General Manager, Unison Choral Festival 2026 (Part-time)
/Organization:
Unison Choruses Canada
Deadline:
Until Filled
Organization Description:
Unison Choruses Canada is a federal not-for-profit organization and a registered charity that began in 1991 with the first all-Canadian gathering of gay choirs at a concert in Ottawa – a small but very enthusiastic group including representatives from Calgary and Vancouver. Today, Unison is a hub for over twenty-five Canadian 2SLGBTQIA+ choruses from coast to coast to coast, with a mission to build community by fostering connections between choruses and to support them by providing and sharing resources on chorus administration, fundraising, programming, and other topics of interest to the choral community.
Unison’s flagship event is the national Unison Festival held every four years over the May long weekend in a different Canadian city. It brings together choruses from across the country for a joyful, non-competitive celebration of choral music in the queer community. The next festival will be held in Vancouver, British Columbia from May 15 to 18, 2026, at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre. It will welcome 800 to 900 delegates and hundreds of local concert goers. The program includes not only musical performances as the main activity, but also a banquet and dance, workshops, cultural gatherings and social events for the delegates.
Website:
Job Description:
The Vancouver-based Planning Committee is looking for a Festival General Manager.
The ideal candidate is energetic, detail-oriented and self-motivated, with the ability to work independently and as part of a dynamic team. The General Manager reports to the Festival Co-Chairs and works in collaboration with the Festival Artistic Directors, the Unison Administrators and volunteer committees.
The General Manager plays a lead role in organizing, promoting and overseeing Festival activities – working with Coordinators responsible for social events, concert programming, workshops, and operations such as marketing, communications, and volunteer coordination. At the Festival itself, key responsibilities include managing logistics and ensuring the event runs smoothly, while nurturing relationships with local partners and supporters.
Contract Period and Compensation:
• Contract period runs from June 2025 to June 2026, requiring an estimated 400 hours in total:
o Part-time activity at the outset of approximately 20 hours per month but ramping up regularly to 30 and then 40, with more hours needed as the Festival draws near.
o The General Manager must be available for evening and weekend commitments such as Planning Committee Meetings and Unison events.
o During the Festival itself the time commitment will likely be 10-12 hours on-site per day from May 14 to 18, 2026 inclusively.
• Compensation will be negotiated between $35-50 per hour, depending on experience. This is a contract for services, not an employment agreement. No benefits or overtime are provided, and the General Manager is responsible for their own taxes and transportation.
• In the event that a personal vehicle is required to be used on Unison business, reimbursement will be in accordance with Unison Choruses Canada policy.
• The successful candidate will sign a service agreement with Unison Canada and will be required to submit monthly invoices to the Financial Administrator.
Responsibilities:
Planning and Administration in advance of the Festival (approx. June 2025 to March 2026):
• Assist the Festival Co-Chairs in hiring and directing paid Festival Coordinators for Fundraising, Volunteers, Accessibility, Communications, Choral Events, and Social Events.
• Ensure time worked by all personnel, including self, is recorded, and that invoices are approved and submitted to the Unison Financial Administrator for payment.
• Provide regular updates to the Festival Co-Chairs (including some in-person meetings), and participate in monthly Unison planning meetings to inform volunteer committees and national representatives.
• Oversee executed festival vendor contracts (excluding contracts of employment) to ensure that goods and services are provided as specified and coordinate details for Festival venues and event sites, social events, delegate services, and hospitality.
• Coordinate scheduling, site logistics, and support services for guest artists, accompanists, workshop leaders, guest speakers, and other hired professionals.
• Ensure the Festival follows all applicable provincial and municipal standards for health and safety, legal, and insurance obligations.
• Serve as the principal liaison with the Queen Elizabeth Theatre for all pre-event communications, including those from external vendors and suppliers.
• Work with the Unison Financial Administrator to manage the Festival events in Unison’s Integra Planner software, specifically ensuring that event schedules are entered into the program so that the mobile application is complete with all event details for delegates.
• Maintain records and official documentation related to the Festival in the Unison shared drive.
• Perform other duties as required and assigned.
Immediately Before and During the Festival (April 2026 to May 2026):
Manage the Front of House Operations by:
• Overseeing the set-up, operation, and take-down of Festival events.
• Managing on-site registration and delegate badge and package pick-up, including orientation for delegates and contracted staff. This may include name tag distribution and a delegate help desk.
• Coordinating ticketing with the Queen Elizabeth Theatre for non-singing delegates and individual guests.
• Overseeing and managing the Festival Merchandising Desk.
• Ensuring that the Festival is running smoothly and addressing any issues that arise on-site; escalate as needed to the Festival Co-Chairs.
After the Festival (May 2026 to June 2026):
• Manage final wrap-up of vendor contracts.
• Contribute to the post-Festival report, and assist in compiling input from Committees, Coordinators, and staff to document activities and lessons learned that could assist future organizers.
• Assist in gathering data on attendance, community and market impact, and other key metrics, and support collection of feedback from delegates, volunteers, and attendees.
• Transfer all relevant documents to the Unison Administrator
Qualifications:
• Proven event management experience.
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to lead, manage, and collaborate with others.
• Excellent English communication skills, both written and verbal. English-French bilingualism is considered an asset, as is fluency in other languages.
• Strong computer skills (Word, Excel, e-mail, etc.) and ability to learn new software efficiently.
• Excellent time management and organizational skills.
• Demonstrated ability to recognize key issues and identify challenges, and to develop creative, strategic solutions.
• Experience in working with not-for-profit artistic organizations is an asset, especially with choirs or music programs.
• The General Manager must provide their own workspace and basic computer equipment.
• Local residency is preferred.
How to Apply:
Interested candidates are requested to submit their resumes to hr@unisonchoruses.ca, no later than July 2, 2025.
For more information, please contact the Festival Co-Chairs: chairs@unisonchoruses.ca ‘
Additional Notes:
Unison Choruses Canada values the diversity of people it hires and serves. We aim to foster a workplace where individual differences are recognized, appreciated and respected – allowing each person’s talents to thrive. We welcome diverse perspective and encourage applicants from the Indigenous, Black, racialized, 2SLGBTQIA+, disabled, refugee and newcomer communities to apply.
Unison Festival 2026 will take place in City of Vancouver which is situated on the unceded traditional territories of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh Nations. Unison Choruses Canada is continuing to learn and evolve, to walk together in the spirit of reconciliation with the many Indigenous nations of Canada in the preservation and celebration of their cultural traditions.
Remuneration:
$35-50 per hour, to be negotiated depending on experience
Contact Name: Vija Poruks
Contact Email: hr@unisonchoruses.ca
Contact Phone: (778) 688-3191
