King Street in Charleston

Assistant to the
Executive Director

Event: Charleston Literary Festival
Location: Charleston, South Carolina | Possibility Remote or Hybrid
Duration: Contract / 20 hours a week (Feb-August), 30 hours a week (September-November). Must be available for November 6-15, 2026 (Festival days). 
Salary: TBD 
Reports to: Executive Director

Role Overview

The Assistant supports the Executive Director in all elements of the Festival organization including coordinating and delivering high-quality literary sessions for the festival. This role involves research, scheduling, speaker coordination, and on-ground execution, making it ideal for someone passionate about books, authors, and literary conversations. The Assistant to the Executive Director will also assist on day-to-day tasks related to Charleston Literary Festival programming and ongoing administrative work supporting the Executive Director.

Key Responsibilities

Calendar & Meeting Management

  • Assist ED in daily administrative and operational tasks including keeping calendars etc. up-to-date 

Programming Support

  • Assist in the organization of session formats, descriptions, and panel line-ups

  • Assist ED in maintaining programming databases, schedules, and speaker information

  • Assist ED in daily administrative and operational tasks

Speaker & Stakeholder Coordination

  • Support travel, accommodation, and session logistics for speakers

  • Track confirmations, contracts, and special requirements

Content & Documentation

  • Draft session notes, speaker bios, and program copy

  • Support preparation of festival schedules, catalogues, and website content

  • Assist with post-session reports and documentation

Festival Operations (During Event)

  • Support on-ground session management and speaker hospitality

  • Coordinate green rooms, session flow, and timekeeping

  • Act as point-of-contact for speakers and moderators during the festival

Team Collaboration

  • Work closely with marketing, development, and operations teams

  • Assist with internal coordination and timelines

  • Provide general administrative support to the Festival teams

Required Skills & Qualifications

  • Bachelor’s degree in Literature, Humanities, Communications, or related field (preferred)

  • Strong interest in books, authors, and literary culture

  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills

  • Strong organizational and time-management abilities

  • Attention to detail and ability to multitask

  • Proficiency in Google Workspace

Preferred Attributes

  • Proactive and independent 

  • Prior experience with festivals, cultural events, publishing, or editorial work

  • Familiarity with contemporary literature and literary trends

  • Comfortable working flexible hours, including weekends during the festival

  • Calm, professional demeanor in live-event environments

What We Offer

  • Hands-on experience in literary curation and festival programming

  • Opportunity to work closely with authors, publishers, and cultural professionals

  • Exposure to large-scale event planning and execution

  • A dynamic, intellectually engaging work environment

  • Charleston Literary Festival is a ten-day world-class literary festival with an international edge based in the city’s Dock Street Theatre. With an emphasis on featuring international and national award-winning authors, the festival is committed to providing diverse audiences with a forum for engaging with new ideas and experiencing the transformative power of literature. Located right in the heart of Charleston’s historic district, the Festival puts an emphasis on literary excellence and innovation as well as fostering the next generation of readers and writers in the South East of the US. This year’s festival will run from November 6-15, 2026. Charleston Literary Festival is an independent 501(c)3 non-profit organization.

  • Please send a CV and cover letter explaining your motivation to join Charleston Literary Festival as Assistant to the Executive Director to Amanda Bagdonas, Operations Director before end of day on Monday, February 16th, 2026.

    If you have any questions about the application process, please contact amanda@charlestonliteraryfestival.com.

Please send a CV and cover letter explaining your motivation to join Charleston Literary Festival as Assistant to the Executive Director to Amanda Bagdonas, Operations Director at  amanda@charlestonliteraryfestival.com before end of day on Monday, February 16th, 2026.

If you have any questions about the application process, please contact amanda@charlestonliteraryfestival.com.