Project Lead

Belfast Photo Festival; Belfast City District; Hybrid; GBP 26,000 - 34,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

Job summary

Belfast Photo Festival is seeking a confident, proactive, and highly organised individual to work with the Director, coordinating artists, venues and exhibitions, and supporting schools and communities. You will manage open submissions, partnerships, judges and image logistics, while documenting projects through photography and interviews.

Based primarily in our Ormeau Avenue studio, this hands-on role offers responsibility, creative collaboration and the chance to influence the festival's

Qualifications

• Relevant degree or equivalent experience in arts, events, community development or cultural production.
• Experience delivering projects, managing schedules, budgets, contracts, logistics and reporting.
• Strong communication and relationship-building across artists, partners, venues, schools and communities.
• Highly organised, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.
• Proficient with Google Workspace, spreadsheets, calendars and cloud-based systems.
• Able to support artists, coordinate stakeholders and solve problems calmly under pressure.
• Understanding of safeguarding, accessibility and health and safety good practice.
• Positive, proactive and collaborative, with flexibility to work occasional evenings and weekends.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate artists, partners, venues, exhibitions and commissions, while supporting schools, communities and local organisations.
• Manage key elements of the international Open Submission, including partnerships, judges, workflows and image logistics.
• Document and communicate projects through photography, interviews and behind-the-scenes content.
• Work with the Belfast Photo Festival Director to shape and deliver ambitious projects from idea to completion.

Skills

Communication

Organisation

Stakeholder coordination

Problem solving

Safeguarding & health & safety

Evenings/weekends flexibility

Google Workspace proficiency

Education

Relevant degree or equivalent experience

Tools

Google Workspace

Spreadsheets

Cloud-based systems

Job description

Company Description

We are an ambitious, nimble charity that produces two world-class festivals in Belfast celebrating lens-based art, creative technology and visual innovation. Belfast Photo Festival (June) – the parent company, largest annual photography event in the UK and Ireland, spanning 30+ venues. RENDR Festival (February) – a pioneering conference exploring the convergence of film, gaming, animation, immersive media and digital art. Both have programmes including open submissions, commissions, exhibitions, talks, workshops, portfolio reviews, tours, and screenings, all designed to inspire, educate wider audiences whilst supporting professional growth.

The organisation has an excellent history, reputation, governance and future facing potential. There is significant opportunity for career progression in the role, for both skills development on the job and training opportunities with the encouragement to find and adopt the latest tools, software or strategies for success.

Belfast Photo Festival (June)

– the parent company, largest annual photography event in the UK and Ireland, spanning 30+ venues.

RENDR Festival (February)

– a pioneering conference exploring the convergence of film, gaming, animation, immersive media and digital art.

Both have programmes including open submissions, commissions, exhibitions, talks, workshops, portfolio reviews, tours, and screenings, all designed to inspire, educate wider audiences whilst supporting professional growth.

Role Description

We're seeking a confident, proactive and highly organised individual to work alongside the Belfast Photo Festival Director, helping shape and deliver ambitious projects from initial idea to completion. You will coordinate artists, partners, venues, exhibitions and commissions, while supporting our work with schools, communities and local organisations. You will also manage key elements of our international Open Submission, including partnerships, judges, workflows and image logistics. Working closely with our Design & Digital Lead, you will help document and communicate our projects through photography, interviews and behind-the-scenes content. This is a hands-on role offering genuine responsibility, creative collaboration and the opportunity to influence the future of Belfast Photo Festival. You'll join a small, supportive and inclusive team based primarily in our Ormeau Avenue studio, with occasional flexible and hybrid working.

Qualifications & Experience

• Relevant degree or equivalent professional experience in arts, events, community development or cultural production.
• Experience delivering projects, managing schedules, budgets, contracts, logistics and reporting.
• Strong communication and relationship-building skills across artists, partners, venues, schools and communities.
• Highly organised, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.
• Confident using Google Workspace, spreadsheets, shared calendars and cloud-based systems.
• Able to support artists, coordinate stakeholders and solve problems calmly under pressure.
• Understanding of safeguarding, accessibility and health and safety good practice.
• Positive, proactive and collaborative, with flexibility to work occasional evenings and weekends.