About this role
HWL TEAM LLC | HAPO CENTER | PASCO, WASHINGTON
Assistant General Manager
Full-Time | On-Site | Reports to the General Manager
POSITION SUMMARY
The HAPO Center is the largest and most versatile event venue in Eastern Washington — approximately 103,000 square feet of expo hall, arena, atrium, breakout and courtyard space hosting trade shows, concerts, sporting events, banquets, conferences and community gatherings year-round.
The Assistant General Manager is the second-in-command of the facility and the operational counterpart to the General Manager. Where the General Manager leads sales, bookings and revenue growth, the Assistant General Manager owns everything required to deliver on what is sold: event setup and execution, guest and client satisfaction, facility condition and compliance, staffing, scheduling, and the disciplined control of labor and spending that makes each event profitable.
This is a hands-on leadership role in a working venue. Success is measured less by how much is spent to make an event happen and more by how well the mission is accomplished with the right people, the right hours, and the right dollars.
REPORTING RELATIONSHIPS
• Reports directly to: General Manager, HAPO Center.
• Functional direction from: the corporate HWL Team office, which provides oversight and support in labor management, human resources, accounts payable/accounts receivable, and corporate policy compliance. The Assistant General Manager is expected to work in step with corporate on these functions, not around them.
• Direct reports: operations, event, maintenance and custodial staff, including supervisors and part-time and event-day labor.
WHAT SUCCESS LOOKS LIKE IN THE FIRST YEAR
• Event labor hours and labor cost are planned before each event, tracked during it, and reconciled after it — with variances explained and corrected.
• Facility spending stays within budget, with purchases justified by need rather than convenience, and competitive quotes obtained on significant repairs.
• Every event is set, executed and torn down on schedule, with client and guest feedback trending upward.
• Preventive maintenance and required inspections are current, documented, and never a surprise.
• Staff schedules match the actual demands of the calendar — fully covered on show days, appropriately lean on quiet ones.
• The General Manager is able to focus on selling the building because operations run without needing to be rescued.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
The following are the essential functions of this position. Other duties may be assigned.
Labor and Spending Management
• Build event and facility staffing schedules that complete the mission with an efficient number of labor hours; adjust staffing in real time as event needs change.
• Forecast labor for each event during the planning phase and compare actual hours to plan after the event.
• Approve and monitor timekeeping, overtime and shift changes; control overtime through planning rather than after-the-fact correction.
• Review, justify and approve facility purchases and service expenditures; obtain competitive quotes and negotiate pricing on repairs, supplies and contracted services.
• Manage inventory of supplies and consumables to avoid both shortages and over-purchasing.
• Support the corporate office on accounts payable and accounts receivable matters, including vendor invoice verification, purchase order accuracy, and timely event billing documentation.
• Identify and act on cost-reduction opportunities without compromising safety, service quality or the client experience.
Event Operations and Customer Satisfaction
• Oversee the complete event lifecycle — advance planning, room and floor setup, execution, breakdown and reset — for all events hosted at the facility.
• Translate event orders, floor plans and client requirements into executable staffing and setup plans for the operations team.
• Serve as the senior on-site operational authority during events, resolving issues in the moment and making decisions that protect both the guest experience and the budget.
• Coordinate with clients, promoters, exhibitors, vendors, food and beverage, security and outside services before and during events.
• Enforce safety, occupancy, alcohol service and emergency procedures throughout all events.
• Gather and act on client and guest feedback; conduct post-event reviews and carry lessons learned into future events.
Facility Maintenance and Compliance Oversight
• Own the condition, appearance and functionality of the entire facility, including interior spaces, grounds, parking areas and equipment.
• Maintain and administer a preventive maintenance program covering building systems and equipment, ensuring scheduled work is completed and documented.
• Ensure all required inspections — fire and life safety, elevator, kitchen and hood, backflow, and similar — are scheduled, completed on time, and that findings are corrected and recorded.
• Schedule, coordinate and follow up on repairs to completion, verifying work quality and value received before invoices are approved.
• Manage relationships and performance of maintenance, janitorial and specialty service vendors and contractors.
• Maintain organized facility records, warranties, service histories, permits and compliance documentation.
This role directs and verifies maintenance work; it is not primarily a hands-on repair position, though a working knowledge of building systems is essential to judging quality, urgency and cost.
Team Leadership and Development
• Recruit, onboard, train, schedule and supervise operations, event, maintenance and custodial staff.
• Set clear expectations and hold staff accountable to performance, attendance and conduct standards.
• Conduct performance discussions and administer the HWL policy handbook consistently, coordinating with the corporate HR office on personnel matters, investigations and disciplinary action.
• Develop supervisors and lead staff so the building can run well on any shift, not only when senior leadership is present.
• Deliver and document required safety and compliance training for facility staff.
Administration and Corporate Coordination
• Provide accurate, on-time operational reporting to the General Manager and the corporate HWL Team office.
• Contribute to annual budgeting and capital planning for facility and event operations.
• Maintain accurate personnel, payroll, scheduling and expenditure records in company systems.
• Act on behalf of the General Manager in the General Manager's absence on operational matters.
QUALIFICATIONS
Required
• Three or more years of progressively responsible operations, facility or event management experience, including direct supervision of staff.
• Demonstrated accountability for labor cost, scheduling and an operating budget.
• Working knowledge of building systems, preventive maintenance practices and vendor-managed repair work.
• Proven ability to manage multiple simultaneous priorities in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to work effectively with clients, staff, vendors and corporate leadership.
• Proficiency with standard business software, scheduling or timekeeping systems, and the ability to learn venue management platforms.
• Availability to work evenings, weekends and holidays as dictated by the event calendar.
• Valid driver's license and the ability to pass a background check.
Preferred
• Experience in a public assembly venue — convention center, arena, fairgrounds, expo hall, hotel or conference facility.
• Bachelor's degree in hospitality, business, facility management or a related field, or equivalent experience.
• Experience managing union or event-day contract labor.
• Certification such as CVP, CFM, CPO, food safety or alcohol service management.
• Bilingual English/Spanish.
WHO THRIVES IN THIS ROLE
The candidates who succeed here share a specific mindset:
• Frugal by instinct. You treat the company's money as your own, spend what the mission requires and not a dollar more, and can tell the difference between an expense that protects the operation and one that is simply easier.
• A planner, not a reactor. You schedule labor from the event's actual requirements rather than from habit, and you would rather solve a problem three weeks out than at 6:00 a.m. on show day.
• Comfortable owning the whole building. Setup diagrams, a failed rooftop unit, a short-staffed shift and an unhappy client can all land in the same hour, and you are steady through all four.
• A partner to the General Manager. You want the operational half of the house and are glad to let sales lead the revenue conversation while you make certain the building delivers.
• Visible and hands-on. You lead from the floor during events, not from behind a desk.
SCHEDULE AND WORK ENVIRONMENT
This is an on-site position at the HAPO Center in Pasco, Washington. Work hours follow the event calendar and regularly include evenings, weekends and holidays, with schedules that vary week to week. Work is performed throughout the facility and grounds, including event floors, back-of-house areas, mechanical spaces, and outdoor areas in all seasons. Event environments include amplified sound, crowds, variable lighting and temperature, and equipment operation.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these essential functions.
• