Executive Director of Operations and Events

Milwaukee Succeeds; West Bend, Northern (WI, KY); Hybrid; USD 105,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Washington County Fair Park & Conference Center in West Bend, WI seeks an Executive Director of Operations and Events to lead day-to-day operations, strategic plan execution, and financial oversight. Starting salary $110K, with a focus on fundraising, marketing, and capital projects.

The role supervises staff, partners with the Board and county, drives governance, and oversees fairs, conferences, and events to elevate the organization's regional impact.

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

• 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.
• 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.
• 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.

Skills

Marketing

Fundraising

Leadership

Strategic planning

Communications

Budgeting

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

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.

• 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 Responsibilities
Strategic 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.

WashingtonCountyFairParkandConferenceCenterisanEOE.Weconsiderallqualifiedapplicantsregardlessofrace,color,religion,sex,disability,oranyotherlegallyprotected status.