Festivals Project Manager

Conner Prairie Museum•Fishers, IN

8d•Onsite

About The Position

The Festivals Project Manager provides operational oversight of festivals at Conner Prairie, working with colleagues on cross-departmental planning teams to design, plan, and implement events including History on Tap, Jupiter Flights, Headless Horseman, A Merry Prairie Holiday, and other occasional special events. The role requires strong organizational and communication skills, attention to detail, and adaptability in managing complex projects. It involves evening and weekend work during the festival season (September–December), outdoor work in varied weather, and physical work. The Project Manager works with the Senior Manager of Events and Programs to establish the vision and standard operating procedures for festival programming. The role develops operational plans and training materials, delivers training to staff and volunteers, coordinates festival communications across divisions, manages operating-supply purchases across multiple festival budgets, and recruits and oversees select contracted performers. It also supervises seasonal Scare Team staff and oversees costumes and small props. The position participates in event planning and process-improvement efforts and serves as Person in Charge for select events as assigned. The position is based at Conner Prairie Museum in Fishers, Indiana. Conner Prairie is generally open 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Tuesday through Sunday; this role is required to work beyond those hours and during special events. The role regularly involves wet or humid non-weather conditions and outdoor weather conditions, and may occasionally involve moving mechanical parts, heights, fumes or airborne particles, toxic or caustic chemicals, extreme temperatures, electrical-shock risks, and explosives. The usual noise level is quiet to moderate.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Theater, Hospitality, Event Planning, Museum Studies, or a similar field.
Strong organizational and communication skills, attention to detail, and adaptability in managing complex projects.
Ability to perform the essential duties and responsibilities, with reasonable accommodations where applicable.
Demonstrate customer service, teamwork, diversity awareness, ethics, organizational support, professionalism, quality and productivity, safety, attendance, and dependability competencies.
Demonstrate adaptability, technical skills, oral communication, and initiative.
Ability to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear regularly.
Ability to stand and walk frequently and lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.
Ability to occasionally climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; and taste or smell.
Required vision abilities include close, distance, color, peripheral, and depth vision, and the ability to adjust focus.
Ability to work outdoors in varied weather and perform physical work.
Ability to work evenings and weekends during the September–December festival season and beyond regular hours for special events.

Responsibilities

Work with the Senior Manager of Events and Programs to set the vision and build standard operating procedures for festival programming.
Work with the Programs team to set up and tear down events and help maintain schedules and timelines.
Develop operational plans and training materials for each festival and deliver training to Conner Prairie staff and volunteers.
Act as the operations liaison between the festivals team and colleagues in other divisions to ensure consistent festival communications across events.
Oversee the purchase of operating supplies across multiple festival budgets.
Recruit and oversee select contracted performers.
Hire and oversee Scare Team staff.
Oversee the acquisition, storage, and maintenance of costumes and small props.
Participate in cross-departmental planning teams to regularly refresh and reimagine each event.
Examine internal planning processes and identify ways to streamline and improve efficiency.
Serve as Person in Charge (PIC) for select events, as assigned.
Supervise part-time seasonal Scare Team staff and may help direct part-time Production Crew staff.
Work evenings and weekends during the festival season and beyond regular public operating hours when required for special events.