Marketing & Communications Manager

Job summary

Lead the festival’s annual marketing strategy, budget, campaigns, paid media, social channels, public relations, and ticketing strategy, including setting objectives and measuring performance. Provide strategic direction to the execution team and collaborate with festival leadership and other departments to promote the 50th anniversary and reach new audiences.

Job details

POSITION TYPE & TERM Term: October 15, 2026 – October 15, 2027 (12 months) Type: Part-time term position with the opportunity to transition into a permanent role. Compensation: $30,000 to $50,000 - Commensurate with experience Location: Canmore, AB (Hybrid remote and in-office) Reports to: General Manager Hours: Variable; significantly increased hours through July and August. Evening and weekend work required during festival season and during events. POSITION OVERVIEW The Canmore Folk Music Festival is approaching a landmark moment: our 50th anniversary in 2027. We are looking for an experienced Marketing & Communications Manager to lead strategy, set the direction for our campaigns, and ensure our most historic festival year reaches the audiences it deserves. This is a senior strategic role- you will define the roadmap, set measurable deliverables, and work alongside a skilled execution team to bring it to life. If you are a strategic marketer who thrives in the arts and culture space and wants to put their stamp on a milestone moment for one of Alberta's most beloved festivals, we want to hear from you. 1. MARKETING STRATEGY & PLANNING Lead the development of a comprehensive annual marketing strategy covering paid media, digital, print, radio, and PR; present recommendations to Festival leadership. Set campaign objectives, timelines, and measurable deliverables for each pillar of the marketing plan. Own the annual marketing calendar and oversee its execution by the broader team. Manage and allocate the marketing budget; track ROI and report on financial performance to leadership. Serve as the marketing lead on ticketing strategy, working closely with Showpass to align campaigns with sales milestones and audience segments. Monitor campaign analytics; apply data-driven decisions and stay ahead of festival and arts marketing trends. 2. PAID MEDIA & ADVERTISING Develop and manage paid media strategy across digital (Meta Ads, Google Ads, programmatic) and traditional channels (radio, print, out-of-home). Set media budgets, negotiate placements, and evaluate channel performance. Brief the execution team on creative requirements to ensure assets meet platform and placement specifications. 3. SOCIAL MEDIA & DIGITAL Set the content strategy, tone, and voice for all official festival channels (Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, YouTube). Brief and oversee the creation of content including text, photo, and video that reflects the festival's identity and values. Define KPIs for audience growth and engagement; review performance and direct adjustments. 4. PUBLIC RELATIONS & COMMUNICATIONS Build and maintain media relationships with local, regional, and national outlets to secure meaningful coverage. Act as the festival's primary spokesperson for media inquiries and public relations activities. Develop crisis communications plans and protocols to protect the festival's reputation. Lead outreach strategies targeting specific demographics and new audience segments. Direct post-festival evaluation of communications strategies to inform future planning. 5. TEAM LEADERSHIP & COLLABORATION Set deliverables and provide strategic direction to the execution team, including Marketing & Design Co-op Students, Program Coordinator, and Photography Coordinator. Collaborate with the Executive Director, General Manager, Sponsorship Manager, and Artistic team to align marketing with organizational priorities. 6. KEY COMPETENCIES & QUALIFICATIONS Minimum 3–5 years of progressive experience in marketing and communications; preference for the arts, culture, or events sector. Demonstrated experience developing and executing integrated, multi-channel marketing strategies. Hands-on experience managing paid media campaigns across digital and traditional channels. Strong leadership and project management skills; comfortable briefing and directing a team of executors. Exceptional written and verbal communication; skilled at crafting compelling narratives for diverse audiences. Data-driven mindset with comfort in analytics tools to measure and optimize campaign performance. Familiarity with ticketing platforms and/or event marketing is an asset. HOW TO APPLY Please send your resume and a brief cover letter with the subject "Marketing & Communications Manager Application" to hiring@canmorefolkfestival.com. We will be accepting applications for this position until the role is filled. We appreciate all applicants but only those chosen for an interview will be contacted. The Canmore Folk Music Festival's 50th anniversary is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to tell our story to the widest audience we've ever reached. You'll be joining a passionate, dedicated team at the most significant moment in our history- set against the backdrop of one of Canada's most spectacular mountain settings. We are committed to creating a welcoming, inclusive, and supportive environment.

What you’ll do

Lead the festival’s annual marketing strategy, budget, campaigns, paid media, social channels, public relations, and ticketing strategy, including setting objectives and measuring performance. Provide strategic direction to the execution team and collaborate with festival leadership and other departments to promote the 50th anniversary and reach new audiences.

Requirements

Requires 3–5 years of progressive marketing and communications experience, preferably in arts, culture, or events, and demonstrated experience developing integrated, multi-channel strategies and managing paid campaigns. Candidates should bring strong leadership, project management, communication, and analytics skills; familiarity with ticketing platforms or event marketing is an asset.

Listed skills

• Team Leadership · Preferred
• Project management · Preferred

Other relevant skills

Identified from the job description. Confirm important requirements above.

• Marketing Strategy
• Integrated Marketing
• Paid Media
• Digital Advertising
• Traditional Advertising
• Social Media Strategy
• Public Relations
• Crisis Communications
• Media Relations
• Content Strategy
• Budget Management
• Campaign Analytics
• ROI Measurement
• Ticketing Strategy
• Project Management
• Team Leadership

Job areas

• Marketing
• Management & Leadership
• Creative & Media
• Art & Design