General Manager

The Annapolis Valley Exhibition was established in 1926 in Lawrencetown, Annapolis County, and is the premier showcase for agriculture in Western Nova Scotia. The Annapolis Valley Exhibition Society is inviting applications for the position of General Manager.

Reporting to the Board of Directors of the Annapolis Valley Exhibition Society, a non-profit organization, the General Manager provides leadership in the planning, staging and management of the annual Annapolis Valley Exhibition and other events at the Exhibition grounds throughout the year. The General Manager oversees high-profile, multi-disciplinary projects in a complex, fast-paced environment, requiring a degree of risk management and excellent skills in project management and communications. As the official representative of the Annapolis Valley Exhibition, the General Manager develops and maintains strong relationships with staff, volunteers, participants and sponsors.

POSITION PURPOSE:

· Managing, planning, and staging the operational, logistical, and financial aspects of the annual Exhibition as well as other revenue-generating events and activities, e.g. fundraising, facility rentals and winter storage

· Responsible for day-to-day operations of the Exhibition, including but not limited to the office, grounds, barns and other buildings, show rings, roads, equipment, etc.

· Collaborating with staff, stakeholders and outside suppliers by building relationships, negotiating costs, and evaluating services provided

· Develops and leads a staff team by providing direction and support in meeting organizational standards and achieving service delivery excellence

· Recommending solutions to achieve the goals of the Society and providing leadership to accomplish those goals

· Provides advice to the Board of Directors and committees of the Society through meetings and/or the preparation of reports

· Set priorities on the delivery of services and ensures service level standards are met

· Responsible for evaluating and implementing operational best practices

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

· Prepare annual budget for operations

· Build budgets and timelines for projects and manage those projects

· Handle and manage all cash, cheques, e-transfers and all other monetary transactions to and from the Exhibition, including night deposits, cash orders, payment of bills, etc.

· Responsible for monthly financial and progress reporting to the Board of Directors

· Research funding opportunities, complete applications, and final reporting

· Attend information sessions online or in person regarding funding opportunities,

· Maintain a presence in tourism sector information sessions, such as REN and Community Culture Tourism and Heritage

· Liaise with all levels of government and establish relationships with elected representatives

· Hire and train office staff; hire and assist with training of other staff as required (e.g. grounds staff)

· Negotiate and supervise contracts, contractors, entertainment etc.

· Control budgets of projects and report any issues to the Board of Directors

· Develop and ensure compliance of agreements with organizations renting the facilities

· Assist and provide final approval on all marketing and promotional material

· Oversee safety of staff and guests

· Liaise with Exhibition committees

· Oversee scheduling of events, coordinating rentals, fundraisers, and additional events over and above annual Exhibition.

· Ensure all organizations using Exhibition facilities have applicable insurance and completed rental agreements

· Communicate with staff on timelines, Exhibition schedule, and other event schedules to ensure availability of applicable staff and required resources for events or exhibits

· Coordinate with staff and Board on facility maintenance, including the recording of any infrastructure changes or updates

· Schedule external services staffing – security, sanitation, temporary staff

· Review vendor service contracts

· Liaise with insurance broker to ensure all insurance requirements are in place

· Liaise with staff and management of the Farm Museum

· Maintain adequate level of custodial/office supplies for daily facility operations.

· Perform other related duties as required, such as “on call” during event rentals and for security system breaches

QUALIFICATIONS:

· Minimum five (5) years in the workforce, with progressive experience in leadership/management roles and/or project management; volunteer leadership experience will be considered

· Proven management and customer service skills

· Proven accounting and budgeting skills

· Proficient in using computer software to create and manage spreadsheets, reports, documents, databases, filing systems, and correspondence

· Demonstrated ability to work in a complex, fast-paced environment

· Strong marketing or promotions experience a definite asset

· Some background in agriculture an asset

· Working geographic knowledge of the Annapolis Valley an asset

COMPETENCIES:

Communication, Customer Service, Developing Others, Organizing & Planning, Organizational Awareness, Managing Change, Networking/Relationship Building, Risk Management, Teamwork & Cooperation, Valuing Diversity

A clean criminal record check, child abuse registry check and driver’s abstract are required as a condition of employment.

Compensation will be negotiated commensurate with skills and experience.

Job Type: Full-time

Salary: From $50,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Paid time off

Flexible Language Requirement:

• French not required

Schedule:

• Monday to Friday
• Weekends as needed

Education:

• Secondary School (preferred)

Language:

• English (required)

Licence/Certification:

• Driving Licence (required)

Ability to Commute:

• Lawrencetown, NS B0S 1M0 (required)

Ability to Relocate:

• Lawrencetown, NS B0S 1M0: Relocate before starting work (required)

Work Location: In person