Director, Civic Events, Arts and Culture Job Listing at City of Edmonton in Edmonton, AB (Job ID 55002)

Description

Lead the iconic festivals, cultural landmarks, and world-class events that define our City!

Reporting to the Branch Manager Attractions, Culture and Nature, this pivotal leadership role oversees the strategic direction of three distinct units: Festivals, Events, and Filming; Civic Centre Programs and Events; and Arts and Culture Experiences. You will manage the coordination of civic services and the permitting of outdoor city properties, while directing programs such as City Hall School and the Heritage Amphitheatre. Furthermore, you will broker essential partnerships with organizations like the Edmonton Arts Council and oversee the operations of key facilities, including the Orange Hub and the City Arts Centre.

You are responsible for the leadership of staff, including the supervision of three Management Supervisors, while ensuring financial integrity and business planning excellence. Your oversight extends to the operational success of various facilities, where you will enhance customer experiences, manage partner food services, and uphold rigorous occupational health and safety standards. By prioritizing emergency preparedness and environmental initiatives, you will ensure that all civic spaces and programming remain safe, sustainable, and inclusive for the entire community.

This Director serves as a vital bridge between the corporation and external collaborators, providing expert guidance on event policy and the navigation of competing interests. You will support major international event attractions to ensure that all commitments regarding venues, budgets, and services are fulfilled from the bidding stage through to execution. By providing senior management and political leaders with critical insights and strategic oversight, you will empower the city to deliver world-class cultural experiences while building capacity for underrepresented event organizers.

What will you do?

• Inspire and empower team members through effective mentorship, clear communication, and a commitment to foster a positive and inclusive work environment
• Drive innovation by developing and presenting compelling proposals and action plans for strategic initiatives, encompassing process and program evolution, impactful marketing campaigns, optimal staffing, and visionary facility planning and development
• Provide operational and technical oversight at each facility (City Hall public spaces, Orange Hub, City Arts Centre and Heritage Amphitheater)
• Directly negotiate and finalize all facility-based contracts and agreements
• Provide Leadership and support to partners and that are responsible for the various aspects of the facility's operations, programs, services, capital development and events
• Drive revenue growth and attendance for the facilities and spaces, while providing leadership and direction to the team in creating, developing, implementing, and evaluating strategic initiatives focused on business expansion
• Establish a superior customer service culture and lead the development and implementation of a comprehensive customer service policy, standards, and training program for all personnel
• Leverage the unique programming strengths of the facilities to strategically enhance and strengthen program offerings
• Continue to ensure that the GBA+ process and other inclusion processes are applied in the development and implementation of services and programs

Qualifications

• Experience, knowledge, training, and/or education in Sport, Kinesiology, Recreation Administration, Parks Management, Business Arts, or a related field
• Leadership experience in events, recreation, parks, and/or facility management or other related discipline within a large complex organization
• Extensive knowledge related to program and event planning and coordination, project administration and management.
• Experience and previous focus on providing a safe, healthy and productive facility environment, building systems and operations, marketing and communications
• Experience with contract and agreement development, evaluations, implementation and monitoring
• Direct experience liaising with partner, community groups, and inter-departmental teams along with knowledge of the community involvement process
• Thorough knowledge of financial management principles, financial planning and budget processes
• Combinations of education and experience will be considered

Assets:

• Completion of Incident Command (ICS) 300

Skills Required for Success:

• Demonstrated leadership abilities to cultivate focus, engagement, and commitment within diverse and complex environments
• Ability to cultivate strong relationships across diverse teams and partners, fostering collaboration, trust, and mutual respect
• Expertise in professional service delivery and project execution
• Flexibility to navigate shifting priorities, maintain resilience, and lead inclusively amidst evolving landscapes
• Results-driven approach inclusive of strategy development and performance management
• Proficient negotiation, problem-solving, and conflict resolution skills for inclusive decision-making
• Alignment to our Cultural Commitments and Leadership Competencies (https://bit.ly/4brRrXm)
• Embracing a culture of equity, diversity, reconciliation and inclusion

Conditions of Employment and Work Environment:

• 1 permanent, full-time position
• Hours of Work: 36.9 hours per week, Monday - Friday. This position may require work outside of regular hours and could require occasional evening and weekend availability
• Salary: (Annually): $146,472.26 - $183,091.38
• Hire is dependent on a Criminal Information Check satisfactory to the City of Edmonton. There may be a cost associated with this requirement

The City of Edmonton values applicants with a diverse range of skills, experiences and competencies, and encourages you to apply. We strive to provide reasonable access and accommodations throughout the recruitment process. To request an accommodation, please contact employment@edmonton.ca. Learn more about our benefits https://bit.ly/COEbenefits. 
Talent sourced through this process may be considered for similar opportunities within the City of Edmonton.

Recruitment Consultant: JM/SB

Edmonton rests in the heart of Treaty Six territory in Alberta and the homelands of the Metis Nation.

#LI-JM1

IND 123

Classification Title: ML4
Posting Date: May 04, 2026
Closing Date: May 18, 2026 11:59:00 PM (MDT)
Number of Openings (up to): 1 - Permanent Full-time
Union: Management
Department: Community Services
Work Location(s): 19th Floor Edmonton Tower, 10111 104 Avenue Edmonton T5J 0J4

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