Business Operations Manager | North Carolina Azalea Festival
Join the team behind one of the Southeast’s most iconic celebrations! The North Carolina Azalea Festival is hiring a Business Operations Manager to help power the behind-the-scenes work that makes the North Carolina Azalea Festival possible. This role oversees day-to-day business operations, ticketing, and financial processes while supporting staff, volunteers, and Festival leadership. If you’re highly organized, thrive in a fast-paced environment, and care deeply about guest experience, we’d love to connect.
Key Responsibilities
- Oversee day-to-day business operations to ensure efficient, well-organized, and guest-focused office and ticketing environments.
- Manage all accounts payable and accounts receivable, including invoicing, vendor coordination, and QuickBooks data entry.
- Manage the Festival Ticket Office, including ticketing systems, procedures, staffing, scheduling, and customer service standards.
- Hire, train, schedule, and lead seasonal ticketing staff, volunteers, and interns, fostering a positive, sales-oriented team culture.
- Ensure health, safety, and operational compliance across office, retail, and ticketing functions.
- Audit, develop, and improve operational processes and procedures to increase efficiency and effectiveness.
- Oversee daily cash handling, reconciliation of cash boxes, and financial accuracy across ticketing and retail operations.
- Coordinate with Festival accountants to ensure reconciliations, compliance, internal controls, and financial checks and balances.
- Manage merchandise, retail sales, inventory, and off-season sales initiatives to drive revenue.
- Organize and distribute sponsorship tickets, VIP packages, ticket promotions, and special event allotments.
- Monitor customer satisfaction and address service issues or feedback in a timely and professional manner.
- Manage the General Administration budget and assist with development and oversight of the overall Festival and committee budgets.
- Prepare financial and operational reports, including Treasurer’s Reports, for the Executive Director and Board.
- Serve as staff liaison to assigned committees, events, programs, and sponsorship initiatives.
- Execute strategic and operational plans that support the Festival’s growth, financial sustainability, and high standards of service.
Qualifications
We’re looking for someone who:
- Proficient in Quickbooks.
- Takes initiative and works well independently.
- A team leader for front office staff and a cheerleader for the team.
- Can manage multiple projects simultaneously and stay highly organized.
- Is proficient with technology and learns new tools quickly.
- Has excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Works well under pressure and in fast-paced environments.
- Adapts easily and strives to improve processes.
- Has strong problem-solving abilities.
- Delivers excellent guest service in every interaction.
- Has reliable transportation.
- Has a flexible schedule during peak season (January–April), as extra hours will be needed both in office and on-site at events.
Salary & Benefits: Salary range commensurate with experience. This is a full-time, on-site position. Full-time employees are eligible for the Festival’s medical insurance plan (Festival pays 50%) after a 90-day probationary period.
Mission Statement
The mission of the North Carolina Azalea Festival is to be nationally recognized as a showcase for our community’s rich array of artwork, gardens, history, and culture through recreational, educational, and family-oriented events. The Festival encourages volunteerism and civic participation as it contributes to the region’s economy and promotes the unique qualities of our river-to-the-sea community.
If you're passionate about festivals, community engagement, and bringing large-scale events to life, we’d love to hear from you.
Apply today and help shape one of North Carolina’s most beloved traditions!
