Position Announcement The Central Washington Fair Association is seeking candidates for: The General Manager, Central Washington State Fair and Event Center at The State Fair Park & Event Center of Yakima, WA.
POSITION PURPOSE
The Central Washington Fair Association is actively seeking a visionary and driven General Manager to usher in a new era of growth for our community's anchor institution representing Washington's Yakima Valley and beyond. This exceptional leader will direct the annual State Fair and develop the State Fair Park event production and sales potential while increasing its visibility. The General Manager will champion community and industry engagement, cultivate agricultural education, showcase regional talent, and deliver unforgettable experiences that will shape the future and secure vital resources for this valued and historic hub of Central Washington. The General Manager will report directly to the
CEO. WHO WE ARE
The Central Washington Fair Association is a private non-profit 501(c)(3) organization that operates State Fair Park. State Fair Park is home to the Central Washington State Fair and Yakima Valley SunDome which is an indoor 7,000 seat arena. The facility hosts over 200 events annually. The Central Washington State Fair (CWSF) has been in operation since 1892. Our mission is to facilitate commerce, education, and leisure activities through production of the annual Fair and promotion and/or production of enterprise and public events throughout the calendar year. The 10-day Central Washington State Fair attracts over 250,000 guests annually and is recognized as one of the top 100 fairs in the Country by IAFE. The Fair recently was the recipient of WFA's Merrill Award for one of its new Ag Education Programs and continues to win industry awards each year for its innovation, marketing, sponsorship and programming.
OUR HOME
THE
YAKIMA VALLEY
Come to the source where farm-fresh flavor meets adventure in every direction. The Yakima Valley represents a premier agricultural and economic anchor in south-central Washington state, characterized by strategic geographical advantages and robust commodity production. Stretching 70 miles along the Yakima River, the region benefits from a semi-arid desert climate, fostering a highly productive environment for agribusiness, viticulture, and tourism. Established in 1983 as Washington's first American Viticultural Area (AVA), the valley commands over 40% of the state's wine production and nearly one-third of its total grape acreage. Furthermore, the region serves as the epicenter of the domestic brewing supply chain, cultivating over 75% of all hops grown in the United States, alongside globally significant yields of apples, sweet cherries, and pears. Encompassing a diverse cultural heritage tied to the Yakama Nation and growing urban hubs like Yakima, Sunnyside, and Zillah, the valley offers a scalable foundation for agritourism, sustainable economic development, and long-term regional investment.
OUR CITY
YAKIMA, WA Yakima is a bustling agricultural and cultural hub, renowned as the "Palm Springs of Washington" for its high-desert climate, Yakima River recreation, and 300 days of annual sunshine.
THE POSITION
The General Manager, Central Washington State Fair and Event Center. The General Manager will serve as the operational, execution, and revenue engine of the organization, to direct and grow the annual State Fair and year-round facility sales and event functions. Utilizing an entrepreneurial spirit, hands-on management style, the General Manager will maximize venue utilization, oversee large-scale event production, drive business growth, and lead diverse departments to optimize the guest and vendor experience. This key leadership role sits at the intersection of agricultural tradition and facility innovation, requiring strong financial oversight, regulatory compliance, and sound business practices. The General Manager is expected to translate vision into execution, overseeing the full lifecycle of events, driving new business, and optimizing operations. Furthermore, the General Manager will actively engage in community outreach, creating partnerships with local government, business leaders, and regional stakeholders to shape future development and ensure long-term strategic success. This position is a platform to direct a complex, revenue-generating event ecosystem—where agriculture meets entertainment, where community traditions meet modern experiences, and where operational excellence directly fuels growth. At the Central Washington Fair Association, we produce more than events. We create economic impact, cultural connections, and large-scale experiences that bring hundreds of thousands of people together each year. We're looking for an executive-level leader who can operate at that scale—and push it further. For the right leader, this role potentially serves as a direct succession platform to becoming a strong candidate for the CEO position in the future, contingent upon meeting all expectations and success metrics.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Direct the Annual Central Washington State Fair Serve as Fair General Manager, collaborating and managing the full lifecycle, planning, execution, and post-show assessment of the Central Washington State Fair. Oversee end-to-end production, financial health, and post-event analysis for the annual Central Washington State Fair. Entire Oversite of Event Management, Sales, Production and Execution
- Direct full-cycle staff management, event coordination, and budget administration for all Fair and non-fair events.
