Dionysus is looking for a Schools Engagement Manager to join a new festival team in Canberra. The festival brings together loved ones – families and friends of all ages – to find wonder in the world.
The Schools Engagement Manager will lead the festival's engagement with primary schools across the Canberra Region, building a compelling schools program with the festival team, manage excursions to festival events in the last week of Term 1, 2026, and help to develop practical classroom resources that support participation.
We're looking for someone with a deep understanding of Canberra's education landscape, positive relationships with leaders of schools, and a creative mind. Ideally, you are a former lead teacher or school executive who knows how to speak a school's language.
The position is a project-based contract between September 2025 and April 2026 (7 months including a Christmas break). It is envisioned to require 300-450 hours, mostly at times chosen by the candidate, and the more connected and experienced the candidate, the less time it will likely require. The total remuneration will be decided based on the successful applicant's experience, skills and available time, and will range between $23,000-$31,000 for 27 weeks of work, including super. The role should be manageable alongside a pre-existing position or other contracts.
Key responsibilities
Lead school engagement for the 2026 festival, focusing on primary schools
Work with the programmers to build an exciting program for primary school students with some public outcomes
Work with the coordinator to manage bookings for excursions in the last week of Term 1, 2026
Build buy-in with school leaders and educators in the Canberra Region
Work with creatives to build practical resources that support excursion planning and curriculum outcomes
Coordinate communications and planning across a broad range of school stakeholders
Gather feedback and report on participation and engagement outcomes
Identify additional opportunities for meaningful school involvement
Key dates
Mid September 2025: meet everyone and on-board, review the festival documentation
October-December: work with the Education directorate, schools and the festival programmers to shape a viable festival program for primary school students, prepare materials for school integrations
January - March 2026: update stakeholders as the festival finalises all details, ensure excursion details are appropriate for the needs of schools and the festival
30 March - 12 April 2026: watch audiences enjoy a wonderful new world, manage key stakeholders
Late April 2026: send thanks, de-brief and look to the future
Required Attributes
Positive existing relationships with educational leaders across Canberra region
Strong communication skills, and capable of building trust with principals, teachers and colleagues
Thrive in fast-paced environments with multiple priorities
Very organised, reliable and proactive, with instincts for what needs to happen next, and how to make it happen smoothly
Solutions-focused mindset, able to move through problems systematically and take others on the journey
Collaborative, kind, and excited about building something special that will impact thousands of students
Ideal Attributes
Strong pre-existing relationships with many Canberra school leaders across different systems
Passionate about arts and education, and experienced in connecting the two in meaningful ways
Ideally the Schools Engagement Manager would rejoin for the 2027 festival, if everyone's loving it.
Remuneration
Contract role for 27 weeks (7 months including a Christmas break), $23,000-31,000 (plus GST if registered) including superannuation.
A Simple Application
Please send a Cover Letter addressing the required and ideal skills and experience, opportunities you see for the role, and a CV including contact details for at least two referees, to [emailprotected] .
This opportunity will close when the appropriate candidate is found.
Dionysus is an equal opportunity employer and encourages applications from people of all backgrounds with a love for life.
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What can I earn as an Engagement Manager
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