Brand and Site Runner (Edinburgh International Book Festival)

Posted on: 15th June, 2026. Closing date: 22nd June, 2026. Apply by Monday 22 June at 12:00 for this full-time, fixed-term position based in Edinburgh.

The Edinburgh International Book Festival is a charity which brings together outstanding writers and thinkers from around the world with curious audiences in 600 events for children and families, young adults, and adults each August, as well as year-round community activities. The Book Festival has a permanent staff of 25 throughout the year, expanding over the spring and summer to a peak of around 135 staff during the Festival. All staff members play a role in the ongoing development of the organisation through several full team planning and debrief meetings during the year.

The Brand and Audiences team is made up of five permanent, full-time key roles: Brand & Audiences Director, Brand Manager (who will line manage this position), Digital Marketing Manager, Audience Services Manager, and Brand & Programme Officer. Over the course of the year, a number of other seasonal and freelance members of staff join the team to deliver specific projects, including a Campaigns & Content Manager, Brand Assistant, and Publicist, some of which will interact with this role.

The role of Brand and Site Runner supports the Brand & Audiences team (and wider colleagues as required), helping to ensure smooth brand operations, both public facing and behind the scenes, during the Festival. Part runner and part organiser, you’ll keep some of their public Festival spaces looking tip-top and well stocked, ensure that event information is made available to audiences around the site, respond to day-to-day demands and essential errands, liaise with their site team, and eventually help us track and tidy away everything ready for the next Festival. Aspects of the role are physical in nature, with a light to moderate level of exertion required of the successful candidate. Examples of such responsibilities include moving lightweight signage, lifting and carrying boxes of print material short distances, and traversing the large Festival footprint multiple times a day. Manual handling and wider training will be given, and aids such as carts and trolleys will be available. All heavier construction and deconstruction is undertaken by their Site team and other partners, who will be able to assist the Brand team where they have need.

The role’s key duties are:

• Before the Festival (Mon 3 – Fri 14 August)
  • Assisting with the preparation and collation of signage artwork where required
  • Working with teammates on preparing for the office move, ensuring everything the team will need at site is identified, collected and prepared for couriers.
  • Once on site, working with the wider Brand team to complete the set up of signage across the site. This will involve distributing freestanding stands, setting up pull-up banners, and installing wall signs.
  • Helping with the set up of the hangout spaces – from laying out furniture to stocking literature and materials.
• During the Festival (15 Aug – 30 Aug)
  • Site signage leading on production and display of daily venue signage, coordinating with the Front of House team as required
  • Working with Brand teammates to produce and install daily ticket availability signage
  • Site logistics and support
  • Monitor and maintain the hangout areas and info points, making sure these zones stay well stocked, tidy and orderly. This will involve topping up brochures, site maps and activity sheets, keeping lighting charged, and general light tidying or reporting where cleaning is necessary.
  • Monitoring remaining quantities of printed and other materials, and placing top up orders if required.
  • Collecting orders from external suppliers within the city.
  • Accompanying authors and participants to and from content appointments and supporting colleagues in the delivery of social content.
  • Liaising with the Site Co-ordinator and other members of the Site team to ensure appropriate packaging materials are acquired for site pack-up.
  • Any other duties, as reasonably needed, to support the Brand team.
• Post-Festival (Mon 31 August – Wednesday 2 September)
  • Assisting with the disassembly of the Festival site, namely the collection, cataloguing and readying of Brand team elements for their return to storage.
  • Working with colleagues, ensuring a clear and tidy catalogue of assets and their storage destinations.
  • Assisting with the packing up of the Brand’s teams Festival office area, helping to ensure all the items are ready for the return to the George Street office.
  • Assisting with the return to the George Street office, and the storage, tidying and reset of the Brand team office area.

Person Specification

This is a busy position, and requires a high degree of organisation, can-do attitude, and flexibility. The successful candidate will display an ability to grasp plans quickly and hit the ground running, show determination and a willingness to get stuck in and be hands-on, as well as bringing bags of energy and an enthusiasm to make the most of their time working on the Festival. The Festival environment is fast-paced and this role is practical, so the ability to work quickly and independently is essential. The successful candidate will be reliable and can be depended on to complete their core tasks, whilst looking out for where else support may be required.

The successful candidate will possess the following:

• The ability to establish a range of positive working relationships quickly, and communicate clearly and consistently
• Experience in working events, or other public facing activity/projects, with an understanding of the on-the-ground nature and pace of work involved
• Great organisation, initiative, and attention to detail
• The ability to complete tasks independently and reliably, with a desire to lead on core tasks
• An enthusiasm to get stuck in, and make the most of the opportunity both in terms of supporting the team and for their own experience and development
• An interest in Festival marketing or operations
• An eye for audience friendly signage and other communications
• Experience of using Canva for very basic design
• An understanding of how small daily tasks contribute to a successful bigger picture

Personal Attributes

• Is energetic, confident, determined, positive, and resilient
• Enthusiastic and curious about Festivals and/or marketing, with bags of initiative and a flexible, can-do attitude
• Has initiative, can take charge of and own their workload, and show a proactive approach
• Confident in asking for assistance and support when necessary

Pay Rate: £13.45 per hour

Location: Edinburgh

Contract: Fixed-term contract from Monday 3 August – Wednesday 2 September 2026, full-time.

Working Pattern: Will vary over the length of the contract, with indicative hours: Mon 3 – Fri 7 August: 9.30AM-5.30PM and Mon 10 August onwards: 35 hours/week (pro rata)