- Directly support and oversee all year-round sales, booking, scheduling, events, operations, and servicing for the entire property including the SunDome and all other event spaces (indoor and outdoor) on the property.
- Direct production and operation of signature self-produced events, including but not limited to the 4th of July Community Celebration, Holiday Light Fest, and Sprint Boat Races and additional self-produced events that are established by this Yakima based non-profit.
- Manage event logistics, site layout, scheduling, vendor coordination, space use efficiencies, and operational readiness. Facilities and Property Operations
- Direct the entire facility day to day operations and compliance for programing, event sales, and production while instilling safety protocols, and regulatory adherence across a 120-acre campus during the annual fair and year-round event operations.
- Direct and provide oversite of all RV Park operations. The facility was recently renovated and features 167 sites with all utilities. Another 100 spaces to come online at the end of 2026 to support hosting RV Rallies. This position will be responsible for outreach and booking these rallies.
- Collaborate with Maintenance leadership and the CEO on overall property management, maintenance planning, and capital improvement needs.
- Ensure facilities are maintained in a safe, functional, and event-ready condition.
- Drive operational excellence by developing strategies to create efficiencies in facility function and workforce management.
Collaborate with teams to integrate unified venue software and digital ticketing, POS systems for vendors and automated bookings while elevating guest experiences and driving attendance. Simultaneously, cross-train personnel and standardize facility configurations to accelerate event turnarounds, maximize year-round utilization, and reduce labor overhead. Public Safety and Regulatory Compliance Coordinate with local law enforcement, fire departments, EMS, and emergency management agencies. Ensure compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local regulations, including public assembly and safety standards. Support development and implementation of emergency response and risk management plans. Revenue Development and Business Operations Identify, develop, and implement new revenue-generating events and programs. Support sales and booking strategies to maximize facility utilization and revenue. Oversee operational budgets for Fair and non-Fair events, ensuring fiscal responsibility. Participate in long-range planning and strategic initiatives to support organizational growth. Departmental Leadership and Staff Management Provide direct supervision and leadership to the Event Management, Sales Department and Agriculture/Livestock/Exhibits departments, and Concessions/Commercial fair program. Oversee recruitment, training, supervision, and evaluation of full-time, part-time, and seasonal staff. Promote a culture of accountability, collaboration, and customer service excellence. Ensure clear and concise communication and coordination across departments. Direct the operations and manage expectations for the Carnival, Food and Beverage Partners, Entertainment, Staging, Sound and Lights, Vendors, Security and crowd control providers, and multiple other service providers and/or contractors. Oversite of Agriculture, Exhibits & Experience Programs This role uniquely blends business with heritage: Oversee livestock programs, equestrian events, agricultural exhibits, and all competitive entries. Guide the evolution of educational and interactive experiences (Ag Building, Livestock, Farm, special exhibits, the Milk Parlor, competitions, etc.). Ensuring agriculture remains a central, relevant, and engaging part of the Fair experience. Support delivery of educational and community-based programming for still exhibits Cultural showcasing, youth activities and agricultural components that engage the exhibitor and guest. Coordinate with department leadership to ensure quality, safety, growth, innovation, and participant satisfaction. Deliver on community partnerships and stakeholder buy in. Vendor, Contract, and Partner Management Collaborate with the CEO to negotiate, produce, and manage contracts with key service providers, including but not limited to carnival operators, food and beverage concessionaires (Master and independents) vendors, security contractors, and multiple other third-party partners. Expect responsibility level of these oversight categories to escalate within the first year. Ensure compliance with contractual terms, service standards, and organizational expectations. Coordinate with administrative staff for contract processing and documentation. Cross-Functional Collaboration Partner with Marketing to support the Annual Fair event promotion, attendance growth, program visibility, stakeholder and sponsor showcasing and sustainability of traditional and new attractions and programs. Support and collaborate implementation and use of operational technologies, including point-of-sale systems, ShoWorks, A.I., Communication technologies and reporting tools. Engage in the collaborative efforts of managing gates, ticketing, admissions, and parking. This will eventually be a direct report area of the position in the future. Champion the organization's brand at regional events, trade shows, and industry conferences. Cultivate industry partnerships and innovative trends while integrating innovative best practices into operations. Drive organizational visibility through active participation in professional networks, executive training, and industry forums. Perform other duties as assigned.
