EXPOSITION AND STATE FAIR BOARD

Address: 1826 West McDowell Road
Phoenix, Arizona 85007

Salary: $70,000.00 - $79,000.00 

Grade: 21

Closing Date: August 23, 2026

The Event Manager is primary event operational authority for all events on the Fairgrounds. This position is responsible for the end­ to­ end execution of large­scale events that carry significant financial, public safety, and legal liability for the agency; operating with full independent decision ­making authority over department budgets, high­ value contract negotiations, emergency protocols; working alongside the Programming Manager to develop long ­term event scheduling strategies designed to generate revenue. The Event Manager position manages event staff, including guest services, parking, operations/facilities, and box office. The consequence of error at this level is substantial, as operational missteps, regulatory non­compliance, or event disruptions directly impact agency revenue, public safety, and state asset integrity.

This position may offer the ability to work remotely, within Arizona, based upon the department's business needs and continual meeting of expected performance measures.

The State of Arizona strives for a work culture that affords employees flexibility, autonomy, and trust. Across our many agencies, boards, and commissions, many State employees participate in the State’s Remote Work Program and are able to work remotely in their homes, in offices, and in hoteling spaces. All work, including remote work, should be performed within Arizona unless an exception is properly authorized in advance.

• Serve as the lead operational authority on the floor with venue clients, promoters, and agency leadership; autonomously negotiate real-­time layout adjustments, resolve production rider conflicts, and handle escalated structural, technical, or venue challenges on the fly.
• Operational Policy & Floor Enforcement: Formulate, implement, and enforce live site standard operating procedures, crowd management protocols, and safety rules across all event footprints, holding venue staff, promoters, and production crews accountable to agency execution standards during load­ing, show run, and strike.
• On­Site Personnel & Production Command: Direct, supervise, and evaluate permanent event coordinators, technical stage crews, floor managers, and third ­party contractors during live operations; exercise direct tactical authority on the event floor to resolve workforce bottlenecks, manage shift changes, and enforce performance standards.
• Oversee, evaluate, and enforce operational parameters for specialized technical production contractors and labor crews—including audio/visual engineers, lighting designers, pyrotechnicians, and union/non­union labor—authorizing the use of high ­risk show elements (e.g., hazmat handling, indoor pyrotechnics, drone displays, and high­ voltage power ties) to ensure full compliance with artist technical riders, state safety codes, and federal regulations.
• Exercise final technical authority to halt or modify production setups, stage builds, or pyrotechnic/laser effects that exceed facility structural load limits, breach state fire codes, or pose life­ safety hazards to the public or crew.
• Direct event fiscal planning alongside the Booking Manager, negotiating and refining facility contract parameters to maximize venue profitability and protect agency operational interests.

Knowledge of:

• Comprehensive knowledge of large­scale concert and event production methodologies, including touring production riders, heavy­ rigging load capacities, multi­tier audio/visual/lighting setups, staging mechanics, artist load in/strike dynamics, indoor/outdoor acoustic dynamics, pyrotechnic/special effects safety codes, complex crowd management psychology, and site logistics for high­ occupancy touring artists and music venues.

Skills in:

• Advanced skill in negotiating and aligning operational deliverables with vendors, security providers, and labor groups to ensure precise delivery windows, optimal load­ing and load­out schedules.
• Mastery in managing end­ to­ end event logistics under compressed turnarounds; expert skill in directing spatial layout plans, site traffic flows, freight staging, equipment load­ing, and the dynamic positioning of heavy physical assets across multi­acre grounds;
• Live Operations & Logistical Crisis Resolution: Exceptional skill in resolving high ­pressure logistical bottlenecks with clients, de­escalating disputes, managing crowd­ flow congestions, and executing rapid contingency plans during live event disruptions.

Ability to:

• Operate autonomously with minimal administrative direction and make critical, time­ sensitive safety and financial decisions in fast-­paced environments;
• Direct, motivate, and mentor a diverse workforce of permanent professional staff, technical specialists, and large numbers of temporary or contract personnel;
• Communicate Conceptually: Ability to present complex event concepts, public safety initiatives, and operational blueprints clearly and persuasively internally and externally;
• Conceptually re­engineer failing event processes, manage abrupt resource changes, and design contingency operational models under stressful public conditions.

• Minimum 10 years in large scale event production (10,000+).

• Arizona State Driver's license.

If this position requires driving or the use of a vehicle as an essential function of the job to conduct State business, then the following requirements apply: Driver’s License Requirements.

All newly hired State employees are subject to and must successfully complete the Electronic Employment Eligibility Verification Program (E-Verify).

The State of Arizona offers a comprehensive benefits package to include:

• Sick Leave
• Vacation with 10 paid holidays per year
• Health and dental insurance
• Retirement plan
• Life Insurance and long-term disability insurance
• Optional employee benefits include short-term disability insurance, deferred compensation plans, and supplemental life insurance

By providing the option of a full-time or part-time remote work schedule, employees enjoy improved work/life balance, report higher job satisfaction, and are more productive. Remote work is a management option and not an employee entitlement or right. An agency may terminate a remote work agreement at its discretion.

Learn more about the Paid Parental Leave program here. For a complete list of benefits provided by The State of Arizona, please visit our benefits page

• Positions in this classification participate in the Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS)
• Please note, enrollment eligibility will become effective after 27 weeks of employment

If you have any questions please feel free to contact Rose Ibe at rose.ibe@azdoa.gov.