Jobs at the Book Festival

The Edinburgh International Book Festival is an equal opportunities employer, a Real Living Wage employer, and a Disability Confident Committed empoyer. Our work is framed by a commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion.

The Book Festival is a working environment where everyone is treated fairly, and our differences are celebrated as strengths. We encourage applicants with diverse backgrounds and experiences to apply for available positions. If you have any specific access requirements, please let us know and we will do our best to meet your needs. You can visit our Fair Work Statement here.

Vacancies

When a position becomes available we'll post the details here. We also publicise vacancies through our social media channels - Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and X/Twitter - so do keep an eye on those too.

Development Assistant

Contract: Full-time, permanent
Salary: £25,500 - £26,300

If you love working with people and are highly organised this could be the role for you. This exciting role involves working in a busy and fast paced development team and would be ideal if you are looking to start a career in Fundraising. Our Development Assistant helps keep everything running smoothly across the whole team, from managing our CRM system and maintaining accurate data, to responding to enquiries and supporting fundraising activity. You’ll play a vital part in ensuring donors, members and supporters feel valued and engaged, providing first-class customer service.

Find the full job description here.
Apply via our online portal here.

Closing date for applications: Sunday 11th January 2026
Interviews to be held: w/c 19th January 2026

Events & Digital Marketing Officer

Contract: Part-time (21 hours per week), permanent
Salary: £27,200 - £31,900, pro-rata

You’ll bring your project management expertise to life, supporting and executing events with precision, innovation, and a personal touch that leaves lasting impressions. We’re looking for someone with experience in event planning and delivery, who excels at building strong relationships with both internal teams and external partners. You’ll be the driving force behind our events, with a sharp eye for detail, the ability to manage multiple priorities, and the confidence to take ownership from concept through to flawless delivery.

Find the full job description here.
Apply via our online portal here.

Closing date for applications: Tuesday 13th January 2026 at 5pm
Interviews to be held: w/c 26th January 2026

Information about temporary Festival staff recruitment

We employ many dedicated and enthusiastic temporary staff each year including short-term staff during August and longer term staff from April/May to September. We expect hard work, commitment, an interest in the arts and a positive, enthusiastic attitude. In return you get a fantastic learning experience that is loads of fun and the opportunity to make valuable contacts. Additional perks include discounted books and access to some of the world's greatest author events. Because of the huge number of applications we receive, and the relative shortness of the contracts, relevant experience is a must.

Please be aware that:

• We are unable to contribute to accommodation, living and travel expenses.
• We do not appoint without interview.
• All candidates will be asked to show evidence of their eligibility to work in the UK if selected for interview.
• We do not accept speculative applications for positions which are not listed on this page.
• We do not offer work experience, unpaid internships, or volunteering opportunities.