Executive Director of Operations and Events

MRA-The Management Association; West Bend (WI); On-site; USD 99,000 - 121,000; Full time

Job summary

Washington County Fair Park & Conference Center is seeking an Executive Director of Operations and Events to lead day-to-day operations, strategic planning, and financial oversight for fairs, exhibits, conferences, and year-round programming.

The successful candidate will drive fundraising, marketing, and brand initiatives, build a high-performance team, and collaborate with staff, the County, and the Board to advance the organization's mission.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Business, Public Administration, or a related field.
• 5-8 years of experience in marketing, fundraising/development, and project management; fairgrounds, expo center, convention center, or major attraction experience preferred.
• Proven fundraising track record, including major-gift cultivation, sponsorship development, and capital campaign leadership.
• Demonstrated marketing, brand-building, and public relations skills, with the ability to grow visibility, attendance, and community engagement.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and relationship-building skills with donors, sponsors, government partners, and the community.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills, with sound business judgment.
• Preferred: experience in a government setting or public-private partnerships, knowledge of the agriculture/exposition industry, and crisis management experience.

Responsibilities

• Execute Strategic & Business Plans. Lead implementation of long-range plans and steward financial operations.
• Build & Lead the Friends of the Fair Foundation - Including Capital Campaign Fundraising.
• Drive Marketing, Brand & Visibility. Lead strategy to grow attendance, rentals, and regional profile.
• Shape the Organizational Structure for Future Growth. Design staffing and leadership to build a high-performance team.
• Lead Internal Operations with Strong Management & Culture. Oversee daily operations and processes.
• Grow Conferences, Exhibitions & Year-Round Programming. Expand events for visibility and impact.

Skills

Leadership

Fundraising

Marketing

Brand-building

Public relations

Communication

Relationship-building

Analytical

Problem-solving

Education

Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Business, Public Administration, or a related field

Job description

Washington County Fair Park & Conference Center Executive Director of Operations and Events West Bend, WI Starting Salary $110K

Executive Director of Operations and Events

Washington County Fair Park & Conference Center (WCFP), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, is entering an exciting new era of modernization, mission expansion, and year-round growth. We are seeking a strategic, marketing-savvy, fundraising-driven Executive Director of Operations and Events to lead WCFP into its next chapter and elevate one of Washington County's finest community assets.

This role has ultimate responsibility for WCFP's day-to-day operations, strategic plan execution, and financial oversight - including budgeting, capital planning, and Board reporting - while supervising the WCFP team and overseeing all fairs, exhibits, conferences, and promotional events.

The ideal candidate has a continuous-improvement mindset, strong marketing and brand-building instincts, a proven fundraising track record, and the ability to work effectively with staff, Washington County, and the Board of Directors.

Executive Director of Operations and Events

• Execute Strategic & Business Plans. Lead implementation of the Board's long-range strategic and business plans, and steward all financial operations, including budgeting, forecasting, and capital planning.
• Build & Lead the Friends of the Fair Foundation - Including Capital Campaign Fundraising. Launch and lead a capital campaign, cultivate donors, secure sponsorships, and bring proven major-gift fundraising expertise - a core requirement of this role.
• Drive Marketing, Brand & Visibility. Lead marketing, branding, and promotional strategy to grow attendance, rentals, and WCFP's regional profile.
• Shape the Organizational Structure for Future Growth. Design a modern staffing and leadership structure, clarify roles, and recruit strategically to build a high-performance team.
• Lead Internal Operations with Strong Management & Culture. Oversee daily operations, strengthen processes, and build a collaborative, customer-first culture.
• Grow Conferences, Exhibitions & Year-Round Programming. Expand rentals and mission-aligned events to increase visibility, utilization, and regional economic impact.

Core ResponsibilitiesStrategic Planning, Operations & Facility Administration

• Facilitate and lead WCFP's Business and Strategic Plans in partnership with the Board of Directors and Washington County, and communicate them to all levels of the organization.
• Provide leadership of the entire Fair Park staff; formulate and recommend policies for Board adoption.
• Supervise all fairs, exhibits, conferences, and promotional events, including the annual Washington County Fair.
• Maintain a profitable schedule of events with quality service to contractors, licensors, and the public.
• Measure results against Business and Strategic Plans and report regularly to the Board.

Marketing & Fundraising - Core Skills for This Role

• Serve as WCFP's lead fundraiser - cultivating donors, securing sponsorships and grants, and driving the Friends of the Fair Foundation's capital campaign.
• Lead marketing, branding, and promotional strategy across WCFP's events and the Foundation to build visibility and audience.
• Develop corporate and business relationships that expand sponsorships, rentals, and partnerships.
• Serve as a visible, credible spokesperson with media, contractors, and community stakeholders.
• Develop and administer the annual operating and capital budgets; oversee facilities and capital project planning.

Staff & Board Leadership

• Build and lead a high-performing team; hold regular meetings to evaluate progress and address concerns.
• Counsel the Board and staff on staffing, hiring, and training needs.
• Support Board and committee development; maintain position descriptions and oversee performance reviews.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Business, Public Administration, or a related field.
• 5-8 years of experience in marketing, fundraising/development, and project management; fairgrounds, expo center, convention center, or major attraction experience preferred.
• Proven fundraising track record, including major-gift cultivation, sponsorship development, and capital campaign leadership.
• Demonstrated marketing, brand-building, and public relations skills, with the ability to grow visibility, attendance, and community engagement.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and relationship-building skills with donors, sponsors, government partners, and the community.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills, with sound business judgment.
• Preferred: experience in a government setting or public-private partnerships, knowledge of the agriculture/exposition industry, and crisis management experience.

Washington County Fair Park and Conference Center is an EOE. We consider all qualified applicants regardless of race, color, religion, sex, disability, or any other legally protected status.