Festival and Events Liaison

City of Edmonton; Edmonton; On-site; CAD 90,000 - 113,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of Edmonton is seeking a Festival and Events Liaison within the Civic Events, Arts and Culture division. You will coordinate access to city property and arrange civic services for events, including road closures, transit detours, police, park operations, and permits, while coordinating with external agencies.

You will evaluate event proposals, conduct site suitability assessments, and participate in interagency review meetings to ensure safe event execution and cost‑effective planning.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Recreation, Physical Education, Business Administration or related field
• 5 years in Recreation, Community Services, Event Management or related roles with coordinating, logistics planning, problem solving, relationship management and communications as primary functions

Responsibilities

• Coordinate integrated civic services (road closures, transit detours, police, fire, permits) for events and filming on City property
• Evaluate event proposals and conduct site suitability assessments to ensure bylaws, infrastructure constraints and safety
• Facilitate interagency review meetings and operate within the Civic Command Centre for safe event execution
• Review Event Safety Plans, crowd management and risk mitigation measures using the Safety Checklist
• Gather event details to generate civic cost estimates, manage space usage agreements and support post‑event billing
• Work with Edmonton Police Service Liaison Team to exchange information and mitigate operational impacts
• Manage filming permits, including drone launch/landing approvals on municipal property per Transport Canada
• Develop instructional resources, guides, and workshops to build capacity for event organizers
• Conduct pre/post-event site inspections, gather feedback, and document recommendations
• Respond to public inquiries, review community notifications, and maintain Good Neighbours Plans

Job description

Do you ever wonder how massive City events like the New Year's’ Eve Celebration and Fireworks go off without a hitch? Or how Festivals are seamlessly integrated with City services and operate on City property? It's because of the one-stop-shop philosophy and behind the scenes work of the Festival and Events Liaison! Working in the Civic Events, Arts and Culture section, you will act as the Liaison between various City of Edmonton departments and community festival and event organizers to coordinate access to city property and arrange for civic services for events. Civic services can include for example: road closures, transit detours, park & ride services, Edmonton Police Services point duty, park operations services, and development permits. The Liaison will also coordinate with external agencies such as Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis Commission and Emergency Health Services and other provincial health agencies.

What will you do?

• Coordinate integrated civic services (e.g., road closures, transit detours, police, fire, permits) for events and filming projects on City property using the Civic Service Coordination Flowchart
• Evaluate event proposals and conduct site suitability assessments to ensure alignment with City bylaws, infrastructure constraints, and safety guidelines
• Facilitate interagency review meetings and operate within the Civic Command Centre to ensure safe event execution
• Review event Emergency Response Plans, crowd management strategies, and risk mitigation measures using the Event Safety Review Checklist
• Gather event details to generate civic cost estimates, manage agreements for space usage, and support post-event billing processes
• Work with the Edmonton Police Service Liaison Team to exchange information regarding public demonstrations and mitigate operational impacts
• Manage filming permits, including drone launch and landing approvals on municipal property in compliance with Transport Canada regulations
• Develop and deliver instructional resources, technical guides, and workshops to build operational capacity among event organizers
• Conduct pre- and post-event site inspections, gather after-action feedback, and document recommendations for future event cycles
• Respond to public inquiries, review community notifications, and establish Good Neighbours Plans to maintain positive community relations

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree - in relevant fields such as Recreation, Physical Education, Business Administration or related post secondary education degree
• 5 years in Recreation, Community Services, Event Management, or related positions where coordinating, logistics planning, problem solving, relationship management and communications have been primary functions

Assets:

• Incident Command System (ICS) training is an asset as this role will be trained up to ICS 300 to support events and unplanned emergencies as required

Skills required for success:

• Good understanding of and ability to interpret and apply City Bylaws, policies, practices, and provincial regulations (e.g., AGLC, Alberta Health Services) related to event production, filming, and public space management
• Exceptional written and oral communication skills, including the ability to influence, deliver complex information, and synthesize data into manageable parts for event organizers and civic service partners
• Proven complex and creative problem‑solving skills to independently resolve logistical hurdles, adapt standard processes to non‑standard requests, and balance the competing interests of diverse stakeholders
• Strong relationship management, customer service, and collaborative diplomacy skills for building strong partnerships with external organizers and internal City services (Police, Fire, Transit, etc.)
• Strong organizational and logistical planning skills, including conducting site suitability assessments, coordinating integrated civic service requirements, and monitoring civic costs
• Capacity to facilitate workshops and develop instructional resources to build the operational knowledge and success of external event organizers
• Alignment to our Cultural Commitments and Leadership Competencies ( https://bit.ly/4brRrXm )
• Embracing a culture of equity, diversity, reconciliation and inclusion

Conditions of Employment:

• Ability to work occasional extended hours, and evening and weekends on event days, as required
• Valid Alberta Class 5 driver’s licence (or provincial equivalent). Must arrange own transportation, to be reimbursed in accordance with the City of Edmonton policy. This may require business auto insurance
• Hire is dependent on a Criminal Records Check (CRC) that is satisfactory to the City of Edmonton, and there may be a cost associated with this requirement

Work Environment:

• The weekly hours of work for this position are currently under review and may change at a future time. Any changes will be made in accordance with the City of Edmonton/Civic Service Union 52 collective agreement and the incumbent will be notified in advance

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 [e-mail]. Learn more about our benefits https://bit.ly/COEbenefits

Up to 1 permanent full-time position

Hours of Work: 40 hours per week April to September; 33.75 hours per week October to March. Evening and weekend availability is required

Salary Range 40 hours per week: $43.102 - $54.113 (Hourly); $89,996.98 - $112,987.94 (Annually)

Salary Range 33.75 hours per week: $45.611-$57.269 (Hourly); $80,355.18 - $100,893.66 (Annually)

Talent Acquisition Consultant: RD/RF