Festival Project Manager – Guest Experience

Who We Are

Job Description

Festival Project Manager – Guest Experience

You’ll be the face of SGIFF’s hospitality — the person who ensures a filmmaker flying in feels genuinely welcomed, supported, and cared for from the moment they confirm their attendance to the moment they head home.

You’ll own the full guest journey: travel, accommodation, accreditation, ground logistics, and personalised support. You’ll lead a small team, manage the hospitality budget, and play a key role in shaping how SGIFF shows up for its most important guests.

This is a role for someone who is calm under pressure, takes pride in the details, and finds genuine satisfaction in making people feel at home — even 10,000 kilometres from it.

Contract Period: 11 August – 13 November 2026 

What You’ll Do:

Guest Communication & Experience

• Set the tone for every guest’s festival experience by crafting a warm, well-designed welcome note and digital welcome package that reflects SGIFF’s identity.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for all invited guests; responding to inquiries, gathering requirements, and building trusted relationships.
• Maintain a comprehensive and up-to-date guest list, capturing key details such as dietary needs, accessibility requirements, and travel preferences.
• Create itineraries for each guest, tailored to their schedule, interests, and role at the festival.

Travel & Accommodation Management

• Liaise with travel agencies to source competitive flight options and manage all booking coordination.
• Oversee end-to-end travel logistics, ensuring guests are well-informed and supported throughout their journey.
• Manage hotel rooming lists and work closely with accommodation partners on confirmations, room assignments, and special requests.

Accreditation & Documentation

• Lead the guest accreditation process, including data collection, pass production, and distribution.
• Coordinate VISA support for international guests, ensuring all documentation is accurate and deadlines are met.

Ground Transportation

• Partner with the Transport Coordinator to ensure smooth, timely airport transfers and local travel arrangements throughout the festival
• Keep transport and operations teams updated with real-time guest schedules and changes.

Team Leadership & Internal Coordination

• Supervise and mentor event management interns and temporary staff, delegating effectively and upholding a high standard of guest care.
• Lead regular team check-ins to maintain alignment, energy, and readiness during the festival period.
• Drive the Guest Experience Department’s After Action Report (AAR) and post-festival debrief, documenting lessons learned and proposing improvements for future editions.

Budget Management

• Own the hospitality budget, tracking expenditure across travel, accommodation, welcome materials, and guest services.
• Provide regular financial updates and cost forecasts to festival leadership, flagging risks early.

What We’re Looking For:

Required

• Experience in hospitality, event coordination, or festival operations.
• Strong budget management skills with a track record of accurate financial tracking.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with a professional and warm manner.
• Highly organised, with the ability to juggle multiple priorities and timelines simultaneously.
• Proficiency in tools such as Google Sheets, Excel, Canva, or similar platforms.
• Discretion and composure when working with VIPs, international guests, and high-pressure situations.
• Flexibility to work evenings and weekends during the festival period.

Preferred

• Prior experience at a festival or arts organisation.
• Experience managing or mentoring junior staff or interns.

Who You Are

• You stay calm and solutions-focused when things don’t go to plan — and in festival operations, they sometimes won’t.
• You lead with empathy, both with guests and with your team.
• You sweat the small stuff without losing sight of the bigger picture.
• You have a genuine passion for film, culture, and creating experiences that people remember.

What You’ll Gain

• A front-row seat to one of Asia’s most prestigious cultural events.
• Direct exposure to the film industry, including filmmakers, critics, and industry professionals from across Asia and beyond and the chance to build professional relationships.
• An opportunity to take on a meaningful role at one of Asia’s most prestigious cultural events, deepening your expertise in festival operations and advancing your career in the events, hospitality, or arts sector.
• Access to festival screenings, talks, and networking opportunities.
• A collaborative, passionate team that cares deeply about the work.
• Flexibility to work remotely or on a hybrid basis during the pre-festival period, with on-site presence required during the lead up to the event and the  Festival itself.

Eligibility

In line with local hiring guidelines, preference will be given to Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents. We welcome applications from candidates of all backgrounds who meet this requirement.

How to Apply

We’d love to hear from you. Please send your CV and two references by 31 June 2026. Shortlisted candidates will be invited for an interview.Positions are accepted on a rolling basis, so you are encouraged to apply as early as you can.