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Job description

THE EMPLOYER IS: BELFAST PHOTO FESTIVAL The Design and Digital Marketing Assistant will support the Senior Design and Digital Marketing Manager in delivering all visual and digital communications for Belfast Photo Festival and RENDR. This is an entry-level role suited to someone with a genuine interest in design, digital media and visual storytelling, who is ready to learn and contribute within a busy festival environment. You will assist with creating content for social media, websites, newsletters and printed materials. The role includes preparing design assets, basic photo and video editing, helping schedule campaigns, monitoring performance, and contributing ideas to reach and engage audiences. You will gain practical experience in Adobe Creative Cloud, Google Suite, Squarespace and digital marketing tools used across the creative industries. The role offers hands-on training, clear guidance, and the chance to build real skills and confidence in design, communication and arts marketing. Belfast Photo Festival is a charitable organisation producing major photography and visual art exhibitions across Northern Ireland. For over 15 years we have supported creative dialogue, local development and professional opportunities through commissions, partnerships and international collaboration. The festival continues to grow through a clear focus on quality, public engagement and responsible delivery. In June 2026 we present our 11th edition, building on established strengths and long-term relationships across the city. Recent editions have expanded participation, strengthened environmental themes and delivered significant public impact. Our 2024 festival marked a step-change in scale, with the Island of Ireland premiere of Richard Mosse’s Broken Spectre and a press reach of over 115 million, reinforcing our position as the largest annual photography festival in the UK and Ireland. We also produce RENDR, a conference and festival dedicated to the meeting point of creativity and technology. RENDR connects the screen industries across film, gaming, animation and immersive media, bringing international creative talent from studios such as Lucasfilm, Pixar, Warner Bros, Netflix and Meta. Previous JobStart participants have since secured strong roles within what is a demanding and competitive sector. Their progress demonstrates the practical value of working with Belfast Photo Festival.

Responsibilities

• Support the creation of visual content for social media, newsletters and websites.
• Prepare and edit images, video clips and design assets using Adobe Creative Cloud.
• Assist with formatting posters, graphics, motion graphics, social cards and print materials to professional standards.
• Help maintain consistent visual branding across all platforms.
• Support updates to Squarespace website content, images, pages and layout.
• Assist with ensuring accessibility, accuracy and responsive behaviour across devices.
• Help maintain online forms, event pages, ticket links and festival information.
• Assist with scheduling posts across Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn and TikTok.
• Help manage content calendars and coordinate assets with the senior manager.
• Support community engagement by monitoring comments, messages and audience questions.
• Help gather data from Google Analytics, social media insights and email platforms.
• Support the creation of simple reports tracking reach, engagement and audience growth.
• Contribute to evaluating what worked, what didn’t, and how to improve campaigns.
• Assist with preparing e-newsletters and managing subscriber lists.
• Help ensure all materials meet branding requirements and funder guidelines.
• Support press and communications tasks such as preparing image packages or captions.
• Contribute ideas to strengthen audience reach and make digital content more effective.

Skills and Qualifications

Essential Skills

• A basic level of confidence producing visual or written content for digital platforms, with enthusiasm to learn Adobe Creative Cloud and improve practical design skills.
• Understanding of design fundamentals, typography and image editing, with a willingness to work towards professional standards for web and print.
• Some experience using Squarespace (or a similar CMS), with an interest in developing skills in updating and structuring website content.
• Comfort using Google Suite, with curiosity about learning Google Analytics, insights tools and simple reporting methods to track performance.
• A growing understanding of how digital campaigns work, how audiences engage online, and how to support content that reflects organisational goals and funder expectations.

Desirable Skills

• Adobe Creative Cloud and other practical or digital design skills.
• Experience working to professional standards for web and print.
• Experience managing or building a website including content updates and launches.
• Google Analytics, insights tools and simple reporting methods to track performance.

Further Information

Work Time: 3 days per week, between Monday and Thursday. Some early evening and weekend events on festivals. The Employer is: BELFAST PHOTO FESTIVAL JobStart Opportunity - Working Hours Information - Standard Hours: up to 25 hours per week. - Flexible/Reduced Hours: May be available upon approval by a Work Coach. - Additional Hours: The employer may offer extra hours depending on availability. This should be discussed directly with the employer before starting employment. The job advert may end before the closing date if requested by the employer.

Application Information

JOBSTART IS OPEN TO WORKING AGE BENEFIT CLAIMANTS WHO ARE DEEMED ELIGIBLE BY A WORK COACH. If you are on Universal Credit, please contact your Work Coach via your Journal. If you are in receipt of any other working age benefit, please contact your local Jobs & Benefits Office on 0800 001 5782.