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Stories exist everywhere and give us the imagination to live well together. In our increasingly pressured environmental and social world, stories matter deeply. The NT Writers Festival brings writers and storytellers together to share stories, language and culture and celebrate the distinct literary culture of the NT. Be part of our story!

We are looking for a skilled and organised Festival and Events Manager who can fulfill our aims and manage our unique, place based, inspiring 2027 NT Writers Festival and annual events program.

NT Writers’ Centre (NTWC) supports, develops and showcases writing and storytelling in the Northern Territory, celebrating the unique contribution of NT stories and storytellers to Australia’s cultural identity.

We play a significant role in the national arts sectors, delivering a range of events, programs, publications, writing awards and the festival, ensuring that NT writers and writing are celebrated in the national canon. We are a national leader in platforming First Nations voices and writers with up to a third of artists at our annual festival being First Nations, from the NT and interstate. We are also a leader in Asian engagement, making connections in the region through our biennial Darwin festival.

Our cornerstone event – the NT Writers Festival (NTWF) – is the Northern Territory’s premier literary showcase. It is an extraordinary festival that brings readers and writers together to celebrate ideas, words, stories and languages. Held alternately in Darwin and Mparntwe/Alice Springs since 2002, the festival takes place in iconic outdoor locations that celebrate the NT’s unique environments and that reflects the NT’s distinctive culture, including its rich First Nations heritage.

The 2027 NT Writers Festival will be held in Mparntwe/ Alice Springs, NT from 27 - 30 May 2027.

A little about the role





You will be part of a small, skilled, experienced and motivated team who are caring, bold, respectful and inclusive in the arts and literature sector. You will be responsible for the project management of the NT Writers Festival.

You will be focused on:

- Supporting curators to develop festival events, following established event structures

- Implementing production schedules and managing timelines in consultation with the Executive Director, using an established database

- Deliver localised events throughout the year that build community connections, audience engagement and fundraising opportunities.

- Liaising with artists to arrange travel and accommodation

- Volunteer recruiting, inducting, managing and rostering

- Liaising with ticketing provider to refine ticketing system and meet ticket sales goals

- Supporting the implementation of media and publicity strategies to support the promotion and visibility of the festival and program.

The role works closely with the Executive Director around event and program development and the Technical Manager to fulfill technical requirements of the Festival and events.

The job is office based, with some flexibility of work hours, days & occasional WfH. Availability for evening and weekend work during the Festival week is a must. During the few weeks leading up to the Festival the hours of work and demands on time may increase.

How to apply

Send your resume, including two referees,



and responses to these 4 questions to ••••@ntwriters.com.au. Relate your responses to the essential selection criteria (max 2-3 pages).

1. Detail the context of where and when you have organised and managed literary or arts festivals and community events, including with curators and artists, and First Nations Artists.

2. Describe how you manage multiple communication demands, whilst maintaining relationships with various stakeholders. Give 2 examples of how you have achieved this.

3. Outline the systems, processes, and skills you use to organise and manage projects, to ensure delivery within budget, on time, and maintain strong relationships. To bring your answer to life, you could use a specific context, your actions, what the results were and the impact you had.

4. Reflecting on your leadership style and skills with teams, what are 2 significant insights you have learned about yourself as a leader?

Enquiries are welcome, and to request the full position description please contact SezzaJai Sykes, NTWC Executive Director, on 04•• ••• 944 or ••••@ntwriters.com.au Application deadline: Midnight 30 August 2026.

Please let us know any access requirements you may have so we can help with your application or interview process, as well as your pronouns. We welcome applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, Culturally and Linguistically Diverse people, and people from the LGBTQI+ community.

We will be reading your application, so please make sure you have used your linguistic skills, which we value. AI Generated responses will not be looked on favourably.

The job can be based in Alice Spring or Darwin and commences early September 2026 for a two year term. This is a 2 year contract position at $44/hr, 30hrs/week, then full time before the festival.

📌 Festival and Events Manager (Darwin)
🏢 NT Writers' Centre
📍 Darwin