Director of Western Idaho Fair

$150,000 DOE

Ada County is seeking a strategic, experienced leader to serve as Expo Director for Expo Idaho
—a vibrant, multi-use venue located in Garden City and home to the iconic
Western Idaho Fair
, the community-centered
Park at Expo
, and growing partnerships with
Athletic Club Boise
- Boise Professional Soccer.

You might hear some call it "the fairgrounds"—and for good reason. Since
1967
, this is where we've hosted the
Western Idaho Fair
, a cherished summer tradition that draws over
250,000 visitors
annually. But Expo Idaho is more than just a fair. Throughout the rest of the year, over
750,000 people
attend trade shows, concerts, livestock shows, company events, sporting competitions, and just about everything else under the Idaho sun. Included in this expansive space, you'll also find the Boise Hawks stadium and the Boise Riverside RV Park.

As Expo Director, you'll be the
visionary and operational lead
for this vital public resource—responsible for overseeing event production, community partnerships, staff leadership, capital improvement planning, and year-round operations across the entire Expo Idaho campus. Although
Ada County owns the property and facilities
,
Expo Idaho and the Western Idaho Fair are
fully self-funded operations
, supported by a
Fiscal Year 2026 budget of approximately $12.5 million
.
The Expo Director works under the direction of the
Ada County Board of Commissioners
, with strategic input from a
seven-member Expo Idaho Advisory Board.

Why Work for Ada County?

Ada County is a great place to work
With over
2,000 employees
dedicated to enhancing our community's quality of life, you'll be part of a collaborative and mission-driven organization that values its team.

We offer a
competitive Total Rewards package
that increases your base salary by approximately
40%
, including:

• Excellent medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Generous vacation and sick leave
  starting on day one
• 11 paid holidays
  annually
• Participation in one of the nation's best state retirement systems
  , with
  11.96% employer contribution
• 457(b) deferred compensation plan with up to 3% county match
  , plus a
  401(k)
• Paid parental leave
  ,
  life insurance
  , and robust
  wellness programs
• Ongoing
  training opportunities and career pathing

POSITION GENERAL SUMMARY:

The Expo Director serves as the chief administrator for the Idaho Expo Center, a premier fairgrounds and multi-use event venue owned by Ada County and located in Garden City, Idaho. This role provides strategic and operational leadership for all aspects of the facility, including to plan, develop, implement, coordinate, direct and evaluate activities related to the production of the annual Western Idaho Fair, public and private events, entertainment programming, community engagement, maintenance and operation of the Park at Expo, collaboration and oversight of events with Boise Professional Soccer, and all necessary and related activities. The position requires a highly skilled business leader with strong financial acumen, a customer service mindset, extensive experience managing large scale events and complex operations.

DISTINGUISHING FEATURES OF THE CLASS:

Reporting directly to the Ada County Board of Commissioners, the Expo Director is responsible for advancing the Expo Center's mission of serving the public through diverse programming, fiscal responsibility, and stewardship of County assets.

Essential Functions:

Leadership & Strategic Direction

• Develop and implement short- and long-term plans, forecasts, evaluations, policies and procedures, and recommendations for growth, modernization, and utilization of Ada County's property and facilities;
• Advise the Ada County Board of Commissioners on operational priorities, capital needs, and policy recommendations;
• Serve as the public-facing representative of Expo Idaho in media, public forums, and civic events;
• Ensure partnerships with Ada County property leases are successful, operate pursuant to the lease agreements, serve the general public, and maximize revenue for Expo Idaho;
• Maintain communications, cooperate, and coordinate with Ada County department directors and the chief operating officer;

