Location: Hybrid, primarily home-based with one day per week in our office in Broad Chalke, near Salisbury

Reports to: Creative Director

Hours: Part-time, 3 days per week, plus attendance throughout the 7-day Festival in June

Salary: £22,000 per annum (£36,666 FTE) 

About Us 

Chalke History Festival is one of the UK’s most distinctive cultural events: a multi-day celebration of history set in the beautiful chalk downlands of Wiltshire. Each year, we bring together leading historians, authors, broadcasters and thinkers alongside an immersive programme of living history, performance, music and outdoor experiences.

We are entering an exciting period of growth. Our ambition is to broaden our audience, deepen and diversify our programme, and establish Chalke as a destination event, not only for committed history enthusiasts, but for a new generation of culturally curious visitors looking for an unforgettable and stimulating weekend away.

The Role 

We are looking for a creative, dynamic and highly organised Living History & Events Manager to help develop and deliver our living history, performance, experiences and music programme. This is an unusually varied role, combining creative research and programme development with the detailed organisation needed to bring ambitious ideas to life.

Working closely with the Creative Director and Programme Director, you will research potential contributors and programme ideas, help shape the Festival schedule, manage relationships with performers and suppliers, and oversee the administration and logistics that underpin successful delivery.

You will be equally comfortable exploring an exciting new programme idea, working through logistics with colleagues, checking that the necessary paperwork is in place, and solving practical problems as the Festival week approaches.

Key Responsibilities 

You Will

• Support the Creative Director in researching, developing and delivering the Festival’s Living History & Events programme.
• Research potential contributors, performers, experiences and new programming opportunities.
• Manage programme administration, ensuring that supplier agreements, risk assessments and Public Liability Insurance documentation are in place.
• Liaise with the wider management team to coordinate the logistics required to deliver the programme successfully.
• Work with the Creative Director and Programme Director to create a detailed timed programme for living history, performance, experiences and music.
• Liaise with the Marketing Director to provide accurate, engaging information and content for publicity and audience communications.
• Maintain accurate records of planned programme costs and provide regular updates to the Finance Director.
• Liaise with the onsite Living History Manager to coordinate participant check-in and the onsite delivery of the programme.
• Help troubleshoot programme and logistical issues both in the run-up to the Festival and during the Festival week.

About You 

You do not necessarily need to have worked at a history festival before. What matters is that you combine curiosity and enthusiasm with excellent organisation and the ability to get things done.

You Will Be 

• Interested in and engaged with history, heritage and the wider cultural sector.
• Highly organised, with excellent attention to detail.
• Confident managing administration, schedules and logistics involving multiple contributors and moving parts.
• Calm and resourceful, with the ability to solve problems under pressure.
• A strong written and verbal communicator.
• Personable and professional, with the ability to build positive working relationships with a wide range of people.
• Numerate and comfortable managing budgets and cost information.
• Confident using Word, Excel and PowerPoint.
• Collaborative, proactive and happy working as part of a small team.
• Comfortable taking responsibility and seeing projects through from initial idea to delivery.

Learning and Development
This is a genuine development opportunity for someone keen to build a career in cultural programming and live events.

Working closely with the Creative Director and Programme Director, you will gain practical experience across research, programming, contributor management, logistics and live event delivery. As your experience and confidence grow, there will be opportunities to take ownership of individual projects and develop your own areas of responsibility.

Working at Chalke 

The role is three days per week, with some flexibility around working patterns at different times of the year. It is primarily home-based, with one day per week in our Broad Chalke office near Salisbury.

Attendance throughout the seven-day Chalke History Festival in June is essential and additional time will be required during set-up and take-down of the site.

Salary: £22,000 per annum (£36,666 FTE) 

Holiday: 17 days per year, including bank holidays 

Pension: Workplace pension scheme through NEST 

Please send your CV and a short covering letter (maximum one page) to [email protected]

In your covering letter, please tell us why you’re interested in joining Chalke History Festival, what attracts you to the Living History & Events Manager role, and how your skills and experience would help you succeed. 

Deadline for applications is Friday 13th November.