Job Description

HOW TO APPLY

If you would like to apply for the post, please send us your CV along with a cover letter (no more than 1 side of A4) outlining why you are interested in the role and why you think you would be a suitable candidate, referring to the job description and person specification. Please also complete the online equal opportunities monitoring form.

Please email your CV and cover letter to recruitment@edfilmfest.org with the job title in the subject heading

no later than 6pm on Thursday 9th of October 2025.

Please note that we are only handling applications electronically.

We expect that interviews will take place

w/c 13th of October 2025

.

Please complete the EDI Monitoring Form through this link:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSelVfp5vPyF98i34B8gjgJE0eWSv1FFPcvU4jG5XUJSsuHuSw/viewform

ABOUT EDINBURGH INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL

Edinburgh International Film Festival (EIFF) is the world's oldest continually running film festival and, in 2024, relaunched as a brand new entity with a new board of industry leaders. Honouring 70+ years of festival history, EIFF showcases the very best filmmaking talent in a re-energised format that is rooted in a local Scottish context whilst embracing the international diversity of creative expression.

EIFF is poised to accelerate the discovery of new talent through its two centrepiece competitions;

The Sean Connery Prize for Feature Filmmaking Excellence

, which carries a cash prize of 50K, and

The Thelma Schoonmaker Prize for Short Filmmaking Excellence

, which carries a cash prize of 15K, both decided by audience vote.

EIFF's August fixture runs in parallel to a host of creative festivals taking place in Edinburgh, including

The Fringe, Edinburgh International Festival, Edinburgh International Book Festival, Edinburgh International Art Festival, Edinburgh International TV Festival

, and many more, which sell millions of tickets to cultural connoisseurs from around the world.

The EIFF Board includes Chair

Andrew Macdonald

of DNA Films (TRAINSPOTTING, THE BEACH, 28 DAYS LATER, SUNSHINE ON LEITH, CIVIL WAR), Vice Chair

Amy Jackson

of Unified (THE NEST, AFTERSUN, THE END WE START FROM),

Peter Rice

(former Chairman of General Entertainment at Disney and President of 21st Century Fox),

Teresa Moneo

(former Director of UK Film at Netflix),

Isla McGillivray

(Head of the Film, TV & Video Games Team at Saffreys) and

Romana Ramzan

(Senior Producer at Screen Burn Interactive).

Helmed by CEO & Festival Director

Paul Ridd

and Festival Producer

Emma Boa

, the team works to create a world-class showcase for independent film and filmmaking talent. A global player celebrating the very best that cinema has to offer in a modern, energised context, the core strategy of the revitalised Festival is to embed within the wider cultural offering taking place in Edinburgh in August, embracing the sense of discovery, experimentation and cross-arts collaboration.

VISION

Film will be embraced as a powerful connector locally, nationally and internationally.

MISSION

To connect film, artists and industry with audiences.

VALUES

Integrity

We are honest, transparent and committed to strong ethical practices.

Innovation

We are forward-thinking, experimental and committed to making bold creative choices.

Collaboration

We are inclusive, multidisciplinary and committed to partnership working to amplify aims and benefits.

DEVELOPMENT MANAGER

Job Title:

Development Manager

Reports to:

Festival Producer

Line Management:

TBC (potentially Development Coordinator). Team expected to grow as fundraising strategy develops and delivers

Works with:

Festival Director, Marketing, Events, Production, Guest Services

Purpose of the Role

The Development Manager will play a crucial role in growing, broadening and sustaining sponsorship revenue and partnerships to support the strategic ambitions of Edinburgh International Film Festival.

Reporting to the Festival Producer and working also with the Festival Director (the core executive team) the role is responsible for securing financial and in kind support for the Festival by cultivating strong relationships with corporate sponsors, trusts, foundations, governmental funding bodies and individual donors, as well as providing support over the coordination of creative, cultural, industry and media partnerships.

The role will work closely with the Festival Producer and Festival Director to develop and maintain strong partnerships, diversify revenue streams and build financial sustainability for the organisation, along with all associated planning, reporting and evaluation.

They will be a confident, high level communicator with excellent networking and relationship management skills and have strong experience in developing and delivering significant corporate partnerships, managing relationships with public funding bodies and engaging with high net worth individual donors.

Key Responsibilities

Sponsorship Development

Initiate and coordinate tailored approaches to potential sponsors and/or their agents, including detailed research on suitable sponsors, establishing contact, preparing and presenting appropriate proposals and supporting documentation, and maintenance of communication; Work with the Festival Director, Festival Producer and Marketing team to create compelling, innovative and well researched sponsorship proposals and presentations for prospective corporate sponsors, trusts and foundations and philanthropic donors; Ensure that any sponsorship proposals align with the Festival's brand, values, aims and objectives; Work with the Festival Producer and Festival Director to ensure all sponsor benefits are agreed and managed in line with organisational strategy and aims, including branding, media exposure, hospitality and activation opportunities in advance of and during the Festival; Work with the Marketing team, Production team and Events team to ensure all agreed sponsor activations and benefits are delivered in line with expectations; Negotiate and finalise sponsorship agreements, ensuring the exchange of approved contracts in a timely and efficient manner in line with internal policies; Build and maintain long-term relationships with sponsors and stakeholders, ensuring a positive and mutually beneficial partnership experience; Ensure all sponsors and stakeholders are kept up to date on all events across the year and during the Festival period; Work with the Festival Producer, Events team and Guest Services team to arrange sponsor and stakeholder events such as dinners and receptions; Work with the Festival Producer, Events team and Guest Services team to feed into guest lists and manage enquiries and expectations; Manage sponsors and stakeholders on the ground during EIFF, ensuring all parties are looked after and are able to make the most of their time; Work with the Marketing team to design and produce impact reports for sponsors and stakeholders and ensure these are issued in a timely manner after the Festival;

