Deschutes County Fair & Expo Director

Deschutes County
Redmond, Oregon United States  View Map
Posted: Aug 27, 2025
  • Salary: $136,380.12 - $182,762.52 Annually USD
  • Full Time
  • Administration and Management
  • Job Description

    Summary

    ABOUT THE COUNTY:

    We know where you choose to live, work and play matters. Deschutes County is one of the largest employers in Central Oregon and the largest municipal government in the region. Our dedicated and passionate workforce of more than 1,250 employees provide County services in a number of departments, divisions, and offices.

    Located in the heart of Central Oregon, between the towering Cascade Mountain Range to the west and the high desert plateau to the east, Deschutes County is the outdoor recreation capital of Oregon. We enjoy a renowned quality of life, with big-city opportunities and small-town neighborhoods.

    We hope you’ll consider joining our talented team.

    ABOUT THE FAIR & EXPO CENTER:
    Surrounded by a panorama of seven snowcapped mountain peaks that include, Mt. Bachelor, the Three Sisters; North, Middle and South, Broken Top and Mt. Jefferson, the Deschutes County Fair and Expo Center is located in Redmond, Oregon on a 320-acre campus, just minutes from the nearby cities of Bend, Prineville, Sisters, and Madras. The Fair and Expo Center is known as the premier facility of its kind in the Northwest and is the venue for the annual Deschutes County Fair; the largest County Fair in the state of Oregon with over 293,000 visitors in 5 days. Used for more than 400 events annually with an emphasis on youth, agriculture and community, The Fair and Expo Campus was built roughly twenty years ago and is soon set to acquire an additional 140 acres from the State of Oregon creating a 460-acre campus.

    The primary purpose of the Fair and Expo Center is to provide social, cultural, recreational, agricultural, commercial and educational opportunities for the citizens of Deschutes County. Fair and Expo Center staff are responsible for maintaining 167,000 square feet of exhibit space, 120,000 square feet of covered livestock and equestrian arenas, 400 horse stalls, and a 105 space RV park complex as well as a four-acre county park.

    ABOUT THE JOB:

    Working under direction of the County Administrator and alignment with the general strategic and programmatic direction of the Fair Board, the Fair & Expo Director is responsible for planning, organizing, marketing and managing the year-around use, development, care and maintenance of the Deschutes County Fair and Expo Center facilities. The Director is also responsible for budget preparation and administration and representing the Fair and Expo department before various civic groups.

    Key Responsibilities:
    • Supervise the financial affairs of the Deschutes County Fair and Exposition Center.
    • Develop and maintain long range financial plans for strategic marketing, capital improvements, and operations management.
    • Provide short and long-range planning forecasts, evaluations, and recommendations.
    • Supervise all financial operations including the collection, safekeeping, and distribution of revenue.
    • Maintain inventory records of all facility equipment and recommends replacement schedule.
    • Evaluate and recommend short-term and long-term capital outlay expenditures.
    • In conjunction with the County Facilities Department, direct, oversee and monitor the work of outside consultants and contractors regarding the design, budgeting, and construction of facility development projects.
    • Act as the primary advisor to the Deschutes County Fair Board on all matters relating to the business and financial affairs of Deschutes County Fair and Exposition center in accordance with Oregon Revised Statutes.
    • Provide leadership, direction and oversight for the annual County Fair event and the Deschutes County Fair & Rodeo Association.
    • Direct and manage strategy for negotiations with clients, prospective clients, and trade organizations for scheduling and booking of the Fair and Exposition facilities.
    • Establish and administer contract rates and terms and executes agreements as the County’s representative.
    • Supervise the maintenance and operations of a specialized and integrated event management computer system and module programming.

    What You Will Bring:

    Knowledge of or experience with:
    • State and federal laws, regulations, and ordinances governing public facilities.
    • Principles of fair and expo center marketing, and program and project planning.
    • Principles and practices of administrative management, including personnel rules, cost accounting, budgeting, procurement, contract management, and employee supervision.
    • Statistical and research methods for the collection, organization, and presentation of data.
    • Local community issues and regional community resources available to citizens.
    • Techniques and practices for efficient and cost-effective management of resources.
    Skill in:
    • Analyzing issues, evaluating alternatives, and making decisions and recommendations based on findings.
    • Interpreting and applying technical standards and procedures, federal and state rules and regulations, and County policies and procedures governing public facilities.
    • Researching issues, analyzing findings, evaluating alternatives, and developing recommendations.
    • Presenting and justifying reports and information in public meetings.
    • Directing and leading staff, delegating tasks and authority, and coaching to improve staff performance.
    • Directing repair and maintenance activities, budgets, and resources.
    • Establishing and maintaining cooperative working relationships with County employees, elected officials, other regional government agencies, public media, business leaders, and the general public.
    • Communicating effectively verbally and in writing.

