Executive Director of Operations & Events — Growth Leader

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 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.