Deputy Fair Manager - Chief Operating Officer

Position Information

Building Our Community Through Celebrations, Events, and Traditions.

We Invite You To Join The Sonoma County Fair & Exposition Executive Team As Our Chief Operating Officer!

Starting Salary Up To $149,145/Annually*

For First Consideration, Apply By August 11, 2025.

We seek a highly skilled manager who has a strong understanding of the various practices and principles of event center operations, fair management, public relations, personnel and financial administration, contract negotiation and administration, and property management practices.

Please view our Sonoma County Fair & Exposition Chief Operating Officer Brochure for further details regarding our Ideal Candidate and the Sonoma County Fair & Exposition, Inc.

What Makes Sonoma County a Great Choice:

In addition to generous starting pay, expansive opportunities for growth and development, being part of a challenging and rewarding work environment that offers continuous training and education, and the satisfaction of knowing that you are working to better the communities of our region, you can look forward to some excellent benefits*, including:

• Salary Advancement - A salary increase after 1,040 hours (6 months when working full-time) for good work performance; eligibility for a salary increase for good performance every year thereafter, until reaching the top of the salary range
• Paid Time Off - Competitive vacation and sick leave accruals, 12 paid holidays, and an additional 8 floating holiday hours per year
• Staff Development/Wellness Pay - Annual benefit allowances of up to $2,000 and ongoing education/training opportunities
• County Paid Health Premium Contributions - 100% premium contribution for the majority of employee-only and employee + family health plan options
• Post-Retirement Health Reimbursement Arrangement - County contributions to help fund post-retirement health insurance/benefits
• Retirement - A pension fully integrated with Social Security
• Incentive Retirement Savings Plan (IRSP) and 457 Voluntary Deferred Compensation - 3% of salary County contribution to a 401(a), in addition to the County matching up to 1% of base salary in 401(a), based upon employee contribution
• Paid Parental Leave - May be eligible for up to 8 weeks (320 hours) after 12 months of County employment
• Student Loan Debt Relief - County employees may be eligible for Public Service Loan Forgiveness through the U.S. Department of Education

*Salary is negotiable within the established range. Benefits described herein do not represent a contract and may be changed without notice. Employees in this class are in the unclassified service; this class is exempt from the Civil Service Ordinance of the County of Sonoma as stated in Section 5 of Ordinance No. 305-A as amended. The formal classification title for this position is Deputy Fair Manager. This employment list may also be used to fill future full-time, part-time, or extra-help positions as they occur during the active status of the list. Additional information can be found in the Salary Resolution (SalRes) and our Employee Benefits Directory .

When you join the County of Sonoma, you'll also have the freedom to explore the beauty of our county; with its picturesque coastline, majestic redwoods, historic towns, fine dining, award-winning wineries, and a wide variety of entertainment and cultural activities. Please visit www.sonomacountyconnections.org and www.santarosachamber.com for additional information about the community.

Application submissions require the Supplemental Questionnaire to be completed.

Minimum Qualifications

Education & Experience: Any combination of education, training and experience which would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities. Normally, this would include significant academic coursework in business management, fair management, marketing, economics, or a closely related field and at least three years of managerial experience overseeing the operations of a fair, arena, convention, large event center, horse racing program, or other multi-year entertainment facility, or other closely related experience in a private or public sector organization responsible for business management, event planning, marketing, contract management, and/or fiscal management activities. A Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in business management, fair management, marketing, economics, or a closely related field is desired.

License: Possession of a valid driver’s license at the appropriate level including special endorsements, as required by the State of California, may be required depending upon assignment to perform the essential job functions of the position.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Considerable knowledge of: principles and techniques of administrative organization and business management; principles and practices of contract negotiation, administration, and management; principles and practices of supervision and personnel management; good business practices and methods.

Working Knowledge of: event planning, coordination and management; principles and practices of Fair business management; general rules and regulations regarding food and commercial exhibit contracts; horse racing laws related to live racing and simulcast racing; resource and facility development procedures; procedures and processes of fiscal management and cash handling systems and controls; customer service policies and procedures; general facility construction and maintenance; principles, practices and techniques of public relations, marketing and sales techniques; written and oral communications, including language mechanics, syntax and English composition.

Ability to: effectively manage, organize, coordinate, and oversee a variety of Fair and Exposition operations, programs, and services; plan, organize, direct and supervise the work of personnel engaged in Fair operations; negotiate, administer, and manage contracts; manage various fiscal operations; exercise responsibility, initiative, and ingenuity in analyzing and solving administrative problems; determine organizational needs and functional changes in order to improve efficiency and effectiveness; interpret complex laws, mandates, and regulations and apply them to a variety of Fair operations; communicate effectively, both orally and in writing; establish and maintain harmonious and collaborative relationships with staff, Fair Board members, other County and governmental officials and agencies, event promoters, and the general public; prepare reports and correspondence; exercise initiative and function with considerable independence; work under pressure and meet established deadlines; work irregular hours, including evenings and weekends.