    *This posting is not meant to be an all-inclusive list of duties and responsibilities, but rather constitutes a general definition of the position's scope and function. Notification to all candidates will be sent via email and/or text only. Please opt in for text messaging or check your email and your Governmentjobs.com account for application status. Review the full job description by clicking HERE. Review Fair & Expo flyer by clicking HERE .

    Compensation

    $11,3365.01 to $15,230.21 per month for a 173.33 hour work month. Excellent County benefit package when eligible. This position is available immediately.

    BENEFITS:

    Our robust health plan is offered at a minimal cost of $95 per month for employee only or $116 per month for employee plus dependents, which includes an innovative on-site clinic, pharmacy, and wellness and wellbeing services. Additionally, we include life insurance, retirement (PERS), generous paid time-off (14-18 hours/month to start, pro-rated for part-time), holidays, and professional development opportunities. Please click HERE for full benefit details.

    This position is open until filled. The first review of applications will be Monday, September 22, 2025.

    Minimum Qualifications

    • Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Business, Recreational Management, or related field;
    • AND five (5) years of increasingly responsible management experience in complex, multi-faceted operations, including administrative and management responsibility;
    • OR any equivalent combination of training, education, and experience that provides the required skills, knowledge and abilities to perform the essential functions of the job.


    Necessary Special Requirements

    Driving is a requirement for this position. Possession of or ability to obtain a valid Oregon driver's license within 30 days of hire date. The employment offer will be contingent upon presentation of an acceptable and verifiable driver's license, pre-employment screening for criminal history, driving history, and controlled substances (NOTE: Positive test results for marijuana use may result in rescission of a contingent offer of employment). This screening must be completed with satisfactory findings in order for a formal offer of employment to be extended.
    Must have dependable transportation and be able and willing to drive throughout Deschutes County in sometimes adverse weather conditions.

    Excellent County benefit package when eligible.
    Deschutes Countyoffers eligible employeesa comprehensive healthcare package that covers medical, prescription, dental, and vision coverage at a minimal cost of $95 per month for employee only or $116 per month for employee plus dependents. Coverage becomes effective the first of the month following1month of employment. Included in the health care package is the Deschutes Onsite Clinic (DOC), which provides a wide range of health, wellness, and primary care services to employees and their dependents. The DOC offers convenient hours and no out-of-pocket costs to patients. The DOC Pharmacy is a full service pharmacy available to employees and dependents to have their prescriptions filled at a discounted co-pay. In addition to the health care package, DeschutesCounty provides a generous and comprehensive benefits program to eligible employees.

    Employer paid benefit offerings include:
    • Life Insurance for employee and dependents
    • Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance
    • Long-term Disability Insurance
    • Employee Assistance Program
    • Retirement Program through Oregon PERS
    • Time Management Leave
    Employee paid voluntary benefit offerings include:
    • 125 Flexible Spending Program
    • 457 Deferred Compensation Program
    • Supplemental Life and Accident Insurance
    To learn more about Deschutes County's generous benefit offerings, please visit www.deschutes.org/hr and click on Employee Benefits.
  • ABOUT THE COMPANY

    • Deschutes County
    • Deschutes County

    Deschutes County is one of the largest employers in Central Oregon and the largest municipal government in the region. The County has 1,200 employees and a $587 million annual budget. The County assesses property, records public documents, conducts elections, collects taxes, and provides a variety of key community services, including public safety, public and behavioral health, building inspection, planning and zoning, road maintenance and construction, solid waste and the operation of a large Fair & Expo Center. Indirect services that support county operations include finance, human resources, property and facilities management, internal auditing, information technology, legal counsel, and public information.

    For the past decade, Central Oregon has been recognized as one of the best places to live. Deschutes County is conveniently located within a three-hour drive to Portland, Oregon, and within one hour of the Cascade Mountain Range. With an average elevation of 3,600 feet, the area enjoys a dry, high desert climate with cool nights and sunny days. Annual precipitation averages 11.7 inches.

    The countywide population is over 200,000, spread over 3,054 square miles. Deschutes County is the fastest growing county on the West Coast and one of the most diverse economies in Oregon. Tourism brings to Central Oregon over four million overnight visitors annually. The Mount Bachelor ski resort attracts tourists from across the nation. The nearby Cascade Lakes are also a large draw for tourists.

    Other local features include a vibrant visual and performing arts community, an outstanding restaurant scene, an extensive and respected health care network, and a high quality educational system.

    The cities of Bend, (the county seat), Redmond, La Pine, and Sisters are the four municipalities in Deschutes County. Roberts Field Redmond Municipal Airport connects Deschutes County to other major western U.S. cities. In addition to excellent public and private K-12 schools, Bend is home to Central Oregon Community College (COCC) and Oregon State University’s Cascade Campus.

    To hear from staff about working at Deschutes County Behavioral Health, please click HERE. 

    Make the work you do matter.  We hope you’ll consider joining our team.

    Show more

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Please mention you found this employment opportunity on the CareersInGovernment.com Job Board.