General Manager | Full Time | Olmsted County Exhibition Center

Oak View Group•Rochester, MN

9d•$90,000 - $100,000

About The Position

General Manager provides comprehensive leadership for all day‑to‑day venue operations while driving revenue generation, partnership development, and long‑term strategic planning. This role oversees facility management, event execution, staffing, maintenance, safety compliance, budgeting, sponsorships, vendor relations, guest experience, and marketing support. It also manages the overall business performance of the venue, including booking, financial reporting, and coordination of entertainment and special events.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution (Business, Hospitality, or related field preferred).
Minimum 5-7 years of management experience in venue, facility, arena, convention center, hotel, or public assembly operations.
Strong knowledge of event execution, staffing, budgeting, forecasting, and cost control.
Understanding of safety regulations, emergency management, and risk‑management best practices.
Ability to build relationships with promoters, talent agencies, vendors, and institutional partners.
Strong leadership, problem-solving, communication, and customer service skills.
Ability to work nights, weekends, and holidays based on event schedules.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office, POS systems, and operational software.
Ability to work effectively in a fast‑paced, team-oriented, event-driven environment.
Valid Food Handler’s certificate and Alcohol Service Permit (if required by state/local laws).

Nice To Haves

Demonstrated expertise in Operations, Facility & Arena Management, combined with agricultural knowledge and a working understanding of rodeo management, arena configuration, and stock operations preferred.

Responsibilities

Lead daily operational procedures, ensuring access control, venue readiness, and seamless event execution.
Manage scheduling, load‑in/load‑out, event setup and teardown, and cross‑departmental coordination.
Oversee full-time and part-time staffing plans, training, and performance standards.
Direct ticketing operations, entry procedures, crowd flow, and coordination with security services.
Ensure smooth delivery of academic, community, livestock, recruiting, and entertainment events.
Direct preventative maintenance programs, repairs, cleaning, and event-related support.
Ensure compliance with health, safety, and risk‑management policies, including emergency response planning.
Oversee life-safety systems, fire protection, and coordination with local authorities.
Maintain operational documentation, manuals, and safety compliance records.
Assist with and manage operational budgets, forecasts, pricing strategies, and rental fee structures.
Implement cost-control initiatives and monitor operational expenditures.
Prepare timely financial reports for internal and external stakeholders.
Book events and maintain relationships with promoters, agents, talent representatives, and community stakeholders.
Support sponsorship strategy development and alignment with institutional policies.
Pursue new sources of revenue both on and off property.
Ensure compliance with all contracts and applicable laws.
Manage vendor relationships across catering, concessions, audiovisual services, and contracted service providers.
Support food, beverage, and catering strategy, ensuring quality and operational excellence.
Establish guest service standards and systems for feedback evaluation.
Support marketing, promotional, and branding initiatives to enhance reputation and event attendance.
Collaborate with University stakeholders to ensure brand alignment and effective public-facing communication.
Participate in long-term facility expansion planning and review design concepts.
Provide input on FF&E inventories and operational needs for future growth.
Assist in operational pro forma development for expanded programming and event mixes.
Attend industry conferences and represent the venue in professional settings.