16 Jun Event Planner Job Posting 2023

Toronto Garlic Festival seeks an Assistant Event Planner between age of 15 and 30 years of age to assist with the development and implementation of a revised business model for the Toronto Garlic Festival that will ensure its long-term financial stability. No direct experience required, this is a unique opportunity for a person desiring experience in the event industry. This Position is possible thanks to a grant from Canada Summer Jobs Program.  You must be between the age of 15 and 30 years. For further information on this popular event go to https://torontogarlicfestival.ca/about-3/

Position Start Date: As soon as possible   Position End Date: Sept 2, 2023    Total Hours: 280 (40 hours per week at $640.00 per week).

Eligibility: A person who:
(a) is between 15 and 30 years of age (inclusive) at the start of employment;
(b) is a Canadian Citizen, permanent resident, or person on whom refugee protection has been conferred under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act [S.C. 2001, c. 27]*; and
(c) is legally entitled to work according to the relevant provincial / territorial legislation and regulations.
*International students are not eligible. Recent immigrants are eligible if they are Canadian Citizens or permanent residents.

Work Remotely: Can work flexible hours. Must have cell phone and computer with internet access.

Your Career Goals: You are not required to have prior experience in the areas below. This is an opportunity to gain valuable experience as a paid intern.  Duties are wide-ranging and include all or parts of the following, depending on your aptitude and your career goals:

Please send your resume to: Peter McClusky at Peterm@torontogarlicfestival.ca

Tasks include but are not limited to the following.

1. BUSINESS MODEL OF THE FESTIVAL – what new opportunities exist that will allow for the Festival to continue in a financially sustainable way. Understanding of the current business model of the Toronto Garlic Festival.  Understanding of the current financial stability of the festival.  Identification of potential partners who can take on the running and management of the festival. Development of a revised business model that will benefit both the festival and the partner.  Identification of potential sponsorship and merchandise opportunities.  Creation of a plan to increase visitor numbers.
2. EVENT SITE PLANNING AND LOGISTICS. Includes risk management for vendors and crowds, vendor load in, waste removal.
3. VENDOR RELATIONS – Vendors include chefs and cooks, local added value food producers, artisans and farmers who pay a fee to attend the one day festival and sell their products. Sectors from which the vendors come are food industry and agriculture. Chefs are independent, some are part of a catering operation, some are restaurant proprietors, some are employees in a restaurant. Food producers include makers of added-value products such as jams, jellies, garlic flavoured desserts. Employee will engage with these reps on admin items, such as forms required for their admission to the festival. They may also engage on matters related to the dishes to be prepared and served at the festival. In some cases they may visit the chef’s operation, to take photos, to promote in Festival social media. Employee will similarly interact with farmers and artisans. Other duties include to update vendors on festival planning, to keep them engaged, and remind them to promote the festival through their own social media.
4. CUSTOMER RELATIONS & SERVICE – customers refers to the visitors who attend the one-day Toronto Garlic Festival and people who email the Festival with inquires in the weeks and months leading up to the Festival. Duties include to answer questions and to inform the Festival admin of possible updates or changes to the website based on inquires.
5. BASIC ACCOUNTING – includes accounts payable, accounts receivable, plotting future receipts against liabilities.
6. MARKETING – creative and innovative marketing is a key part of the Toronto Garlic Festival, in part because the Festival has such a small budget.
7. DATA MANAGEMENT – The Festival makes extensive use of online information storage tools, such as Google Spreadsheets, which students will use to track information. Employee will be trained to understand the basic workings of spreadsheets, including formulas, data sorting, etc.
8. WEBSITE BACK END INCLUDING GOOGLE ADWORDS AND GOOGLE ANALYTICS – as a not for profit the festival has a google adwords grant to place online ads for free. The rules constantly change and therefore requires close attention.
9. WEBSITE FRONT END – duties include updating information on each of the 60+ Festival vendors, plus, speakers, musicians, and other content. Also, to add new recipes to the recipes section and to review already posted recipes.
10. GRAPHIC DESIGN – depending on the skill and aptitude of the the employee they may be engaged to work with the team to conceive and/or create graphic materials including marketing collateral, images for social media and to edit images for the website.
11. VOLUNTEER MANAGEMENT – recruitment, contacting, and assigning volunteers. Assisting volunteer manager before and during the event.
12. RISK MANAGEMENT- this refers to public and vendor safety at the Festival but also includes Festival employee safety prior to the Festival.
13. SOCIAL MEDIA (twitter, facebook, Instagram) this is seen by thousands of viewers some of whom may reply or respond.
14. RESEARCH – includes finding vendor prospects, media contacts, and other.