Association of British Orchestras

Head of Music Programme

Edinburgh International Festival £50,000 - £60,000 Closing date 05 December 2025
Contract Type: Permanent, Full Time

The Edinburgh International Festival is looking for an experienced, passionate and dedicated Head of Music Programme 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 applications from candidates of all communities and backgrounds. Inclusive culture is the foundation for a successful workplace, this is a key focus for us across our staff, our artists, and our audiences.
To increase the diversity of our staff, our recruitment includes the Rooney Rule - regarding ethnicity – and Disability Confident Scheme for interviews. For more information go to our website.

Job Specification

The Role:
The Head of Music Programme‘s primary responsibility is to research and develop the Festival’s music programme guided by the Festival Director, and for the delivery of all musical elements of the Festival including planning and scheduling through to producing the final performances and managing the wider music team.
The International Festival’s regular music programme spans orchestral, chamber, traditional, folk and contemporary styles, as well staged 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 commenced with the creation of an informal music venue at the Festival’s home The Hub, presenting beanbag concerts at the Usher Hall, and creating programmes that give insight into repertoire and the musicians that perform the music. This is an exciting time to join the Programme Department as we continue to explore and develop the possibilities offered by Nicola Benedetti’s vision for the Festival.

Job Responsibilities and Deliverables
• Programming
• Music Programming
• Festival Chorus
• Recording and Broadcast
• Financial
• Production
• Management

Benefits: See attached job pack or EIF website for EIF Employee Benefits

Please apply online at https://www.eif.co.uk/jobs

Closing date for applications: 12 noon, 05/12/25

Contact details

https://www.eif.co.uk/jobs/head-of-music-programme-2025

Annual Conference

The next ABO conference will take place in London,
hosted by The Southbank Centre, from 4-6 February 2026
.