Selection Procedure & Some Helpful Tips When Applying

• Your application information and your responses to the supplemental questions are evaluated and taken into consideration throughout the entire selection process.
• You should list all employers and positions held within the last ten years in the work history section of your application. Be as thorough as possible when responding to the supplemental questions.
• You may include history beyond ten years if related to the position for which you are applying. If you held multiple positions with one employer, list out each position separately.
• Failure to follow these instructions may impact your competitiveness in this process or may result in disqualification.

Please visit Getting a Job with the County of Sonoma to review more detailed information about the hiring process, including the application process, examination steps, and department selection process.

Application submissions require the Supplemental Questionnaire to be completed.

Responses to supplemental questions will be used in assessing minimum qualifications. Please provide specific and detailed responses of a reasonable length to allow for a thorough assessment of your qualifications. Responses that state, "See Resume" or "See Application" may be considered insufficient.

The selection procedure will consist of the following examination:

An Application & Supplemental Questionnaire Appraisal Examination(weight 100%). Each application and supplemental questionnaire will be thoroughly evaluated for satisfaction of minimum qualifications and relevance of educational coursework, training, experience, knowledge, and abilities that relate to this position. Candidates possessing the most appropriate job-related qualifications will be placed on an employment list and referred to the department for selection interviews.

Additional Information

A background investigation is required prior to employment. Candidates referred to departments for a selection interview are typically required to sign authorization and release forms enabling such an investigation. Failure to sign prescribed forms will result in the candidate not being considered further for that vacancy. Reference information will not be made available to applicants.

Additional requirements, such as successful completion of a physical exam, drug screen, etc., may apply, depending on the duties and responsibilities of the position. If you receive a conditional job offer for the position, the requirements upon which the offer is contingent will be outlined in the conditional job letter. You may also review the Job Classification Screening Schedule to determine the requirements for this position.

How To Apply

Applications are accepted online at www.yourpath2sonomacounty.org . Paper applications may be submitted by person, fax (707-565-3770), email, or through the mail. All applications and appropriate supplemental information as outlined in the job bulletin must be RECEIVED by the time and date specified on the first page of this job announcement. Continuous recruitments may close without notice at any time that a sufficient number of qualified applications have been received. Applications received after the recruitment closes will not be accepted.

The County of Sonoma values diversity and is dedicated to creating a workplace environment that provides individuals with a sense of belonging. We are committed to having a diverse workforce that is representative of the communities we serve. The County is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer where all aspects of employment are based on merit, competence, performance, and business need.

HR Analyst: JT

HR Technician: RR

IMPORTANT NOTE: Benefits described herein do not apply to Extra Help positions.

COUNTY OF SONOMA BENEFITS: MANAGEMENT*

These are some of the excellent benefits the County offers:

Paid Time Off :Competitive vacation accrual and sick leave accruals; additional management leave annually; 12 paid holidays, and an additional 8 floating holiday hours per year; and may be eligible for up to 8 weeks (320 hours) of Paid Parental Leave after 12 months of County employment.

Health Plan :Choose from nine health plans (three HMOs, three deductible HMOs, and three HSA-qualifying plans) with a generousCounty contribution to the premium (the contribution amount varies by bargaining unit). For more information, please see the appropriate MOU.

Retirement :Fully integrated with Social Security.For more information regarding eligibility, retirement contributions, and reciprocity with prior public service, please visit https://scretire.org/active-/-deferred/when-you-are-hired .

IRS 457 Plan :Pre-tax employee contribution up to the IRS annual maximum.

Retiree Medical :County contribution to a Health Reimbursement Arrangement to help fund post-retirement employee health insurance/benefits.

Student Loan Debt Relief :County employees may be eligible for Public Service Loan Forgiveness through the U.S. Department of Education.

Plus excellent dental, vision, disability, life insurance, professional development, and more.

For answers to specific questions regarding the employment process and more details about benefits or retirement, please contact Human Resources at (707) 565-2331.Additional details about benefit and compensation packages can be found in the MOUs located at https://sonomacounty.ca.gov/administrative-support-and-fiscal-services/human-resources/divisions-and-units/employee-relations/labor-agreements-and-salary-resolution . For specific information about health and welfare benefits including plan options, coverage, and premium amounts go to https://sonomacounty.ca.gov/administrative-support-and-fiscal-services/human-resources or, contact the Human Resources' Risk Management-Benefits Office at benefits@sonoma-county.org or (707) 565-2900.

*IMPORTANT NOTES: Benefits described herein do not represent a contract and may be changed without notice.

Closing Date/Time: Continuous

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• County of Sonoma

• 707-565-8059

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