Cary, N.C., is a fast-growing, diverse, and creative community of more than 170,000 people. Community-based festivals and events play vital roles in defining Cary’s sense of place, reflecting the shared values, interests, and aspirations of its residents.

Ranging from large-scale arts and crafts festivals to musical concerts to national holiday observances to home-grown community celebrations, Cary offers a wide range of organized activities in our public spaces, facilities, and parks. As Cary’s Festivals and Events Supervisor, you and your team play vital roles in all of it – sometimes as lead producers, other times as liaisons or consultants, but always as experts and valued resources for organizing high-quality, safe, and fun live events.

At Cary, our employees work together to change lives through exceptional service.  The OneCary approach empowers each employee to have a voice in a collaborative, adaptive work environment between departments, thinking creatively and strategically together as a team. As the Festivals and Events Supervisor, you will be interacting and working with employees across various departments, plus numerous citizens, businesses, community partners, event planners, volunteers, and officials.

You will work in the Cultural Resources division within the Department of Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Resources. Work is performed under the general supervision of the Cultural Arts Manager. Supervision is exercised over the Festivals and Events Operations and Program Coordinator, and other assigned full-time, seasonal, and/or temporary employees.

Works collaboratively with Cultural Arts Manager and other key stakeholders to cast and implement the vision for festivals and events in Cary;

Maintains, improves, and grows high-quality festivals and events in Cary. Continuously monitors and evaluates the quality, responsiveness, efficiency, and effectiveness of festivals and events by developing long-range goals and key accountability indicators to measure success;

Oversees planning and coordination for all activities and personnel engaged in producing Cary’s large-scale, community-wide festivals, including but not limited to the annual Lazy Daze and Spring Daze arts and crafts festivals;

Liaises to, assists with, and serves as a resource to others planning festivals and events sponsored by or in conjunction with Cary (e.g., community festivals, special events, Town/Department celebrations, dedications, groundbreakings);

Effectively works with Cultural Arts Manager and broader management team (including the Town Manager’s Office) on high-profile festivals/events;

Provides for control of overall operations and programming; assures the timely coordination of plans, programs, and events; conducts post-event operational and financial review and analysis;

Hires, trains, and supervises staff, including the Festivals and Events Operations and Program Coordinator, plus other staff as assigned;

Oversees and advises on any necessary revisions/modifications to staffing plans, including number and types of employees, essential functions, and performance; Conducts regular staff meetings; Implements and maintains a high standard for services, including initiatives for employee training, employee recognition or awards;

Prepares, manages, and monitors financial plans for festivals and events, including operating revenue and expense budgets, capital expenditure plans and budgets, grants, and sponsorship proposals;

Manages all aspects of volunteer committees and volunteer coordination for events, including but not limited to staffing, recruitment, training, and supervision. Develops and maintains volunteer databases;

Manages Cary’s Festivals Committee, a community-based volunteer group tasked with supporting staff in planning and executing the annual Lazy Daze and Spring Daze festivals and administering the annual Lazy Daze community grants program;

Collaborates with Cary’s interdepartmental team involved in event permitting and planning on public property. Works with event organizers to guide them through the permitting and planning process to ensure safe and enjoyable events in Cary;

Communicates and maintains strong relationships with other departments, civic leaders, community partners, and sponsors. Develops partnerships;

Creates marketing plans and materials to promote festivals and events. Oversees web pages, social media, publicity, promotions, and communications relating to Cary’s festivals and events;

Performs other job-related tasks as required.

Requires a combination of education and experience equivalent to a Bachelor’s degree and some related experience in arts management, event management, public administration, or a related field and at least three years of experience in organizing and supervising public recreational and cultural programs.