Adelaide Festival Centre Trust
Job reference: 843843
Location: 5000 - ADELAIDE
Job status: Long Term Contract
Eligibility: Open to Everyone

• Full time, ongoing position
• Unique opportunity | Adelaide CBD
• Strategic and operational role

About Adelaide Festival Centre

Established in 1973, Adelaide Festival Centre is South Australia’s principal performing arts venue and a leading Asia-Pacific cultural centre.

We present a bold, diverse program of festivals, events and performances year-round — inspiring, educating and entertaining audiences of all ages and cultures.

As the heart of the arts in South Australia, we’re proud to deliver exceptional experiences for audiences, artists and partners, while fostering a supportive and collaborative workplace for our team.

Adelaide Festival Centre operates four major venues in the Adelaide CBD - Festival Theatre, Dunstan Playhouse, Space Theatre and Her Majesty’s Theatre

About the Role

The mission of Adelaide Festival Centre Corporate Partnerships is to actively source supporters and sponsors, creating opportunities for mutually beneficial cash and in-kind partnerships that fund Adelaide Festival Centre programs, festivals and one-off events.

Corporate Partnerships use best practice to manage those partnerships cost effectively and to generate pride and ownership in the department's success through collaboration and effective communications with both internal and external stakeholders.

The Manager, Corporate Partnerships is responsible for driving sustainable revenue growth for Adelaide Festival Centre through the development, acquisition and management of high-value corporate partnerships.

The role leads the delivery of the corporate partnership’s function, through a focused portfolio of strategic, multi-year partnerships.

Working across the organisation, you will develop and execute corporate partnership strategies in line with organisational priorities set by the Director, to increase corporate investment, identify and secure partnerships that align with the Adelaide Festival Centre’s programs, audiences and commercial objectives. This includes building relationships within all segments of the business community and developing compelling, insight led partnership proposals that deliver mutual value.

The role ensures partnerships are effectively structured, managed and delivered to the highest standard, supported by best-practice frameworks and strong internal collaboration.

Reporting to the Director, Philanthropy and Corporate Partnerships, the role oversees a Partnerships Account Executive to ensure high-quality delivery, servicing and operational support.

Key Responsibilities        

• Develop and execute corporate partnerships plans and initiatives aligned to the overarching strategy set by the Director, with a clear focus on revenue growth and long-term partnership value
• Lead all aspects of new business development including prospecting, relationship development, proposal creation, commercial negotiation and closing
• Prioritise multi-year, strategic partnerships over transactional sponsorships, ensuring sustainable and predictable revenue
• Design and deliver integrated partnership offerings that leverage programming, festivals, community initiatives and brand platforms
• Ensure all partnerships deliver measurable value, moving beyond branding into engagement, experience and impact
• Identify, prioritise and pursue high value partnership opportunities, focusing on organisations with strong strategic alignment through all avenues (including research, networking and prospecting) and implement appropriate strategies to generate new business revenue through the development of mutually beneficial cash and in-kind partnerships and improve existing business performance
• Collaborate across the organisation to implement partnership opportunities aligned to strategic direction, ensuring consistency with organisational priorities
• Develop strong, long-term relationships with new and existing corporate partners to better understand their business requirements and decision-making processes in order to more effectively target and position Adelaide Festival Centre as a strategic partner of choice
• Conduct due diligence assessments of all sponsorship arrangements, proposals and prospects, reporting on any potential risks and developing risk mitigation strategies to avoid risks or minimise impact
• Ensure customer satisfaction is guaranteed with responsive account management
• Lead the commercial strategy for corporate box sales, positioning these as premium assets within broader partnership agreements. With support from the Hospitality team, sell and promote Corporate Hospitality and Corporate Box packages to corporate clients ensuring the highest quality experience is provided to all such clients

Skills & Experience

• Tertiary qualifications in a business-related discipline (Highly Desirable)
• Previous successful sales, sponsorship or fundraising experience
• Experience preparing and presenting business case propositions
• Strong negotiation skills and ability to close a sale
• Previous experience managing key client accounts including contract delivery, monitoring and reviewing contracts
• The ability to achieve financial targets and meet deadlines
• An enthusiastic, consultative team-building style with the ability to accept responsibility for making decisions
• A proactive, enthusiastic, collaborative and results-orientated focus
• An understanding of business ethics and procedures
• A passion for the arts (Highly Desirable)
• Established networks and communication channels within both the local and national corporate sectors (Highly Desirable)

 Why Join Us?

Adelaide Festival Centre employs more than 400 staff across areas including production, staging, hospitality, marketing, programming, patron services and corporate services.

When you join our team, you’ll help bring the arts to life in the Festival State while working in a vibrant cultural environment.

 Our staff benefits include:

• $15 staff tickets to performances across our venues
• 10% discount at Festival Centre food and beverage outlets
• Flexible working arrangements
• Free annual flu vaccination
• Access to our Employee Assistance Program
• Bring Your Dog to Work Day
• Breastfeeding-friendly workplace
• Approved Child Safe Environment

Our Commitment

Adelaide Festival Centre is located on Kaurna Yarta. We acknowledge the Kaurna people as the Traditional Custodians of the Adelaide Plains and honour their ongoing connection to land and culture.

We are committed to reconciliation and inclusion through our Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan and strive to be an employer of choice for First Nations people.

We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer and welcome applications from people of all backgrounds.

 Applications

If this opportunity sounds like you, we’d love to hear from you.

Please submit:

• A cover letter outlining your suitability for the role
• Your current resume

For more information and a copy of the position description, visit the Join Us page on our website. All applications will be treated in strict confidence. Enquires can be directed to Abbie Taylor, Director, Philanthropy and Corporate Partnerships via email to Abbie.Taylor@adelaidefestivalcentre.com.au

Please apply via SEEK. Applications close Thursday 14 May at 4:00pm.

Applications close: 14/05/2026 4:00 PM

Flexibility Statement
The South Australian public sector promotes diversity and flexible ways of working including part-time. Applicants are encouraged to discuss the flexible working arrangements for this role.