Operations Mananger

Boston Book Festival — Boston/Brighton, MA

Full-time (with flexible/remote periods), some evenings/weekends required

About the Organization

The Boston Book Festival (BBF) produces New England’s largest celebration of books and ideas, bringing together hundreds of authors and thousands of readers each year. In addition to our flagship festival in the Fall, we present other events throughout the year that champion storytelling, spark curiosity, and build community.

We are powered by a small but mighty year-round staff, supported by seasonal interns, contractors, and more than 350 volunteers — all driven by a shared belief that literature should be vibrant, welcoming, and accessible to everyone.

Position Summary

The Boston Book Festival seeks a big-picture, detail-focused Operations Manager to serve as the central coordinating force of our organization, reporting directly to the Executive Director.

This is a chance to join our leadership team and shape the festival’s smooth daily operations while helping fuel its long-term growth. The role is full-time, with flexibility (including the option for working remotely) during the first half of the year. The position is based in Boston/Brighton, MA, and requires being in the office for much of the workweek.

The Operations Manager will oversee the operational backbone of the organization — from logistics and scheduling to volunteers, vendors, and office systems — ensuring our signature events run seamlessly.

What you’ll love about this role: you’ll see your plans come to life in packed author events and lively street fairs; you’ll work with a tight-knit team that celebrates wins big and small; and you’ll help strengthen Boston’s literary community as a welcoming, joyful, and accessible space.

Key Responsibilities

Festival & Event Logistics

Manage all operational components of the Boston Book Festival, including:

• Venues, A/V, materials, hotels, catering, contractor/vendor coordination, and rate negotiation
• Identify and recruit potential exhibitors; manage all aspects of the exhibitor application, selection, and payment process

Volunteer Management

• Recruit, train, and manage a corps of 350+ volunteers annually to support festival operations

Sponsorship & Partnership Support

• Provide sponsorship fulfillment support (ED leads cultivation); assist with partner communications and deliverables

Marketing Support

• Coordinate the marketing calendar and support content producers; ensure smooth workflow for campaign execution

Office & Administrative Oversight

• Manage bookkeeping, office supplies, databases, and relationships with contractors (legal, accounting, insurance, website, etc.)
• Maintain efficient administrative systems that support a fast-paced and collaborative environment

Intern Supervision

• Assist in recruiting and supervising interns; provide task assignments and mentorship

Qualifications

The ideal candidate will bring:

• 5+ years of experience in operations, logistics, or large-scale live event planning (nonprofit or festival experience preferred)
• Strong organizational and problem-solving skills; ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines
• Experience supervising volunteers or interns and leading diverse teams
• Administrative and technical proficiency with Microsoft Office, Google Suite, QuickBooks Online, and donor databases
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal
• Comfort with budgeting and bookkeeping basics; experience negotiating vendor contracts
• Valid driver’s license and ability to travel locally for event-related needs
• Ability to lift up to 30 pounds and perform occasional physical tasks for event setup and logistics
• Team player with flexibility, initiative, and enthusiasm for a fast-paced environment
• A passion for books, literature, and BBF’s mission to build community through the joy of reading and the exchange of ideas

Compensation & Schedule

• Full-time exempt position with flexible schedule (part-time remote in early months)
• Requires in-office presence in Boston/Brighton and availability for some evenings/weekends, especially in the fall festival season
• Salary range: $67,000–$75,000, commensurate with experience

How to Apply

To apply, please send a cover letter, résumé, and contact information for three professional references in a single PDF to info@bostonbookfest.org. Please put “Ops Mgr application” in the subject line.