Company: Guardian Jobs
Location: City of Edinburgh
Posted: May 12th, 2026
Salary: £51,000-55,000
Contract Type: Permanent
The Edinburgh International Festival is looking for an experienced, passionate and dedicated Head of Concerts & Music Planning to join the team. We want you to help us deliver this unparalleled celebration of the performing arts, which brings some of the most exciting and creative artists working today to audiences from around the world.
EIF is an equal opportunity employer. We value diversity and welcome applications from all communities and backgrounds. Inclusive culture is the foundation for a successful workplace, and is a key focus across our staff, artists, and audiences. To increase staff diversity, our recruitment includes the Rooney Rule regarding ethnicity and the Disability Confident Scheme for interviews. For more information go to our website.
The Head of Concerts & Music Planning's primary responsibility is to manage the music department and deliver all music elements of the Festival, including artist deals, planning and scheduling, oversight of performances, and management of the wider music team.
The Festival’s regular music programme spans orchestral, chamber, traditional, folk, contemporary, opera and opera in concert. Festival Director Nicola Benedetti’s vision is to create the deepest level of experience through the highest quality of art for the broadest possible audience. Innovations in the presentation of all music performances are key to this vision, and have begun with informal music venues at the Festival’s home The Hub, beanbag concerts at the Usher Hall, and programmes providing insight into repertoire and performers.
The post involves a high degree of management, planning and coordination, working closely with orchestras, ensembles, agents, venues, composers, publishers and partners such as the BBC. Successful applicants are expected to have a background working in a music festival, music venue, opera house, with an orchestra, ensemble or agent, and possess detailed knowledge of the classical music repertoire.