Marketing & Communications Lead

Nelson Festivals Trust looks to the horizon, igniting sparks of transformation and inciting the power of creativity as a force for positive change. We fiercely stand as a champion for artists and the arts, a catalyst for crucial conversations, and a mirror to our moment in time. We foster connections, by uplifting and celebrating our whole community through artistic and cultural experiences.

Kōrero mō te Tūranga | About the Role

Nelson Arts Festival is a bright beacon for the arts in Aotearoa and a strong pou for the Whakatū creative community. Each spring, we curate 11 days of bold, exciting and unmissable arts experiences—created for and with the people of Whakatū Nelson, Te Tauihu, and beyond.

We’re looking for a Marketing & Communications Lead who will own and protect our brand, champion our programme, and connect people to the moments that matter. This role is about visibility, relevance and impact—making sure our festival feels welcoming, exciting and irresistible. You’ll inspire curiosity, drive ticket sales, and build momentum that leaves audiences wanting more.

Mōu | About You

You’re a seasoned marketing and communications professional with a broad, hands-on skill set; comfortable being responsible for shaping, protecting and amplifying the Nelson Arts Festival brand, driving audience growth, ticket sales and revenue, and strengthening the Festival’s profile locally, nationally and within the arts sector.

This role is suited to an experienced marketing and communications professional who combines strategic thinking with strong operational delivery - from the festival programme (brochure) through to campaign execution, content creation, audience research and post-event evaluation. 

You are someone who understands how marketing drives revenue and engagement, and who can balance creativity with commercial outcomes. You’ve led revenue-generating campaigns, spotted new income opportunities, and delivered results across digital channels and traditional platforms. You’re equally comfortable amplifying established narratives and backing bold, new ideas.

You will be comfortable working in a small, collaborative team, able to prioritise effectively in a seasonal, deadline-driven environment, and confident leading end-to-end marketing activity while working closely with artists, partners and external agencies.

You bring sound judgement, strong relationship-building skills, and a genuine commitment to the role of the arts within community and society.

You will bring:

• Proven senior experience in marketing and communications, ideally within arts, culture, events, tourism or not-for-profit environments
• Demonstrated ability to develop and deliver strategic marketing plans and campaigns that drive measurable outcomes
• Strong brand stewardship and content leadership across digital and print channels
• Experience managing ticket sales, audience data and campaign performance, with the ability to adjust activity in real time
• High level capability in digital marketing, EDMs, social media and website management
• Proven experience managing external agencies and suppliers (design, PR, media, digital)
• Strong written communication skills, with the ability to produce clear, engaging and brand-aligned content
• Experience analysing data, surveys and insights to inform decisions and continuous improvement
• Ability to work autonomously, manage competing priorities and deliver to tight deadlines
   

Kua rite koe mō tēnei mahi whaitake? - Are you ready to make a difference?
We are committed to being a good partner under Te Tiriti o Waitangi and to us this means working closely with iwi, hapū, whānau and hāpori. 

In your cover letter we would like to know about you and what inspires and motivates you. We encourage and welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds, and identities as we aspire to reflect the diverse communities of Aotearoa. 

Wā Mahi Ngāwari - Flexible Working

We support flexible working arrangements and are happy to discuss these options with you. This role is part time across the year and weekly commitments flex to the seasonality of our work – from 2 days a week to full time and full on during the festival! We will discuss the annual timetable with interested applicants and the expected salary/income. 

If you’re motivated by purpose, people and impact—and want to play a leading role in one of Aotearoa’s most respected regional arts festivals—we’d love to hear from you.