Project Manager 1

About Us:

The Ohio Expo Center is one of the most dynamic and unique event venues in the Midwest. It occupies 360 acres in the heart of Columbus – just north of downtown, minutes from Port Columbus International Airport, shopping and hotels – and at the crossroads of two major north-south and east-west interstates, it is located within a half-day drive for half the nation’s population. With more than one million square feet of event space under roof, on-site parking for 14,000 vehicles, seating for 20,000 people and ties for 2,000 cattle, the Ohio Expo Center is one of the most flexible and accommodating sites available.

OUR VISION: To establish the Ohio Expo Center as a year-round destination event facility, and the Ohio State Fair as the premier event of its kind in the nation.

OUR MISSION: To work every day to ensure that the Ohio Expo Center provides a first-class, customer-focused experience for event holders, visitors, and vendors. To program a State Fair that features the best of Ohio and attracts the broadest range of Ohioans while centering our core focus around Ohio's traditions of agriculture and natural resources.

OUR CORE VALUES: Innovative leadership, Customer focus, Promoting the best of Ohio, Partnering for success.

The Director of Agriculture and Competition leads and directs all aspects of agriculture programming and policy development as well as oversight of related exhibitions and competitive events hosted by the Ohio Expo Center & State Fairgrounds including livestock, horse, and agriculture-focused competitions and exhibitions led by the Fair’s overall mission and goals. Supervise two part-time permanent employees, 26 seasonal co-barn directors, and the Entry department. Lead, manage, and hold accountable staff, interns, volunteers, and contractors. Oversee all livestock and equine competitions with strategic planning of show selection, co-barn director selection and renewals, and operations.   

Develop and maintain strong constituent relationships with Agricultural leaders throughout the state of Ohio, commodity group leaders, Ohio Department of Agriculture, The Ohio State University CFAES, 4-H, FFA, etc. Work with The Ohio State University’s CFAES’s and Extension leaders for scholarship growth across all species, State Fair scholarship endowments, application processing, review and scholarship disbursements.

Pursue creative and fresh programming initiatives to educate the public about agriculture while growing participation. Seek innovative technologies toward modern show structure, exhibitor messaging and possible livestream broadcasts for shows or Grand Drives. Lead an initiative to program the agriculture exhibit along with key partners to create an exceptional and uniquely-Ohio exhibition for the annual Ohio State Fair.

Develop, supervise and oversee approximately 26 co-barn directors (Fair) and various barn director efforts in the creation of a consistent and coordinated effort towards standardization of sponsorships, auctions, live or recorded broadcasts, signage, and all execution of third-party activation and involvement throughout the barns. Supervision of the co-barn directors who are charged with leading the programming for all species including but not limited to: supervising, writing job descriptions, develop contracts, communication, and provide performance evaluations. Assist barn directors with writing show policy and procedures, abiding by Ohio State Fair, Ohio Department of Agriculture and JCAAR rules/standards and any registered association or sanctioned show rules. Assist with hiring judges, including pay assignments, show schedules, and any necessary judge amenities. Assist barn directors, if needed, with peripheral support hires maintaining strict budget.  Hire and schedule veterinarians and assistants necessary to complete animal well-checks upon entry to fairgrounds; stay abreast of infectious disease news, inspections quarantine processes and barriers to entry.  

Manage department’s financials including budgets, cost projections, capital improvements, opportunities for revenue growth and premium payouts. Oversight of maintenance related items that involve capital and operational improvements or repairs to the facilities, grounds, and equipment relative to the barns, show areas and livestock complex including but not limited to stalls, ties, scales, pens, show ring, bedding suppliers, changeovers, etc. 

Work alongside the Rental Services department to prospect and secure regional and national agriculture and equestrian events and activities for new and existing business opportunities. Work with marketing team to broadcast alerts and information on website, promote shows to exhibitors and guests, and other marketing initiatives. Work with the public relations team to assist with live and recorded broadcasts to promote agriculture throughout the State and region.  

Lead and manage the Fair’s youth auction known as the Sale of Champions Auction event and oversight of the Virgil L. Stickler Youth Reserve program that includes auction planning, logistics, production, advisory group interaction, buyers/bidder participation and development and distribution of funds for both the auction winner and administration of the reserve fund. 

Oversee Birthing exhibition including veterinarian staffing and housing, new interactive programming, public education, collaboration with cooperating livestock groups, technology such as audio and video including live streaming, and management of animal rights groups. Oversee Milking Parlor including staff assignments, veterinarian coordination, public communication and advocacy, interaction with guests, milking schedules, assigning barn space (working with other species) and coordinating with dairy directors. Oversee Fair staff check-in process including coordination of packets, onsite ticket sales, livestock trailer parking, barn move in, changeovers, and more.  Management and oversight of vehicle and livestock trailer parking and housing operations for the annual Ohio State Fair with a third-party parking operator. 

At the State of Ohio, we take care of the team that cares for Ohioans. We provide a variety of quality, competitive benefits to eligible full-time and part-time employees*. For a list of all the State of Ohio Benefits, visit our Total Rewards website! Our benefits package includes:

• Medical Coverage
• Free Dental, Vision and Basic Life Insurance premiums after completion of eligibility period
• Paid time off, including vacation, personal, sick leave and 11 paid holidays per year
• Childbirth, Adoption, and Foster Care leave
• Education and Development Opportunities (Employee Development Funds, Public Service Loan Forgiveness, and more)
• Public Retirement Systems (such as OPERS, STRS, SERS, and HPRS) & Optional Deferred Compensation (Ohio Deferred Compensation)

*Benefits eligibility is dependent on a number of factors. The Agency Contact listed above will be able to provide specific benefits information for this position.

3 yrs. exp. in project management (i.e., management & development of project/program requirements, design, development, testing/pilot, training & full scale implementation), with experience to be commensurate with Agriculture/Livestock project/program &/or position description on file; 12 mos. exp. in budgeting & calculating cost projections of program/projects. 

-Or successful completion of 2 yrs. post-secondary education majoring in business administration, public administration, computer science/information technology, social science, or health, with major being commensurate within the Agriculture/Livestock industry; 12 mos. exp. in budgeting & calculating cost projections of program/projects. 

-Or equivalent of Minimum Class Qualifications for Employment noted above.

Job Skills: Project Management

Position requires background check and drug screen upon acceptance of position.

*Final hiring contingent upon background check and drug screen results.

Ohio is a Disability Inclusion State and strives to be a model employer of individuals with disabilities. The State of Ohio is committed to providing access and inclusion and reasonable accommodation in its services, activities, programs and employment opportunities in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other applicable laws.

The State of Ohio is a drug-free workplace which prohibits the use of marijuana (recreational marijuana/non-medical cannabis). Please note, this position may be subject to additional restrictions pursuant to the State of Ohio Drug-Free Workplace Policy (HR-39), and as outlined in the posting.