Event & Facility Operation

• Oversee all day-to-day activities of the facility and ensure the adequate provision of space, staff, services, utilities, maintenance, equipment, security, safety and other resources related to scheduling, event planning, logistics, maintenance, and customer service for the Western Idaho Fair, interim events, the Park at Expo, activities at the Boise Professional Soccer facility, as well as all necessary and related activities;
• Manage the production of the Western Idaho Fair, ensuring safety, entertainment value, vendor coordination, and community involvement;
• Negotiate, facilitate, and expand use of the venue for year-round events including trade shows, concerts, sporting events, livestock shows, and cultural festivals;
• Conducts studies, assessments and audits in conjunction with the Board of County Commissioners to strategize and prioritize property and facility needs for the county;
• Collaborate with Boise Professional Soccer representatives to ensure county property is properly maintained and public safety is provided for;

Fiscal Oversight & Budget Management

• Manages an enterprise fund with no tax dollar support to facilitate the Western Idaho Fair, interim events, proper maintenance of the Park at Expo, and collaboration for events at Boise Professional Soccer facilities;
• Develop and maintain long range financial plans for strategic marketing, capital improvements, operational management and strategic partnerships;
• Develop, present, and administer the annual budget in alignment with County financial practices and transparency standards;
• Prepare and support the Expo Idaho Advisory Board in the adoption of the Fair's annual budget;
• Present the Expo Idaho Advisory Board approved budget to the County Commissioners;
• Generate revenue through strategic event bookings, rentals, sponsorships, and partnerships;
• Lead all financial planning, data collection, and analysis for Expo Idaho, ensuring the long-term success of the Western Idaho Fair, Expo Idaho events, Boise Professional Soccer and Boise Hawks baseball;
• Establish and administer contract rates and terms and execute agreements as the County's representative via the processes and policies approved by the Board of County Commissioners;
• Monitor approved budget and expenditures;

Personnel & Organizational Development

• Lead a diverse team of staff members, including event coordinators, groundskeepers, customer service professionals, and maintenance personnel; Foster a collaborative environment where all employees are encouraged to contribute ideas, grow in their roles, and perform to the highest standards;
• Maintain a strong team culture focused on service, innovation, and excellence;
• Set clear expectations for staff performance, provide regular feedback, and support the professional development of team members through training, coaching, and mentorship;
• Oversee interviews, hiring, training, supervision of staff, and addresses problems or complaints as needed;
• Establish goals and performance metrics to ensure Expo Idaho objectives are met;

Community Engagement & Marketing

• Strengthen community partnerships with local businesses, nonprofits, schools, agriculture groups, and tourism organizations;
• Oversee all marketing, branding, and public communication for the Expo Center and Western Idaho Fair;
• Identify new opportunities for generating revenue through events, partnerships, and innovative services;
• Foster relationships with sponsors, external vendors, and community organizations to secure sponsorships and financial support for events and projects.

Job Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited university in Business, Hospitality, or Event Management, Public Administration, or similar field preferred, or an equivalent combination of education and experience;
• Five (5) years of leadership experience in venue operations, fairgrounds, entertainment, or public facility management required, ten (10) years preferred;
• Proven expertise in budgeting, staff supervision, contract management, and event execution;
• Experience working with elected officials, public agencies, or governmental boards;
• Excellent interpersonal, strategic planning, and public communication skills;
• Familiarity with 4-H/FFA programming, agriculture events, and regional tourism is highly desirable;
• Knowledge of the principles and practices necessary to successfully manage a business operation in a public environment;
• Knowledge of the principles and practices of personnel management, budgeting and financial management, general bidding procedures and contracting in order to plan, develop, implement and evaluate the administrative procedures necessary to operate a major fair or regional exposition;
• Knowledge of food service operations including Idaho liquor laws;
• Knowledge and ability to design and execute public relations campaigns, community outreach initiatives, and stakeholder engagement strategies to build awareness, support, and attendance;
• Knowledge of the principles, practices and procedures of the fair and exposition industry including laws and regulations governing the fair industry;
• Experience in project management for capital improvement projects, budget and financial management and contract negotiations and management;
• Ability to select, develop, motivate and supervise staff;
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with vendors, strategic business partners, first responders, and government leaders;
• Ability to exercise of tact, ingenuity, and resourcefulness;
• Ability to make verbal and written presentations in a clear and concise manner.