Working at the Festival
Review position descriptions, register and manage shifts, complete training, meet your Team Leaders and SFILF staff, and familiarize yourself with key event details and resources to support guests throughout the Festival.
Volunteer roles are organized into three team types: Event Preparation & Logistics, Guest-Facing Teams, and Session Support, each working together to ensure a smooth and welcoming Festival experience.
Before selecting your shifts, please review each role description in full, paying particular attention to the “This Role Requires” section, where physical demands and key expectations are outlined.
Role Descriptions
Event Preparations & Logistics
Event Preparation & Logistics volunteers support the operational backbone of the Festival, assisting with setup, materials, and real-time event needs. These hands-on roles help keep spaces organized and transitions running smoothly throughout the weekend.
-
Assist SFILF staff with advance preparation tasks that help the Festival run smoothly. Some shifts will be scheduled in advance, with additional opportunities offered as operational needs arise.
You Will:
Prepare name badges and credentials
Assemble printed materials and supplies
Assist with basic administrative tasks
Support staff with organized prep work
Important to Know:
Some shifts will appear in the regular scheduling system
Additional support may be requested on an as-needed basis
Volunteers who express flexibility may be contacted directly for extra help
This Role Is a Good Fit if You:
Are organized and detail-oriented
Prefer task-focused work
Can respond flexibly when additional help is needed
This Role Requires:
Sitting, standing, and light lifting in an office or prep environment. -
Support the physical setup and breakdown of Festival spaces and tear-down and organizational tasks to wrap up the weekend. Volunteers in this role assist with behind-the-scenes logistics and respond to real-time needs as they arise.
You Will:
Assist with event setup and post-event breakdown
Move materials, signage, and supplies as directed
Help restock promotional materials and maintain presentation areas
Respond to time-sensitive requests from Festival leadership
Important to Know:
Responsibilities may shift based on real-time event needs
This is a high-trust, flexible support role
Discretion and professionalism are essential
This Role Is a Good Fit if You:
Are adaptable and comfortable with varied tasks
Stay calm and responsive in fast-moving environments
Prefer hands-on, behind-the-scenes operational work
This Role Requires:
Extended standing, lifting, and active movement throughout the venue. -
Support volunteer check-in and maintains an organized, welcoming Volunteer Lounge environment throughout the Festival. Volunteers in this role help ensure that fellow volunteers arrive informed, supported, and ready to step into their shifts.
You Will:
Check volunteers in and out of shifts using the designated system
Guide arriving volunteers to their assigned teams or locations
Maintain an organized and well-stocked Volunteer Lounge, including snacks and beverages
Monitor the lounge to ensure the space remains orderly and welcoming
Respond to general volunteer questions and direct concerns to Team Leaders as needed
Important to Know:
This role may be staffed independently
Attention to accuracy and follow-through is essential
Volunteers should feel comfortable providing clear direction to arriving team members
This Role Is a Good Fit if You:
Are organized and reliable
Enjoy supporting others behind the scenes
Can maintain order while offering friendly guidance
This Role Requires:
Standing and sitting throughout the shift, light lifting, basic technology use, and maintaining an organized environment.
Guest-Facing Roles
Guest-Facing volunteers welcome guests, provide direction, and help create a smooth, organized Festival experience. These roles require strong communication and comfort in active, guest-facing environments.
-
The Bibliothèque Lounge is a hospitality and controlled-access space for donors, media, and select badge holders. Volunteers in this role balance warm guest service with clear access management to maintain the integrity of the space.
You Will:
Welcome guests and verify badges or credentials
Maintain controlled access to the Lounge and designated areas
Manage early access lines for eligible badge holders
Operate and track the Book Valet system
Coordinate entry timing with Session Support teams
Important to Know:
This role combines hospitality with policy enforcement
Volunteers must be comfortable upholding badge rules confidently
Early entry timing requires clear communication
This Role Is a Good Fit if You:
Enjoy attentive, hands-on guest service
Are confident giving direction
Can balance warmth with structure
This Role Requires:
Extended standing and active engagement in high-traffic areas. -
The primary point of contact for guests in the Convention Center lobby, assisting with directions, credential check-in, and ticketing support.
You Will:
Welcome guests and provide clear directions
Check in passholders and credentialed guests
Assist with ticket look-up and on-site transactions
Help manage lobby lines and guest flow
Refer complex issues to staff as needed
Important to Know:
This is a high-responsibility, guest-facing role
Comfort using technology and following procedures is essential
Guests may arrive with multiple questions at once
This Role Is a Good Fit if You:
Are confident using computers or tablets
Stay calm and efficient during busy periods
Enjoy problem-solving and direct guest interaction
This Role Requires:
Standing and sitting throughout the shift while using technology in a busy lobby setting. -
Serve as a highly visible point of contact in hallways and entry areas. In addition to welcoming guests and answering questions, this role focuses on directing foot traffic, preventing congestion, and keeping Festival spaces moving smoothly.
You Will:
Greet guests and provide clear directions
Monitor hallways and entry points for congestion
Proactively redirect foot traffic to prevent bottlenecks, as well as real traffic by encouraging guests to pay for parking at the machines rather than waiting until the parking garage
Provide repeated, confident instructions during busy periods
Refer complex questions to the Information Table as needed
Important to Know:
This role requires active direction and voice projection
Volunteers remain standing and mobile throughout the shift
Preventing congestion is a primary responsibility
This Role Is a Good Fit if You:
Are comfortable speaking clearly and confidently
Stay alert and observant in busy environments
Prefer an active, movement-focused role
This Role Requires:
Extended standing and repeated verbal communication in active spaces. -
Host organized groups and community partners, helping them move smoothly through Festival activities.