MANAGERIAL SKILLS
Lead with a philosophy of a Hands-On approach to the position and scope of work. Fiscal Management & Budgetary Oversight Large-Scale Event Production & Lifecycle Management Strategic Revenue Development & Sales Leadership Cross-Functional Team Leadership & Recruitment Risk Management & Compliance Facilities & Property Operations Management Technology Integration & Operational Efficiency Strong analytical and problem-solving skills Fair Programmatic & Experience Design (Agriculture & Heritage) Values that include transparency, honesty, openness, and inclusiveness
CORE COMPETENCIES
Candidates must demonstrate:
Operational Scale:
Experience managing large public events (75K plus attendance environments preferred). Ability to manage logistics and on-site operations including coordination with staff, vendors, and clients.
Revenue Orientation:
Track record of growing bookings, monetizing assets, or launching new events. Ownership of the
Budget:
Successful history of oversite for complex operational and event-specific budgets to ensure fiscal responsibility and non-profit compliance.
Contract Expertise:
Direct involvement in negotiating and managing contractors, vendors, concessionaires (facility maintenance, exhibit production, Food & Beverage, security, entertainment, etc.)
Team Leadership:
Oversight of multi-department teams, including seasonal workforce scaling hire, train and evaluate both fulltime and seasonal staff. Foster a culture of professional development and excellent customer service.
Event Production Depth:
Hands-on understanding of logistics, site planning, and live event execution Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities. Ability to handle high-pressure situations with a strategic mindset.
Public Safety Coordination:
Experience working with law enforcement, fire, EMS, and regulatory bodies. Excellent verbal and written communication skills , with experience in public speaking and stakeholder engagement. Collaborative approach in all communications
THE IDEAL CANDIDATE
The Ideal candidate is driven and motivated to action and purpose with a Hands-On management philosophy. The candidate for this position is a versatile, seasoned, business-minded event professional who blends operational expertise in large-scale entertainment venues with a deep respect for agricultural traditions.
REQUIRED EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION A
minimum of five years of relevant managerial experience in event management, fairs, festivals, venues, or large-scale public events. Demonstrated success in venue booking, event production, and revenue growth. Strong experience with vendor negotiations and contract management. A minimum of three years of leadership experience in budget management, staff supervision, and stakeholder engagement. Familiarity of agricultural industry is highly valued.
Education:
Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Agriculture, Event Management, Hospitality and Tourism, or equivalent time experience in a related field. Industry credentials such as IAFE Certified Fair Executive (CFE) or other similar certifications strongly preferred.
COMPENSATION
Salary Range $90,000 - $120,000 annually Position qualifies for an annual discretionary bonus. Salary negotiable based on experience, scope, and proven performance.
BENEFITS
401k, Medical, Dental, Vision, Aflac, Life, AD&D, LTD Relocation is available for out-of-area candidates.
WORKING CONDITIONS
WORKSITE
LOCATION AND RELATED EXPECTATIONS
The General Manager is expected to work from the official worksite which is the Administrative Office of the State Fair Park & Event Center in Yakima, WA. Anticipated work hours are business hours of the organization and extended hours during many events or seasons including any weekends, evenings and holidays as required by the position. Work requires both indoor and outdoor responsibilities in a variety of weather conditions. Offsite meetings, resource development, community engagement, professional travel and active participation in community and industry related activities are expectations of the position. APPLICATION and
SELECTION PROCESS THIS POSITION IS OPEN UNTIL IT IS FILLED. TO BE CONSIDERED PLEASE SUBMIT THE FOLLOWING
Strong Letter of Interest indicating why you believe you should be considered and your statement of qualifications relevant to this opportunity. Resume identifying years and months of positions held, responsibilities, number of direct reports, size of overall staff, career professional development, and education. No photos or portfolio documents please.
Application Process, Interviews and References:
Forward the application packet to: Michael Bradley, MHB Productions, General Manager Search Committee Project Coordinator for the Central Washington Fair Association. All submissions must be electronic and sent to MHB Productions at mhbproductions56@gmail.com. Please direct all inquiries or questions to Michael Bradley at mhbproductions56@gmail.com or 602-820-0189. Successful Candidates may be required to participate in an initial Virtual Interview in the first round. Finalists will be required to submit four professional business references and one personal reference with contact information. The Search Committee will contact references after the finalist interviews. Finalists will likely be interviewed in person in Yakima, WA. The application and interview process will be held in the strictest of confidence.
Pay:
$90,000.00 - $120,000.00 per year
Benefits:
401(k) Dental insurance Health insurance Professional development assistance Relocation assistance Vision insurance
Work Location:
In person
