FACILITIES MANAGER
Exchange Park | Fairgrounds & Events Venue
Location: Exchange Park
9850 Highway 78
Ladson, SC 29456
Primary focus: Facilities, grounds, and event operations
Typical schedule: Monday–Friday, with seasonal flexibility
Peak periods: Evenings, weekends, holidays, and extended fair hours
Compensation: Competitive salary and benefits package
The Opportunity
Exchange Park is seeking an experienced, hands-on Facilities Manager to lead the year-round operation, maintenance, safety, and presentation of its fairgrounds, buildings, infrastructure, equipment, and event facilities. The role combines day-to-day problem-solving with staff leadership, budgeting, vendor coordination, event support, and long-range facility improvements.
The successful candidate will be equally comfortable developing a preventive maintenance plan, coordinating contractors, managing an operating budget, and responding in the field when an urgent issue arises. This position works closely with staff, club members, committees, vendors, event clients, contractors, and community partners to keep Exchange Park safe, functional, attractive, and ready for use throughout the year.
What You’ll Do
Facilities, Grounds & Safety
- Direct the daily operation and upkeep of buildings, grounds, roads, parking areas, fencing, utilities, infrastructure, and equipment.
- Develop and maintain preventive maintenance programs, inspection schedules, operating procedures, and service records.
- Prioritize and coordinate routine, preventive, emergency, and seasonal maintenance.
- Perform or assist with general plumbing, electrical, carpentry, equipment, and facility repairs within the limits of training and applicable requirements; engage qualified contractors when needed.
- Monitor facility conditions, identify risks and repair priorities, and respond promptly to maintenance emergencies.
- Coordinate inspections required by regulatory agencies and insurance providers and support compliance with applicable safety requirements and building standards.
People, Contractors & Vendors
- Supervise full-time, seasonal, temporary, and contracted personnel, including recruitment, scheduling, training, work assignments, time records, coaching, and performance evaluation.
- Create daily, weekly, and seasonal work plans; inspect completed work and adjust staffing to operational priorities.
- Promote a positive, productive, customer-focused, and safety-conscious work environment.
- Solicit estimates and competitive bids, negotiate service arrangements, and oversee contractor quality, schedule, safety, and compliance.
- Manage service-provider relationships involving HVAC, kitchen equipment, electrical and plumbing systems, heavy equipment, cleaning, waste removal, landscaping, and specialty work.
Budgeting, Purchasing & Inventory
- Develop, administer, and monitor annual maintenance and grounds operating budgets.
- Prepare project estimates, track expenses, review invoices, assign budget codes, and report on budget performance.
- Identify cost-saving opportunities through planning, purchasing, and vendor negotiations while maintaining quality and reliability.
- Purchase materials, equipment, supplies, replacement parts, and operational necessities; maintain appropriate inventory records and stock levels.
- Coordinate temporary rentals and services, including equipment, tents, portable restrooms, dumpsters, lifts, and related event resources.
Events & Client Support
- Review rental agreements and event requirements, then coordinate facility preparation, cleaning, staffing, load-in, load-out, sanitation, and support services.
- Inspect facilities before and after events; document damages, incidents, operating costs, and potential additional charges.
- Attend major events and provide hands-on operational support while maintaining positive client relationships.
- Recommend practical improvements to event procedures, rental terms, pricing, and service offerings.
Annual Fair Operations
Serve as the primary facilities operations coordinator for the annual fair. Responsibilities include:
- Preparing the fairgrounds and coordinating committee requests, projects, supplies, inspections, temporary utilities, rentals, and contracted services.
- Hiring, scheduling, supervising, and tracking hours for temporary labor.
- Scheduling deliveries, installations, vendor services, sanitation, waste removal, restroom servicing, and grounds support.
- Preparing for vendor move-in, stocking operational supplies, and coordinating maintenance coverage during fair operations.
- Participating in daily operations meetings and responding to radio dispatches, maintenance requests, and emergency calls.
- Working the extended schedule required during fair season, including consecutive weeks of seven-day operations.
Projects & Administration
- Plan and oversee facility improvement and capital projects, including scopes, budgets, schedules, contractor coordination, and progress tracking.
- Keep accurate maintenance, service, project, inspection, and operational records and prepare regular reports for organizational leadership.
- Attend Board, committee, planning, vendor, project, and member meetings as needed.
- Communicate promptly and professionally with leadership, staff, committee chairs, vendors, contractors, event clients, and other stakeholders.
- Perform other related duties as needed to support safe and effective facility and event operations.
What You Bring
Required Qualifications
- At least five years of progressively responsible experience in facilities, operations, maintenance, construction, property management, or a related field.
- Demonstrated experience supervising employees and coordinating contractors or service providers.
- Experience developing or managing operating budgets, purchasing, and project costs.
- Working knowledge of building and grounds maintenance, including HVAC, plumbing, electrical, carpentry, utilities, and general facility systems.
- Sound judgment and the ability to prioritize, solve problems, and respond calmly to changing or urgent conditions.
- Strong organizational, time-management, written communication, verbal communication, and customer-service skills.
- Ability to use Microsoft Office and learn computerized maintenance, scheduling, or work-order systems.
- Ability and willingness to work the variable schedule described below.
Preferred Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Facilities Management, Construction Management, Business Administration, Engineering, Parks and Recreation, or a related field. An equivalent combination of education and progressively responsible experience will be considered.
- Experience with event venues, fairgrounds, parks, municipal facilities, campuses, or large commercial properties.
- Experience planning and supporting large public events and seasonal operations.
- Experience with project management, preventive maintenance programs, and computerized maintenance management systems.
Physical & Work Requirements
- Frequently lift and carry up to 50 pounds.
- Walk extended distances across the property and climb ladders and stairs.
- Work indoors and outdoors in varying weather conditions and in noisy, dusty, or occasionally hazardous environments while following appropriate safety procedures.
- Safely operate maintenance equipment and utility vehicles for which the employee is trained and authorized.
- Maintain on-call availability and work evenings, weekends, and holidays as operational needs require.
- Work extended schedules during major events and the annual fair, including several consecutive weeks of seven-day operations.
Benefits
Benefits are provided in accordance with Exchange Park’s current personnel policies.
Why This Role Matters
This position is well suited to an experienced leader who enjoys balancing planning and financial stewardship with hands-on problem-solving. Success in the role requires mechanical aptitude, accountability, strong service instincts, and the ability to lead safe, reliable operations during both routine facility use and large-scale public events.
Exchange Park is an equal opportunity employer. Employment decisions are made without unlawful discrimination and in accordance with applicable law.
Pay: From $75,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Flexible schedule
- Health insurance
- Health savings account
- Paid time off
Experience:
- facilities maintenance, construction, property management: 5 years (Required)
Ability to Relocate:
- Ladson, SC 29456: Relocate before starting work (Preferred)
Work Location: In person
