Programming Producer - Contract

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

We are looking for an organised, proactive, and hands-on Programming Producer to support the delivery of a major cultural festival in Abu Dhabi.

Reporting to the Programming Lead, the Programming Producer will lead the production and execution of client-approved programme elements, from pre-planning and sourcing through to build and live delivery. The role will work closely with the Creative, Production, Technical, and Operations teams, as well as artisans, vendors, and suppliers, to ensure each programme is delivered seamlessly and creates a strong audience experience.

Duties & Responsibilities:

• Lead the production of approved programming elements, ensuring they are fully planned, coordinated, and delivered to the required standards.
• Support the Programming Lead with programme pre-planning, scheduling, logistics, budgets, and production requirements.
• Research, source, and onboard artisans, artists, facilitators, vendors, suppliers, and programme partners.
• Manage contributor onboarding, including profiles, documentation, schedules, requirements, and logistics.
• Collaborate closely with the Creative Department to develop the look, feel, visual identity, and audience experience of individual programme elements.
• Work with Production to coordinate required structures, materials, props, furniture, equipment, and other physical elements.
• Coordinate with Technical teams on AV, lighting, power, sound, equipment, and other technical requirements.
• Work closely with Operations teams to coordinate access, logistics, staffing, audience flow, schedules, and day-to-day programme requirements.
• Develop and maintain programme schedules, run sheets, production trackers, contact lists, and technical/production requirement documents.
• Lead programme-specific site visits, walk-throughs, rehearsals, testing, and pre-opening preparations.
• Oversee programme elements during the build and live phases, ensuring all components are ready and delivered as planned.
• Act as the key point of coordination between programme contributors and the wider production team, resolving issues and escalating key decisions as required.
• Ensure programming is delivered in a culturally appropriate, engaging, and audience-focused manner.
• Support post-event debriefs, documentation, and evaluation of programme delivery.

Job Specifications:

• 5+ years of experience in event production, cultural programming, festivals, performing arts, exhibitions, or a related field.
• Proven experience taking programmes from pre-production through build and live delivery.
• Experience working with artists, artisans, vendors, suppliers, and external programme partners.
• Strong understanding of event production, site operations, and the coordination of creative and technical requirements.
• Strong project management and organisational skills, with the ability to manage multiple programme elements and deadlines.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder-management skills.
• Strong attention to detail, problem-solving skills, and ability to work effectively under pressure.
• Comfortable working on-site in a fast-paced festival environment.
• Knowledge of the UAE cultural and creative landscape is highly desirable.
• Arabic language skills and/or UAE/GCC event experience is an advantage.