Fundraising Development

Research, write and submit grant applications to secure funding from government funding bodies, philanthropic foundations, international arts organisations and cultural agencies; Manage the contracting process with all funding bodies; Work with the Marketing team to ensure all funder acknowledgements and credits are delivered in line with expectations and requirements; Manage and coordinate all funder reporting requirements, collating information and liaising with the Marketing team as required to meet all deadlines; Be fully aware of and up to date on all relevant grants and schemes as they arise throughout the year, keeping the Festival Producer and Festival Director informed of opportunities and parameters; Develop and implement key strategies to grow individual donor contributions, including major gifts and annual giving campaigns; Work with the Marketing team to design and produce impact reports for partners and donors and ensure these are issued in a timely manner after the Festival;

Partnership Development

Work with the Festival Producer and Festival Director to establish mutually beneficial partnerships with local, national and international organisations to support the delivery of the Festival, e.g. hotels, venues, hospitality, travel partners etc, negotiating partnership agreements and in kind support; Liaise with the Festival Producer and Festival Director to coordinate and manage benefits and agreements for creative, cultural, industry and media partners in support of programme development; Work with the Marketing team to design and produce impact reports for partners and donors and ensure these are issued in a timely manner after the Festival;

Strategic Planning & Reporting

Develop and implement a comprehensive sponsorship and fundraising plan to maximise income from corporate partnerships, individual giving and trusts and foundations; Ensure that all fundraising activities reflect the mission, values and aims of the Festival in line with the business plan and organisational strategy; Maintain the highest professional standards in fundraising, ensuring adherence to the Code of Fundraising Practice as required by OSCR; Work with the Festival Producer and Festival Director to create realistic fundraising goals and track progress; Maintain accurate records of all Development income and expenditure with regular reporting as required; Prepare and submit regular fundraising reports to the Festival Producer and Festival Director as required; Develop a cohesive structure for sponsor, partner and supporter acknowledgements and benefits, including managing EIFF honours board and other associated promotional assets/platforms; Work with the Festival's management platform, Filmchief, to oversee the development and maintenance of up-to-date databases of clients, sponsors, charities and fundraising bodies, to maximise the opportunity for data insights into fundraising activity as well as supporting guest list development; Track and analyse sponsorship performance, fundraising metrics and ROI for sponsors and stakeholders; Work with the Marketing team to develop evaluation plans and strategies for the Festival, ensuring all funder and sponsor requirements are factored into these; Ensure the timely and accurate fulfilment of all fundraising obligations to all funders, sponsors and stakeholders, including reporting and evaluation;

General

Communicate effectively with colleagues and departments across the Festival to share information, achieve deadlines and promote a positive working environment; Attend meetings and provide progress and financial reports as required; Participate in the selection, induction and appraisal of direct reports; Work with relevant staff to set up workstations for direct reports; On completion of the contract, complete staff and line management report forms as required; Always act in accordance with EIFF policies and procedures; Carry out other duties as reasonably requested by your line manager.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Essential

Minimum of 5 years of experience in sponsorship development, fundraising and/or corporate partnerships, preferably in the arts, entertainment or non-profit sector; Proven track record in securing significant sponsorships and donations; Understanding of funding for film and arts/culture or charitable organisations; Experience in writing grant applications and proposals and managing reporting requirements; Strong writing and presentation skills, with the ability to craft compelling tailored sponsorship proposals; Experience with databases and CRM software; Excellent communication, negotiation and relationship-management skills; Excellent attention to detail; Ability to work under pressure, meet deadlines and handle multiple tasks in a fast-paced environment; A team player with strong collaborative skills, a positive attitude and flexibility; Knowledge of and passion for the film industry and international film festivals; Knowledge of wider arts sector, in Scotland, across the UK and internationally

Additional Requirements

Willingness to work occasional evenings and weekends during the Festival and other events.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Working days

5 days a week by agreement within standard office hours of 9.30 to 17:30, Monday to Friday. At peak times, and particularly immediately before and during EIFF, it will be necessary to work outside standard hours and at weekends. Payment of overtime is not applicable to this post.

Contract type

Fixed term contract. November 2025 - November 2026

Salary Range

31,000 - 35,000

Holiday entitlement

25 days per annum plus public holidays, pro rata plus 10 public holiday of which 5 are fixed and 5 are floating days

Working arrangements

Based at EIFF offices in Techcube in Summerhall. Hybrid working arrangements can potentially be discussed and agreed.

Pension Scheme

EIFF will comply with the employer pension duties in accordance with Part 1 of the Pension Act 2008, as amended or replaced from time to time

Equal Opportunities

Edinburgh International Film Festival is an Equal Opportunities Employer and as such all positions will be offered to the candidate with the required skills for the post and without consideration to a candidate's race, ethnic origin, nationality, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, age, marital or civil partnership status or disability.

Please note that EIFF is not a licensed sponsor for VISAs and as such you must already have the Right to Work in the UK to apply for our roles.

ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY

One of EIFF's core aims is to be an environmentally sustainable business and this approach will be embedded across the organisation.

Job Types: Full-time, Fixed term contract
Contract length: 12 months

Pay: 31,000.00-35,000.00 per year

Work Location: In person