Freelance Conference Coordinator

The European and International Booksellers Federation (EIBF) is a non‑commercial European and international umbrella organisation representing national booksellers associations and booksellers around the world. Through its member associations, EIBF speaks on behalf of more than 25,000 individual booksellers.

EIBF is looking for a freelance Conference Coordinator, based in Verona, Italy (or immediate surroundings), to support the organisation of the RISE Bookselling Conference that will take place in the city on 19‑20 April 2026. This event will mark the fourth edition of the conference, which was last held in Riga in March 2025 and gathered more than 300 booksellers and book trade professionals from 28 different countries across the globe. More information about the 2025 edition can be found here: https://risebookselling.eu/summary-rise-bookselling-conference-2025.

Responsibilities

• Help plan and execute all aspects of the conference, including vendor selection/management, scheduling, and logistics
• Coordinate and facilitate the contact between the local vendors, partners and the venue with the Brussels-based team
• Assist in planning and organising the pre‑conference programme that includes bookshop visits, city tour and networking evening
• Liase with partners on the ground
• Oversee the practical planning and execution of the RISE Bookselling Conference on the ground, especially before the arrival of the EIBF team, with attention to time‑constraints
• Help oversee event happenings and address issues, troubleshoot problems, and ensure a smooth and enjoyable experience for all participants
• Arrange travel, accommodations, and transportation for speakers, if required

Qualifications & Skills

• At least 23 years of experience within events management, preferably in an international environment
• Fluency in English (written and oral) and Italian
• Proven track record of planning and executing conferences
• Excellent organizational skills, with the ability to prioritise tasks, multi‑task and meet deadlines
• Outstanding communication skills, both written and verbal, to effectively liaise with EIBF team, external vendors, and event participants

If interested, please send your CV and cover letter to info@europeanbooksellers.eu by the 5th of January.