PayPal Melbourne Fashion Festival

Programming Strategy and Creative Delivery

• Work closely with the Creative Director to interpret and deliver the Festival’s creative vision across the official fashion program.
• Lead the development of the Festival’s fashion programming schedule, ensuring it reflects the Festival’s strategic direction, creative ambition, commercial priorities and industry role.
• Develop, cost and recommend programming concepts informed by market trends, designer insights, audience expectations, partner opportunities and the Festival’s broader business objectives.
• Ensure all programming activity is coherent, high-quality and aligned with the Festival’s desired positioning, brand values and creative standards.

Festival Program Design and Delivery

• Lead the design, planning and delivery of all fashion programming, including runway shows, designer presentations, industry events, education initiatives and other official program activities.
• Oversee the scheduling of the Festival program to ensure effective sequencing, audience flow, commercial value and operational feasibility.
• Lead the development of programming briefs, proposals, presentations and planning documents for internal and external stakeholders.
• Work with the Event Operations team and external suppliers to ensure the seamless delivery of all runway and fashion event experiences.

Collaboration with the Creative Director and Senior Leadership

• Report to and work in close partnership with the Creative Director to ensure the Festival’s creative vision is translated into practical, deliverable and high-impact programming.
• Work collaboratively with the Executive to ensure programming decisions are operationally viable, financially responsible and aligned with organisational priorities.
• Actively participate as a member of the Senior Leadership Team, contributing to Festival strategy, growth planning, reporting, risk management and organisational performance.
• Work cross-functionally with Partnerships, Marketing, Communications, Event Operations, Ticketing and Finance to ensure programming supports commercial, audience, brand and stakeholder objectives.

Industry Relationships and Stakeholder Engagement

• Maintain a strong and current understanding of the Australian and global fashion landscape.
• Build and nurture positive relationships with designers, industry leaders, creative collaborators, fashion institutions, suppliers and other key stakeholders.
• Act as a credible and informed representative of the Festival in fashion industry conversations.
• Manage the Festival’s relationships, partnerships and collaborations with fashion education institutions.

Commercial and Partnership Alignment

• Work with the Partnerships team to identify programming opportunities that support sponsor, partner and commercial objectives without compromising creative integrity.
• Contribute to the development of commercially compelling programming proposals and partner opportunities.
• Support the articulation of the value of programming initiatives to sponsors, partners, government stakeholders and other external audiences.
• Ensure programming decisions consider audience development, ticketing potential, partner value, brand impact and long-term Festival growth.

Team Leadership and People Management

• Lead and manage the Fashion Programming team, ensuring clarity of priorities, responsibilities, timelines and expected outcomes.
• Build a high-performing, collaborative and accountable team culture.
• Provide direction, feedback and support to team members to ensure the successful delivery of programming goals.
• Ensure the team operates with professionalism, discipline and strong attention to detail in all planning and delivery activities.

To apply, please email your CV and cover letter to [email protected] with the subject line “Head of Fashion Programming”.

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