Executive Director North Australian Festival of Arts (NAFA) Townsville, QLD | 0.6 FTE | Senior Leadership Role
About the North Australian Festival of Arts (NAFA)Since its inception in 2019, the North Australian Festival of Arts has become a creative powerhouse, drawing over 300,000 audience members, providing opportunities for nearly 6000 artists, and contributing more than $37.2M to the local economy. It has firmly cemented its place as a signature event in Townsville, offering a vibrant and ever-evolving celebration of the community’s artistic spirit and cultural richness. About the RoleThe North Australian Festival of Arts is entering its most ambitious phase, Under bold artistic leadership and with a highly engaged Board, NAFA is developing beyond a traditional regional festival model toward a future-facing, place-driven cultural platform rooted in North Queensland and the Great Barrier Reef; from a traditional regional arts festival into a place-led cultural platform shaped by the artists and communities who call this region home. The next Executive Director will help build that future.
This is not a maintenance role. It is a systems-building, sustainability-driving, growth-ready leadership opportunity.
Working in close co-leadership with the Artistic Director, the Executive Director will translate artistic ambition into operational, financial and governance excellence. You will ensure NAFA is financially robust, legally sound, culturally respectful, and structurally prepared for scaled impact. Selection CriteriaYou will bring:Senior leadership experience in arts, cultural or NFP contextsStrong financial acumen (budgets, forecasting, reserves, compliance)Confidence managing risk in event-based environmentsExperience working with Boards and public funding bodiesHigh emotional intelligence and the ability to lead people wellCommitment to First Nations leadership and Cultural authority Job RequirementsYou will lead:Organisational execution of strategyFinancial sustainability and governanceRisk, compliance and operational systemsStaff leadership and organisational cultureStrategic stakeholder relationships This is a rare opportunity to shape a festival at an inflection point — to help build a model that connects artistic ambition, environmental consciousness and regional identity.
3 days per week (0.6 FTE). Based in Townsville with flexibility.For the full position description and application details, visit our website.Applications close: 5pm Saturday 28 February 2026.