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.

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.

Access Supervisor

Contract: Full time, temporary contract: Monday 28 July – Monday 25 August 2025
Rate of pay: £14.30 per hour (plus holiday pay).

This is an exciting opportunity to work with a wide range of teams, external stakeholders and customers to help make the Book Festival as accessible as possible. The Access team acts as a point of contact for our audiences, updating our reserved seating database, contacting customers to confirm requirements and manage access ticket bookings. This is a great opportunity for individuals who wish to build on their existing customer service skills in a high-pressure festival environment. Strong communication skills, enthusiasm, and an ability to work effectively as part of a team are all essential for this role.

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

Closing date for applications: Friday 23 May, 23:59
Interviews: w/c 16 June

Access Assistants

Contract: Full time, fixed term contract from Wednesday 6 August - Sunday 24 August 2025.
Rate of pay: £12.60 per hour (plus holiday pay).

The Access team acts as a point of contact for our audiences, assisting customers with access needs to purchase tickets and liaising closely with the Box Office and Front of House teams. You will help staff the on site access desk, overseeing the hire of hearing loops, wheelchairs and mobility scooters as well as answering any customer queries. This is a great opportunity to be part of a busy Festival team. Strong communication skills, enthusiasm, and an ability to work effectively as part of a team are all essential for this role.

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

Closing date for applications: Friday 23 May, 23:59
Interviews: w/c 16 June

Author Hospitality Manager

Contract: Full-time, temporary contract: Monday 4 August – Monday 25 August 2025, Plus Logistics Day end July (Date TBC)
Rate of Pay: £16.51 per hour + holiday pay.

We’re looking for an experienced, organised, and personable Author Hospitality Manager to lead our participant-facing team at this year’s festival. This pivotal role involves overseeing the smooth delivery of hospitality for our visiting authors, managing schedules, coordinating staff, and ensuring a warm, professional welcome at every stage of their festival experience. You’ll bring strong leadership skills, experience in a customer-facing role, and a calm, flexible approach to managing people and logistics. A background in catering for large events, excellent communication and administrative abilities, and a commitment to inclusivity and teamwork are essential. Experience with live literature events, food handling certification, or knowledge of health and safety regulations a plus.

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

Closing date for applications: Monday 19 May, 23:59
Interviews: w/c 26 May 

Author Hospitality Assistants

Contract: Full-time and part-time positions available, temporary contract: Thursday 7 August – Monday 25 August 2025
Rate of Pay: £12.60 per hour + holiday pay.

We’re looking for enthusiastic, friendly, and organised Author Hospitality Assistants for this year’s festival, with both full-time and part-time positions available. You’ll ideally have experience in a customer service or hospitality role, along with excellent interpersonal skills and a professional, welcoming manner. The role involves liaising with authors and ensuring their experience at the festival is smooth and enjoyable, so a calm approach, strong attention to detail, and the ability to multitask under pressure are essential. A background in events or hospitality is desirable.

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

Closing date for applications: Monday 19 May, 23:59
Interviews: w/c 26 May 

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.