You Will:
Welcome and orient assigned groups
Guide groups through venue spaces
Coordinate timing with Session Support teams
Support meet-and-greet logistics
Important to Know:
This role requires leadership and clear authority
Maintaining group cohesion is essential
Volunteers may need to redirect guests politely
This Role Is a Good Fit if You:
Are outgoing and confident with groups
Manage time well
Communicate clearly in active environments
This Role Requires:
Extended walking, speaking to groups, and active coordination. -
Collaborate with our official bookstore partner, Bookworks, to manage book movement, storage, and signing logistics throughout the Festival. This team plays a key role in keeping signing areas organized and ensuring smooth transitions before and after author sessions.
You Will:
Organize and manage book inventory in storage areas
Transfer books to presentation rooms and the bookstore pop-up area
Assist with setup and breakdown of signing areas
Help manage guest lines during high-volume signings
Support bookstore staff with operational needs as directed
Important to Know:
This role involves physical movement and lifting of books throughout the shift
High-volume signings require calm, efficient line management
Some shifts, particularly evening signings, may run late
This Role Is a Good Fit if You:
Are organized and attentive to detail and direction
Stay steady and professonal in busy environments
Are comfortable supporting structured, process-driven operations
This Role Requires:
Extended standing, walking, lifting and carrying books, and working in crowded signing areas.
Session Support Roles
Session Support volunteers ensure sessions run smoothly by managing lines, entry, and transitions, requiring focus, coordination, and adherence to timing and procedures.
-
Assist guests with mobility, hearing, or other accessibility needs to ensure respectful and smooth session access.
You Will:
Assist with listening support devices and app setup
Coordinate designated seating with Room Managers
Support priority entry as directed
Escort guests to appropriate areas as needed
Important to Know:
Patience and attentiveness are essential
Volunteers follow established accessibility procedures
Some guests may require additional time or reassurance, please be sensitive
This Role Is a Good Fit if You:
re calm and service-focused
Feel comfortable helping with smartphones or devices
Communicate clearly in busy environments
This Role Requires:
Standing and walking while assisting guests through seating and entry areas. -
Ensure that presentation spaces remain organized, accessible, and aligned with seating plans. This team supports smooth guest entry, maintains correct section assignments, and helps prepare rooms for timely session transitions.
You Will:
Assist guests in locating seats within their assigned sections
Manage and uphold correct seating section placement
Seat early-entry guests, including accessibility-needs attendees and designated badge holders
Coordinate with the Community Engagement team to seat organized groups appropriately
Monitor aisles and keep the room orderly before, during, and after sessions
Important to Know:
This role requires both guest support and seating structure enforcement
Volunteers may need to redirect guests to correct sections politely and confidently
Attention to room condition and readiness between sessions is essential
This Role Is a Good Fit if You:
Are attentive and detail-oriented
Are comfortable giving clear direction when needed
Prefer structured, inside-the-room responsibilities
This Role Requires:
Extended standing and walking within seating areas, light lifting, and maintaining active awareness in a busy indoor environment. -
Manage controlled entry into session rooms to ensure accurate access and capacity compliance.
You Will:
Scan guest tickets using a mobile device
Verify correct session access
Monitor doorways and entry flow
Refer ticketing concerns to staff
Important to Know:
Accuracy and attention to detail are essential
Volunteers must follow entry procedures precisely
Comfort using technology is required
This Role Is a Good Fit if You:
Are comfortable using smartphones
Stay focused in busy environments
Can enforce entry policies calmly
This Role Requires:
Standing at entry points and using scanning devices in high-traffic areas. -
Oversee guest queues for author sessions, ensuring that entry lines remain orderly and aligned with scheduled start times. This role is critical to maintaining room capacity limits and supporting a smooth transition into each presentation.
You Will:
Monitor and manage entry lines prior to session start
Communicate clear timing updates to waiting guests
Coordinate with Ticket Scanning and Room Management teams
Ensure priority entry procedures are followed as directed
Help prevent congestion near doorways and hallways
Important to Know:
This role requires confident voice projection and clear direction
Volunteers work in high-volume crowd environments
Timing and coordination are essential to keeping sessions on schedule
This Role Is a Good Fit if You:
Are comfortable giving direct, repeated instructions
Remain calm when managing large groups
Can uphold structure politely but firmly
This Role Requires:
Extended standing in active, high-traffic areas and ongoing crowd awareness.
Volunteer Portal
Your Volunteer Portal is your hub for scheduling, updates, and communication settings.
Profile & Communication Settings
Please take a moment to review your profile and communication settings:
Go to your name (upper right) → Profile to update contact details
Make sure you’re opted into “Volunteer Info & Updates”
To receive urgent Festival updates by text, go to your name → Account and follow the prompts
Shifts & Schedule Changes
Signing up for volunteer shifts is a self-service function. To learn or refresh your memory about how to use the system, watch this brief video: Volunteer Registration and Scheduling Guide
The system will not allow overlapping shifts
For slight conflicts, email sandy@sfinternationallitfest.org for assistance
Additional shifts may become available as schedules change. To add more time, log into your portal and select Open Shifts.
Schedule changes and cancellations close Tuesday, May 13. After that date, please email for any adjustments.