General Manager | Sonoma County Fairgrounds

Oak View Group

Oak View Group is the global leader in venue development, management, and premium hospitality services for the live event industry. Offering an unmatched, 360-degree solution set for a collection of world-class owned venues and a client roster that includes the most influential, highest attended arenas, convention centers, music festivals, performing arts centers, and cultural institutions on the planet.

Position Summary

The General Manager is responsible for the efficient, professional and profitable operation of the food service operations at the assigned venue.  This individual ultimately oversees every managerial, f/t and p/t position, and ensures full compliance with state and federal labor laws, sanitation and food-related ordinances, and alcohol service regulations.  In addition to managing the day to day business operations, the General Manager solicits new sources of revenue, both on and off the venue property.

 

This role pays an annual salary of $90,000 to $100,000 and is bonus eligible.

 

Benefits for FT roles: Benefits: Health, Dental and Vision insurance, 401(k) savings plan, 401(k) matching, and paid time off (vacation days, sick days, and 11 holidays).

 

This position will remain open until May 23, 2025.

About the Venue

The Sonoma County Event Center at the Fairgrounds is here to serve as a community gathering place. Located in Santa Rosa, our Fairgrounds is home to the Sonoma County Fair. The Sonoma County Fair is among our region's most time-honored and cherished traditions. It began in 1936, when local leaders Joseph T. Grace, Ernest Finley, Emil Kraft and V.G. Garrett joined forces to create a race track and exposition center to showcase the abundance of Sonoma County.

Now in it's 84th year, the Fair has grown to become one of the most popular in the state, famous for its top quality horse racing, stunning flower show, and constant innovations in family entertainment. We continue in our unswerving commitment to showcase and provide education on the wealth of our agricultural industry while we celebrate the talents of our community.

The Fairgrounds is also home to over 200 events a year including festivals, concerts, agricultural shows, horse shows, dogs shows, trade shows, cultural, and private events. Our Fairgrounds is here to serve our community as a gathering place for all to enjoy!

Responsibilities

• Ensure legal, efficient, professional and profitable operation of the assigned venue.
• Generate and review financial reports, including budgets, projections, forecasting, revenue analysis, disbursements, capital investments, labor and product costs, wage and salary control, P&L financial statements.
• Final decision-maker on equipment purchases and leases.
• Conflict resolution; last-resort mediation; arbitration and labor negotiations, when applicable.
• Author, review and amend policies & procedures, as required.
• Author and amend contracts; authorize terms.
• Oversee scheduling and labor allocation.
• Analyze ticket sales in relation to anticipating staffing needs, target market demographics; determine and project point-of sale to guest ratio.
• Evaluate recent historical sales and purchasing data for the purpose of identifying purchasing patterns and accurate cost of goods.
• Program and maintain the point of sale system to ensure accurate financial reporting, tracking of accountability, and commodity levels by location.
• Directs and assists managers in preparing and attaining future goals.
• Provides each manager with the proper direction and follows up on all assignments.
• Inspects the operation on a regular basis to ensure that the established quality standards are maintained.
• Prepares required reports accurately and submits them on time, follows up with department heads to ensure that their reporting is completed within the same guidelines.
• Develops an effective management team.
• Gives the managers clear direction, and provides the necessary assistance for them to provide them to perform their work.
• Evaluates each manager’s performance and makes recommendations for their improvement.
• Reviews and assists in the development of menus and marketing plans with the appropriate department heads.
• Establishes and maintains personal relationships with show managers, suppliers, vendors and the public that projects the venue in a positive light.

 

Qualifications

 

• MA or MS; BA or BS with business-related major; 
• Minimum 5 years management experience in food-related or concessions industry.
• Concessions Manager Certificate from the National Association of Concessionaires.
• Nationally recognized,