Lead Festival Programmer & Producer

Ethara; Abu Dhabi; On-site; AED 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Ethara in Abu Dhabi seeks an organised Programming Producer to lead the delivery of a major cultural festival. The role reports to the Programming Lead and collaborates with Creative, Production, Technical, and Operations teams to ensure a seamless audience experience.

The candidate will build schedules, source artisans and partners, and manage on-site delivery from pre-planning through to live events, ensuring standards and quality throughout.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in event production, cultural programming, festivals, or related fields.
• Experience taking programmes from pre-production through build and live delivery.
• Experience working with artists, artisans, vendors, suppliers, and external partners.
• Strong understanding of event production, site operations, and coordinating creative and technical requirements.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder-management skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead production of approved programming elements, ensuring full planning, coordination, and delivery to standards.
• Support pre-planning, scheduling, logistics, budgets, and production requirements.
• Research, source, and onboard artisans, artists, facilitators, vendors, and partners.
• Manage contributor onboarding, including profiles, schedules, and logistics.
• Develop look and audience experience with Creative Department.
• Coordinate structures, materials, props, equipment, and other elements with Production.
• Coordinate with Technical teams on AV, lighting, power, sound, and equipment.
• Oversee site visits, rehearsals, testing, and pre-opening preparations.
• Act as key liaison between contributors and wider production team; escalate decisions as needed.
• Ensure programming is culturally appropriate, engaging, and audience-focused.

Skills

Project management

Stakeholder management

Communication

On-site coordination

Budgeting

Vendor management

Arabic language

Job description

Ethara in Abu Dhabi seeks an organised Programming Producer to lead the delivery of a major cultural festival. The role reports to the Programming Lead and collaborates with Creative, Production, Technical, and Operations teams to ensure a seamless audience experience.

The candidate will build schedules, source artisans and partners, and manage on-site delivery from pre-planning through to live events, ensuring standards and quality throughout.