The Festival Operations Manager plays a critical role in coordinating the planning, preparation, and execution of Hillywood Fiesta across all stages of the project, including the auditions, Bootcamp, OTT production, and the Grand Finale. The Festival Coordinator is responsible for ensuring that operational activities, vendors, stakeholders, venues, and internal teams remain aligned and informed throughout the project lifecycle. This is a highly operational role requiring exceptional organisational skills, communication, and the ability to manage multiple moving parts simultaneously. 

The Program Manager will: 

• Coordinate day-to-day festival planning and operational activities. 
• Support the execution of auditions, Bootcamp, production schedules, and the Grand Finale. 
• Coordinate with internal departments, vendors, partners, sponsors, and external stakeholders. 
• Assist in venue preparation, site readiness, and operational logistics. 
• Prepare operational schedules, run sheets, checklists, and coordination documents. 
• Track project milestones, deliverables, and follow up with responsible teams. 
• Coordinate travel, accommodation, transportation, and event logistics where required.
• Attend planning meetings, document action items, and monitor progress.
• Escalate operational risks, delays, and issues to the Festival/Program Manager. 
• Provide on-ground coordination before, during, and after events. 
• Support contingency planning and problem-solving during live operations.

This role reports directly to the PMO Director and works closely with all Department Leads across the Hillywood Fiesta project.

We are looking for someone who thrives in dynamic environments and enjoys turning plans into flawless execution. The ideal Festival Operations Manager is proactive, highly organised, and an excellent communicator who can confidently coordinate people, manage logistics, and solve problems in real time. They should be someone who anticipates challenges before they arise, maintains composure under pressure, and ensures that every aspect of the festival runs smoothly from preparation through to successful delivery.

• Bachelor’s degree in Event Management, Hospitality, Tourism, Business Administration, Project Management, or a related field. 
• 3–5+ years of relevant event coordination or festival management experience.
• Experience working with cross-functional teams and external vendors.
• Familiarity with project management tools and event management software is an advantage.

1. Relevant Event Coordination Experience – Candidates must have prior experience coordinating or supporting the delivery of large-scale events such as:

• Festivals
• Entertainment or cultural event
•  Concerts
•  Conferences
•  Government programs
•  Sports events
• Television or film production
• Reality shows or similar live productions experience in unrelated industries alone will not be sufficient unless the candidate can clearly demonstrate transferable experience in managing complex, multi-stakeholder events.

2. Excellent Communication Skills – Must be able to communicate professionally with:

•  Internal teams
•  Vendors
•  Sponsors
•  Government departments
• Artists and talent
• Partners
• Stakeholders Strong written and verbal communication is essential

3. Exceptional Organisational

Skills – Must be capable of managing multiple tasks, departments, deadlines, and operational priorities simultaneously while maintaining attention to detail.

4. Ability to Perform Under Pressure – The candidate must remain calm, composed, and solution-oriented in fast-paced, high-pressure environments where priorities can change quickly.

5. Strong Problem-Solving Ability – Must be proactive in identifying operational issues early and capable of resolving problems efficiently before they impact project delivery.

6. Willingness to Travel – Must be willing to travel extensively across the Northeast for auditions, venue inspections, Bootcamp operations, stakeholder meetings, and the Grand Finale.

7. Flexible Working Hours – Must be comfortable working evenings, weekends, public holidays, and extended hours during critical project phases. 8. Professionalism & Accountability – Must demonstrate:

• High integrity
• Reliability
• Ownership
• Accountability
• Punctuality
• Positive attitude
• Team-first mindset