Executive Director, Grey Cup 2027 Festival (Term)

Term: August 2026 - January 2028

Reporting to the Chair, Grey Cup Operations Committee, this role will lead the overall planning and execution of the 2027 Grey Cup Festival in Saskatchewan. The Executive Director is crucial to the success of the entire festival! The ideal candidate will have an innovate mindset with the proven track record, skills, and experience to put creative, customer focused major event plans into action to continue to build the Grey Cup brand and create the best Grey Cup Festival to date. Hosting a Grey Cup in Saskatchewan is not only an opportunity to showcase our amazing province, but also our fans, volunteers and communities.

This role focuses on oversight and leadership of the Grey Cup Festival staff as well as liaising with the Canadian Football League (CFL), guiding the Volunteer Festival Committee leadership team and working collaboratively with key stakeholders in the community. The role has the lead responsibility for the execution of all events taking place within the 2027 Grey Cup Festival. The role will lead and liaise with a combination of internal and volunteer teams to deliver the Grey Cup and Grey Cup Festival business plan including the execution of all Festival Events including, but not limited to, entertainment events, CFL Team hospitality rooms, Family Zone, Legends Zone, flag football activation, cultural events, formal events and any other activities as envisioned for the Festival.

The position will act as a liaison between the Grey Cup Festival staff and Volunteer Festival Committee and Business Operations Committee, providing support to both Committee’s and sub-Committee’s as required, ensuring consistency in event planning and delivery, while ensuring the Grey Cup Festival vision is achieved.

Major Responsibilities:

• Oversight and leadership on overall festival planning, logistics and execution

• Ensure all operations and commitments are carried out in accordance with approved plans and

timelines

• Partner with the CFL Grey Cup & Events team to align deliverables and maximize Grey Cup

results

• Building community relationships and growing a provincial network to ensure engagement of the

province as a whole

• Budget allocation and management of Grey Cup financials to achieve established results

• Lead and monitor the volunteer Festival Committees to ensure established timelines and festival

deliverables are achieved

• Negotiate or review festival agreements; including any required permits, permissions and

arrangements

• Provide leadership to all Festival Committees to ensure all production related requirements are

coordinated within established budgets

• Lead a team of term employees focused on project management and administrative support to the

Grey Cup planning and event execution

• Act as a public spokesperson to the media around Grey Cup planning and activities

• Support the Club and CFL’s sponsorship obligations to ensure sponsor activations and goals are

met as it relates to the Festival Events and Venues

• Support the Club’s Ticket Operations team to fulfill all ticketing requirements for all Festival

Events

• Performs other duties as delegated or assigned

Requirements

• Completion of an undergraduate degree in business, marketing or communications OR equivalent learning obtained through 8-10 years of related experience

• 5+ years related experience in senior roles in Event Management with a focus on event planning, event delivery, volunteers, sales and marketing

• Excellent project management skills to coordinate many moving parts and groups simultaneously

• Financial acumen, able to set, manage and report on Festival budgets

• Innovative approach to build on existing successes while also exploring new opportunities and value adds

• Demonstrated experience in event entertainment procurement, negotiation and booking

• Ability to positively lead various personalities and skill sets to achieve a common goal

• Excellent written and verbal communications abilities including comfort in public speaking, acting as media spokesperson, and presenting to multi-sized groups

• Proven skills in managing multiple competing priorities, attention to details in a fast-paced event environment with shifting priorities

• Demonstrated professionalism and maturity in responding to staff, sponsors and public who raise issues, complaints and demonstrate assertive behaviour

• Experience working with a large number of volunteers and volunteer event leadership

• Team oriented leadership style with a “can do” service focus and drive to achieve organizational results

• Knowledge of event supplies, event equipment, and/or service ordering, as well as inventory control of these items

• Experience in managing third-party vendors and contractors

• Availability to work irregular hours and varied work schedule especially in the lead up and delivery of the 2027 Grey Cup