Volunteers and Capacity Building Coordinator

The Volunteers and Capacity Building Coordinator works to ensure the successful delivery of two programs for Brisbane Festival 2025.

About Us 

Queensland’s premier arts festival, Brisbane Festival lights up the city each September with extraordinary art, installations, and live performances from home and across the world. We are Boldy Brisbane – we reflect the diversity and unique voice of our river city. Our people make the impossible possible through passion, hard work, and care. 

Position Summary 

The Volunteers and Capacity Building Coordinator works to ensure the successful delivery of two very important programs within the Brisbane Festival Program – Volunteers Program and Capacity Building Program  The Festival collaborates with volunteers across many areas, including front of house, marketing, hospitality and administration assistance. This role is responsible for engaging and growing the Festival’s committed volunteer community.  The role finds opportunities for Festival volunteers to gain experience in the events industry, to meaningfully contribute to the arts community, and to connect with likeminded people. The Volunteers Coordinator will interact with all Departments within the Festival to ensure the needs of volunteers, capacity building candidates and staff are met.   Our Capacity Building Program is supported by the Queensland Government through Arts Queensland, and provides paid opportunities for emerging arts workers to develop their skills alongside leading artists and arts workers. This role would be the key contact for each of these positions, ensuring they are connected internally with their relevant teams across projects delegated by the Program Director, as well as completing Arts Queensland reporting once the program is complete. 

The role will commence early July 2025, operating part-time until August. From the end of August until early October the role will be full-time, before transitioning back to part-time until the contract ends on mid-October 2025. 

Roles and Responsibilities 

With support from the Production Coordinator, the Volunteers and Capacity Building Coordinator will: 

• Oversee the Brisbane Festival Volunteer Program and Capacity Building Program, including managing the development of the database and systems; 

• Ensure all Volunteers and Capacity Building candidates are inducted to Brisbane Festival, including Work Health and Safety (WHS) policies and procedures; 

• Work with Festival departments to ensure Volunteers and Capacity Building candidates are engaged in suitable tasks, are supported and are appropriately supervised in their roles; 

• Maintain a high degree of communication with and engage effectively with Volunteers and Capacity Building candidates; 

• Monitor shift attendance and action when changes are required; 

• Assist in the delivery of Volunteers and Capacity Building candidates training including preparing induction packs for Volunteers; 

• Assist staff with supervising and managing Volunteers and Capacity Building candidates, in the office and on-site; 

• Be the first point of contact for the Volunteer and Capacity Building programs internally and externally; 

• Ensure all volunteers are thanked for their contributions and are provided with a certificate of participation; 

• Prepare a survey of volunteers and staff to understand their level of satisfaction and areas for improvement; 

• Provide a summary report on the outcomes of the Volunteer Program and recommendations for improvement; 

• Complete all reporting post-Festival as required by key stakeholders such as Arts Queensland, including survey participation and reporting from all Capacity Building candidates and mentors; and 

• All other tasks as reasonably requested by the Production Coordinator.   

Systems 

In respect to systems use, the Volunteers and Capacity Building Coordinator will: 

• Utilise the organisation-wide systems in accordance will policies and procedures provided. 

WHS 

In respect to Workplace Health and Safety, the Volunteers and Capacity Building Coordinator will: 

• Take an active role in effectively implementing Brisbane Festival’s WHS policy. 

Relevant Experience 

Essential 

Desirable 

APPLY NOW

Visit brisbanefestival.com.au/jobs to download the Position Description and submit your application via the Brisbane Festival website. Applications close at 10:00am on Friday 25 April 2025. Applications are strictly confidential. 

Research shows that while men apply to jobs when they meet an average of 60% of the criteria, women and other marginalised folks tend to only apply when they check every box. So, if you think you have what it takes, but don’t necessarily meet every single point above, please still get in touch. We would love to have a chat and see if you could be a great fit. 

Brisbane Festival is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity in the workplace. Our vision is to have a team which reflects the breadth and diversity of Brisbane’s population. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People, LGBTQIA+, culturally and linguistically diverse applicants and people with a disability are encouraged to apply.