Festival Co-Director

Role Title: Co-Director – Kejia Festival

Organization: Kejia Festival / Tsung Tsin Association of Edmonton

Location: Edmonton, Alberta

Position Type: Leadership

About the Festival

The Kejia Festival is a vibrant cultural celebration dedicated to showcasing Hakka heritage, culinary traditions, performing arts, and community unity in Edmonton. From dynamic stage showcases and authentic regional food vendors to interactive cultural exhibits, the festival brings together thousands of attendees, local artisans, community leaders, and diverse cultural groups.

Role Overview

We are seeking an organized, proactive, and collaborative Co-Director to partner in planning, producing, and executing the festival. Working alongside the Festival Director and community board, you will share end-to-end operational oversight - bridging strategic planning with on-the-ground delivery. This role is ideal for a high-energy event leader who thrives in dynamic, community-driven environments and can balance municipal compliance, partner relations, and live event production.

Key Responsibilities
1. Operations & Site Production

• Collaborate on site layout, infrastructure needs, and load-in/load-out schedules (power distribution, staging, tenting, waste management, and accessibility).
• Liaise with the City of Edmonton and relevant authorities regarding municipal permits, park usage, sound bylaws, and public safety protocols.
• Coordinate food truck and culinary booth compliance, including Alberta Health Services (AHS) food vendor requirements and safety standards.

2. Programming & Performer Coordination

• Work together to oversee the festival programming schedule, working directly with cultural performance groups, martial arts troupes, musical ensembles, and emcees.
• Manage stage stage-management workflows, AV/technical checks, hospitality, and performance run-of-show timing.

3. Vendor, Partner & Community Relations

• Support vendor onboarding, contract execution, site placement, and day-of operational support for retail, artisan, and non-profit booths.
• Coordinate protocol and hosting for visiting dignitaries, community elders, sponsors, and key organizational partners.
• Act as an organizational ambassador across Edmonton’s broader multicultural and arts communities.

4. Team Leadership & Volunteer Coordination

• Assist in recruiting, training, and deploying festival volunteers, site crew, and committee coordinators.
• Lead cross-functional problem-solving during event days, ensuring a safe, seamless, and welcoming atmosphere for all attendees.

Qualifications & Competencies

• Experience: Experience in festival management, cultural community programming, or a Startup founder of scalable startup.
• Execution: Demonstrated track record delivering complex, multi-stakeholder public events or outdoor festivals.
• Communication: Clear, professional interpersonal skills; comfortable communicating across diverse demographics, from government representatives and commercial sponsors to grassroots community elders and youth volunteers.
• Availability: Flexible schedule leading up to the festival, with mandatory full-time availability during setup, event weekend, and site teardown.

Why Join Us?

• This is an opportunity to take a prominent leadership role in shaping an up and coming key cultural festivals. You will build direct ties with cultural organizations, municipal stakeholders, and local business sponsors while delivering an inclusive, memorable community celebration. Last year's attendance was around 7,000 attendees.