Marketing and Development Manager

Melbourne Writers Festival is an internationally acclaimed festival that celebrates literature and the work of writers.

MWF seeks to appoint an innovative and experienced Marketing and Development Manager to join our team as we move into the second year of a dynamic, audience-focussed Strategic Direction.

Who we are
Melbourne Writers Festival is Victoria’s winter celebration for readers, writers and thinkers.

As one of Australia’s leading cultural events, we attract the world’s best writers and thinkers to create stimulating, meaningful moments that inspire lasting passion for reading and ideas.

Each year in August, from our hub at Fed Square, the Festival celebrates the art, talent and ideas of hundreds of writers from Australia and around the world, through a vibrant program of storytelling, conversation and discussion, intellectual debate, educational programs, live performance, music and art events. The Festival includes a number of free and family events for people of all ages.

MWF ensures that all Victorians feel welcome to participate fully in the Festival by being socially and culturally inclusive. MWF sets the national agenda for the discussion of writing and ideas, encouraging all Victorians to read and engage culturally. Growing the next generation of readers is something MWF takes great pride in. Our Schools’ Program is Australia’s biggest literary festival for students.

Our mission
Melbourne Writers Festival attracts the world’s best writers and thinkers, to create stimulating, meaningful moments that inspire a lasting passion for reading and ideas.

MWF’s strategic goals are:

• Excellence in Programming: MWF delivers a world-class writers festival with exciting, dynamic events that inspire and challenge audiences and artists alike.

• Integrating Inclusivity: MWF ensures that all Victorians feel welcome to participate fully in the Festival by being socially and culturally inclusive.

• Maximising Impact: MWF sets the national agenda for the discussion of writing and ideas, encouraging all Victorians to read and engage culturally.

• Earning Our Way: MWF is financially sustainable, maintaining a balanced portfolio of income streams.

About the role
MWF has an aspirational and innovative Strategic Business Plan for 2016-2019.

In recent years, MWF has achieved new scope and stability across fundraising and sponsorship, donor engagement and literary partnerships, audience development, box office sales and buzz.

We are poised for continued success and we have a team, board and partners engaged with our vision and inspired to deliver that success through innovative and strong leadership.

We are seeking a dynamic Marketing and Development Manager that can embrace this vision and build on strong foundations to increase the festival’s reach and impact, developing considerable cash and contra sponsor-partnerships, increasing audience engagement and helping to maximise box office revenue.

Primary responsibilities and accountabilities of the role

• Drive the delivery of MWF’s brand and Festival identity, reputation, positioning and profile

• Manage the Festival’s major media and marketing partnerships, including its creative agency, and delivery of marketing campaigns including a printed program guides, social media and the website

• Develop and oversee an integrated marketing and communications campaigns that engage MWF target audiences

• Inspire, lead and develop a small but effective team including ongoing and short-term marketing and development staff

• Develop and oversee the delivery of annual and long-term fundraising strategy to meet fundraising and partnership objectives

• Identify and secure strategically aligned corporate and community partnerships that have potential to deliver genuine financial or in-kind benefits

• Maintain and grow our committed donor base, driving retention and engagement

• Manage MWF’s PR agency to ensure delivery of extensive, high quality media coverage and to meet communications aims

• Manage marketing and business development budgets, evaluate and report on marketing and business development activities and outcomes against organisational KPIs, including stakeholder reporting, audience evaluations and market research

• Work with the MWF team to implement and meet the Festival’s timeline of critical deliverables

Key selection criteria

• Demonstrated ability to fundraise and to create and deliver innovative and effective partnership outcomes.

• Extensive knowledge of the Australian sponsorship, philanthropic and donations climate.

• Demonstrated experience in brand development and audience engagement strategies in an arts, events or festival environment.

• Demonstrated experience delivering integrated marketing and communications campaigns for major events.

• Highly developed negotiation, interpersonal and communication skills.

• Demonstrated ability to manage the expectations of multiple stakeholders, prioritise tasks and work within a high pressure environment.

More information

The MWF office is located in The Wheeler Centre in the State Library of Victoria. The Festival board oversees the governance and strategic direction of the Festival. Currently there are six positions at MWF, supported by a team of contract positions.

The Festival is a not-for-profit organisation funded by box office and other earned income; state, local, federal and international government funding; sponsorship, donations and fundraising.

Please contact us for additional materials about Melbourne Writers Festival. Email shona@mwf.com.au.