Creative and Operations Manager — Upstart & Crow Ottawa 

About Upstart & Crow
Stories for their own sake and stories for the sake of others.
Upstart & Crow is a not-for-profit creative studio and literary incubator that champions writers, readers and stories, and the role they play in shaping our lives. 

After building a community in Vancouver, BC, we’re launching a new studio in Ottawa in Fall 2026. This bookstore, creative studio and event space will host uniquely curated books, launch original non-profit programs and support writers with activities across our five pillars of work: Literature In Translation / Climate Solutions / Poetry / Civic Dialogue / Community & Skills Building. We revel in incubating original programs, curating meaningful conversations and launching projects that enable storytellers to create and share transformative works.

About The Role
The Creative & Operations Manager is the lynchpin of our studio: a bilingual self-starter with strong communication skills, attention to detail and a sense of possibility and joy. We’re looking for an experienced professional with a range of skills: someone who is as comfortable writing about their favourite books as they are speaking to a stranger as they are paying attention to the details of our physical space. The role is part bookstore management, part creative programmer and part partnership development. You’ll oversee ordering, inventory and staff management, while helping to conceive of and launch non-profit programming that supports the literary and creative community.

Responsibilities
Studio Management 

• Managing the physical space of Upstart & Crow Literary Arts Studio in Ottawa including inventory, store management and general upkeep. 
• Manage other staff members on the team, including creating shift schedules, overseeing training in collaboration with Upstart senior management, and providing day-to-day support and feedback.
• Conducting day to day store business, including but not limited to receiving and selling books and other inventory, helping customers, streamlining systems and creating displays.

Literary Arts Incubation

• Building partnerships with different organisations and potential sponsors for collaborative events and non-profit activities. 
• Writing newsletters, book description copy, articles and other materials.
• Imagining and executing creative activities in the store in close collaboration with other Upstart team members, to ensure a consistently inspirational, exciting space. 
• Conceiving of, planning and arranging events—both series and one-offs— with support from other Upstart staff for running tech/day-to-day activities. 
• Developing, in close collaboration with the co-founders,a marketing strategy for the studio and overseeing and supporting its execution. 

Skills & Attributes

• Bi-lingual in French and English. 
• Passion for, and knowledge of, literature and storytelling.
• Experience managing or working in a bookshop a strong asset. 
• Knowledge of Bookmanager software a strong asset but not essential. If no knowledge, candidate must be a quick learner of new computer programs. 
• Strong writing skills. 
• Attention to detail and ability to multitask.
• Highly personable and professional and comfortable working with members of the public on a daily basis.
• Creative and forward-looking, able to turn ideas into reality with team support. 

Term and Duration
This is a full-time, permanent role of 38 hours p/w. Some evenings and weekend work may be required. $65,000 — $70,000 p/a, dependent on experience, with exceptional communications skills and strong management experience required for the upper limit. The role will be eligible for health benefits after a three-month probationary period. 

Equity
We strongly encourage applications from individuals from historically and currently marginalized groups, including but not limited to Indigenous people, Black and racialized people, people with disabilities, LGBTQIA+ individuals, and others who bring diverse perspectives and experiences to this work.

To Apply
Please email a personalised cover letter and resume to [email protected] with the subject line "Ottawa Role". We will interview on a rolling basis, prioritising early candidates, with the successful candidate ideally able to begin in late September to mid-October 2026, with some flexibility on start date.