases and speeches.
• Strong communicator with excellent presentation, negotiating and networking skills.
• Experience in briefing for PR activities and providing information in a useful and effective way for spokespersons.
• Excellent organisational and time management skills, and the ability to prioritise conflicting demands across a varied workload.

Desirable

• Knowledge of Edinburgh and the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
• Knowledge of the arts and cultural sector.

Salary and Benefits

The salary range for this post is £40,000 - £45,000 per annum, plus 4.5% pension contribution. We offer 34 days annual leave including 6 public holidays over Christmas, New Year and Easter.

Normal working hours are 10:00 to 18:00, Monday to Friday. Some additional evening and weekend work may be required. There is no overtime entitlement, but the Society does maintain a TOIL policy outwith the festival period. We are a flexible working employer and therefore are happy to discuss flexible working at any stage of the application process. We would also be happy to consider this role as a secondment opportunity.

During the festival you may be required to work six days a week (42 hours). Due to intense activity during certain periods of the year, the fact that no TOIL is accrued during the festival period and that only six public holidays are recognised, the Society feels that employees benefit from an extended holiday over the Christmas and New Year period. The Society will award six “Festival Fringe” days over and above your annual holiday entitlement to count towards this period.

Some overnight travel outside Edinburgh, and attendance at events outside normal working hours, may be required.

We are looking for a senior fundraising and sponsorship expert with a creative approach to income generation to join our team. If you have extensive experience in high net-worth donor cultivation, excellent relationship building skills, are a strategic thinker and a compelling communicator, we’d love to hear from you.

Reporting to the Chief Executive, you will lead on vital areas of our income generation strategy, working with others to ensure a strategic approach to fundraising, and leading our small development team to success on three ambitious challenges: our £7.5million Save the Fringe campaign; our search for new corporate partnerships; and a reimagining of our hugely popular Fringe Friends initiative.

For this role, the salary is circa £42,000 – £45,000. We also offer 4.5 pension contribution, generous annual leave, flexible working and an excellent work culture.