Creative Associate & Bookstore Assistant — 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
We’re looking for a creative, personable individual to join our small team to help with day-to-day activities of the bookstore and program and run original events.  The Creative Associate will work closely with Upstart & Crow’s team to arrange events and storytelling workshops; launch new initiatives and support our work through social media and copywriting about books. This is an ideal role for someone who loves building community, can see ideas to fruition and wants to be part of an original, meaningful non-profit.

Roles & Responsibilities
Work includes:

• Working day-to-day in the studio to help customers, arrange inventory and make the space a welcoming place. 
• Working closely with the co-founders to suggest and launch new initiatives within the Literary Arts Studio.
• Coordinating in-person and online events, including finalizing bookings, arranging promotional materials and managing incoming queries. 
• Writing book descriptions and editorial content about books and corresponding ideas for social media posts, newsletters and other communications.
• Managing Upstart & Crow social media accounts and e-newsletters. 
• Providing recommendations and ideas for new programs or deepening current offerings.

Qualities — Essential:

• In-depth knowledge of, and passion for, books and publishing.
• Bilingual or strong French language skills. 
• Ability to quickly extrapolate information and speak/write eloquently to key themes in fiction and non-fiction titles. 
• Self-starter; independently motivated and proactive. 
• Personable, with strong interpersonal skills and emotional intelligence. 
• Keen understanding of social media. 
• Ability to lift at least 20lbs and to stack books safely. 

Qualities  — Terrific to Have, But Not Essential:  

• Knowledge of and experience using Wordpress, Eventbrite, Adobe Creative Suite, basic audio and video editing software.
• A balanced knowledge of both CanLit and international literature.
• Retail experience. 

Terms
This is a part-time, 20 hours-per-week, position in the Upstart & Crow studio but with the potential for additional hours for the right candidate. Must be available for some evening and weekend shifts. $25-28 p/h, commensurate with experience. 

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]. We will interview on a rolling basis, with priority given to early candidates, with the successful candidate ideally able to begin in mid-October 2026, with some flexibility on start date.

We are also seeking casual staff: please get in touch if you are interested in fewer than 20 hours but see a fit with our team.