Programming Coordinator

Job Title: Programming Coordinator, Festival (2 positions)

Location: Toronto, ON - Hybrid Office Set Up (In office for team collaboration on Thursdays and additional days near Elevate Festival)

Salary Range: $55,000 (Please keep in mind that this salary will be prorated for the duration of the contract)

Contract Dates: Coordinator 1: May 1 to Oct 23 | Coordinator 2: Jun 15 to Oct 16

Employment Type:  Full Time, Contract 

Reports to: Senior Manager, Programming

Required to be fully available the week prior to Elevate Festival and on-site Sunday, October 5th, 2025 - Thursday, October 9th, 2025.

Do you believe that technology and innovation can solve society’s greatest issues? Do you want to be part of an organization working with some of the biggest companies and innovators in Canada to make meaningful change? If this is you, then read on.is 

About Elevate

Elevate unites world-class innovators to catalyze transformation in the Canadian tech ecosystem. Through year-round programs and events, Elevate places a spotlight on Canadian innovation,  facilitates global connections with startups and investors, and inspires Canadians to embrace innovation and collaboration. Elevate looks to bring together founders, investors and ecosystem leaders to help shape the future of the Canadian innovation economy.

We’re Looking For

Are you a high-energy, ambitious self-starter with a passion for tech, innovation, and live events? We’re looking for a Programming Coordinator to join our Festival team and play a crucial role in bringing world-class speakers to our stages.

In this role, you’ll be at the heart of the action—coordinating and onboarding top-tier speakers, optimizing processes, and ensuring every detail is executed flawlessly. You’re a problem-solver, a go-getter, and a master of organization, always spotting opportunities for efficiency and improvement.

Do you thrive in fast-paced environments? Are you excited by the thought of working with industry leaders and tech visionaries? Do you love events and want to be part of something game-changing?

If this sounds like you, join us in creating an unforgettable Festival experience.

Main Responsibilities

• Support Programming Managers on speaker onboarding and supporting speaker research/outreach, as needed.  
• Maintain and keep the speaker database up-to-date (up to 300+ speakers). 
• Oversee speaker onboarding process including speaker contracts, speaker asset/information collection, travel/accommodations bookings, building and delivering speaker logistics packages, assisting Marketing/PR with speaker media requests, and assisting with the collection of segment assets (scripts, PPTs, etc.).
• Respond to inquiries and schedule calls with speakers in a timely manner
• Update speaker assets across multiple platforms to ensure information is always accurate and up-to-date
• Maintain a high level of quality, professionalism, and integrity when communicating with talent & partners
• Prepare presentations and meeting materials for internal and external meetings
• Organize and execute the speaker registration experience on-site at Elevate Festival. 
• Assist in the creation of post-festival recap and analytic documents

Experience

• Completed post-secondary education in a relevant area of study or 1-2 years of experience in speaker relations, live event programming/production, administration, or related industry 
• Exceptional project management, organizational, and time management skills with the ability to multitask and prioritize projects with competing deadlines
• Advanced working knowledge of Google Suite (Docs, Sheets, Slides, Forms), presentation decks, mail merges, CRM, & calendar systems
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Self-starter with strong problem-solving skills
• Ability to connect with stakeholders to establish positive relationships

• Proven experience sourcing and negotiating services with high-profile stakeholders
• Thrives in busy work environments
• Executes a high level of positivity and professionalism in the office and onsite during the Elevate Festival
• Must be willing to work some non-structured hours as we approach the Elevate Festival, including 12+ hours days during Festival week.

*If you meet some, but not all of these requirements, we still encourage you to apply!

What We Offer 

• 4% vacation pay-out received on every paycheck
• Bonus summer long weekend days (Think: The Friday before the Long Weekend in July and September)
• A paid day off on the week of your birthday
• A hybrid work environment
• A parent-friendly and flexible workplace with flexible hours at the Toronto Design Exchange
• Opportunity to meet and collaborate with some of the biggest names in tech, while collaborating with a team through socials, numerous events, and workshops
• Staff socials to hang out as a team

Interview Process

While this is not all-encompassing for every role at Elevate, we try to follow a process similar to this and all candidates will be notified at every stage who they’ll be meeting with. 

An example process: 

• Step 1: A phone call with one of our team members. In this call, we will cover the basics of the role and our organization, and discuss a high-level overview of your past experiences, goals, and interest in this role.
• Step 2: A video call with the hiring manager and a team member or supervisor. In this call, we will be digging deeper into your experience relevant to the role and also provide an opportunity for you to ask more questions and learn about our team. Some roles may require additional components involving portfolio walkthroughs, technical reviews, and opportunities for candidates to share more about their creative process. We will always let candidates know ahead of time if this is something you can expect for the role you're applying for.
• Step 3:  A video call or in-person meet-up in our downtown Toronto Office with the role’s Hiring Manager, Department Director and/or Festival Director. This is an opportunity to talk more about our programs and how you’d like to contribute and another point of connection.
• Step 4: Offer.

** We also aim to complete our recruitment process in around 4 weeks, but it is role and job-level dependent. 

Accommodations and Accessibility

Elevate strives to provide accommodations during the recruitment process should candidates request support. Should you require any accommodation, please indicate this on your application and we will try our best to work with you to meet your accessibility needs. For any questions, suggestions or required documents regarding accessibility in a different format, please contact us at accommodations@elevate.ca.

Elevate is committed to a diverse, equitable and inclusive workplace in which everyone is welcomed, valued, and supported. Please advise of any accommodation measures that would enable you to be interviewed in a fair and equitable manner. If you are a member of an equity deserving community we encourage you to self-identify in your application. Information received in relation to identity or accommodation will be kept confidential. 

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At Elevate, we are committed to building an environment where everyone feels included, valued, and heard. Diversity, inclusion, and belonging are an important part of our everyday working culture. We strongly encourage applications from Indigenous peoples, racialized people, people with disabilities, people from gender and sexually diverse communities and/or people with intersectional identities.

Elevate was founded on land that is the traditional territory of the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnabeg, the Haudenosaunee, and the Wendat peoples and is now home to many diverse First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Peoples from across Turtle Island. We acknowledge that we are all treaty people and accept our responsibility to honour all our relations.

To recognize the land is an expression of gratitude and appreciation to those whose territory we reside on and a way of honouring the Indigenous people who have been living and working on the land from time immemorial. Land acknowledgements do not exist in a past tense or historical context: colonialism is current and ongoing, and we need to centre reconciliation in our actions and our work. We encourage our team, partners, and clients to learn about the lands in which they live and to work towards reconciliation.