Job Description

Description
Music Officer
Job Status: Permanent Full-Time
Pay & Grade: $74,334 to $92,918 Annually Grade/Band: 8 (under review)
Hours of Work:35 Hours per week
Initial location: Conrad Centre for the Performing Arts
Posting period:October 2, 2025 to October 21,2025 (at 6:00pm)
Overview
Arts & Entertainment is a newly formed division that sits within Economic Development and includes three units - Arts & Creative Industries, Special Events, and Arts & Entertainment Venues (A&E Venues). The Music Officer role is an integral contributor to the Arts & Creative Industries team (A&CI).
Reporting to the Manager of A&CI, the Music Officer is a passionate communicator who can use their knowledge of music and experience in the music sector to further develop the City of Kitchener's evolving creative industries ecosystem. The Music Officer will leverage exceptional interpersonal skills and collaborative teamwork to lead the advancement of the local music scene, including support of emerging musicians, professionals, practitioners, and businesses that support the music sector. The ideal candidate understands the many aspects of the music industry, including for-profit and not-for profit perspectives.
The Music Officer works with City staff and external partners to deliver programs and events that support Kitchener's cultural and economic goals. Hours may increase during peak event seasons.
Responsibilities

• Leads the advancement of the local music scene, including providing available support to emerging musicians, industry professionals, practitioners, and businesses that support the music sector.
• Leads the implementation of music sector-specific initiatives from the A&CI Action Plan.
• Develops a comprehensive Live Music Strategy, including setting targets and criteria to measure the effectiveness and success of programs, activities, and projects.
• Collaborate with other Music Officers to create opportunities in Kitchener for artists and expand regional collaborations.
• Build strong relationships with local musicians, venue owners, industry professionals, music organizations, and other invested groups to strengthen the local music scene.
• Acts as the primary point person for the city as it relates to music, fostering cross-industry collaborations with other sectors such as technology and education.
• Actively participates in local music events, festivals, and gatherings to stay connected with the community.
• Develops, coordinates, and delivers music programs that meet the needs of Kitchener's music scene (e.g., workshops, networking events, etc.).
• Identifies and creates opportunities for emerging music talent through the development of programs, utilizing venue spaces and other resources (e.g., music incubator).
• Curates, books, and coordinates music programming elements via City-produced special events, in City-owned-and-operated venues and event spaces, ensuring a variety of local talent and artists are showcased.
• Creates strategies and tactics to enhance audience development and engagement with live music performances.
• Explores local venues, connecting artists with performance opportunities.
• Collaborates with other invested groups to drive economic development activity rooted in music.
• Hosts and facilitates programs, ensuring smooth event execution and community engagement.
• Coordinates part-time staff and volunteers during applicable programs, performances, festivals, and events.
• Responsible for leading and coordinating operational aspects of programmed events with appropriate support (e.g., Event Operations Technicians), ensuring safety and compliance with relevant policies.
• Stays informed on current industry trends, available resources, funding opportunities, and future outlooks from music industry organizations.
• Develop and track Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), such as number of events and programs, as well as long-term economic drivers like the growth of the local music ecosystem (e.g., attraction of new businesses that support the music sector).
• Responsible for actions and activities that drive the expansion of Kitchener's music industry and support economic development through music.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Minimum 3-year degree or diploma in a related field.
• Minimum 2 years of related experience in the sector, including business development, sales, relationship management, industry participation, and experience in the entertainment and commercial music sectors.
• Established networks regionally, provincially, and nationally within the entertainment and music industries, with the ability to build and maintain professional relationships.
• Proven experience in event planning, coordination, and management, with a focus on live music programming, as well as a wide range of event types.
• Experience operating in a variety of venue and event spaces, including performing arts centres and outdoor locations.
• Deep understanding of the music industry, including current trends, challenges, funding opportunities, and strategies for growth and development.
• Familiarity with securing funding for music initiatives, including experience with grants, tax credits, and investment opportunities (e.g., Ontario Media Development Corporation).
• Strong organizational and project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple projects and deliverables simultaneously.
• Demonstrated ability to foster a collaborative work environment, encourage innovation, and effectively engage invested groups (e.g., artists, venue owners, industry organizations, etc.).
• Experience engaging with audiences and managing logistics during live events.
• Exceptional analytical, problem-solving, and organizational skills, with the ability to assess the impact of programs and projects using data-driven insights.
• Experience producing, adapting, and aligning requests (e.g., technical riders) with event spaces.
• Ability to assess and translate industry trends into actionable plans for the development of Kitchener's music scene.
• Proven ability to work effectively in a team environment, demonstrating diplomacy and partnership-building skills.
• Strong written, oral, and presentation skills, with experience in report writing and delivering presentations at all organizational levels.
• Reliable with a good attitude and employment record.

Note: All interested applicants are encouraged to apply. In the event there is no successful applicant with the stated level of education and experience, other applicants will be considered if a combination of their education and experience meets the following pre-determined equivalency:

• 2-year diploma (or 2 year specialized post-secondary program) with minimum 4 years related and relevant experience or 4-year honours degree with a minimum of 1 year related and relevant experience.

Department/Division:Development Services, Economic Development
Group: CUPE 791
Competition Number: 2025-366
Job Code: 1389
Number of positions: 1

Skills Required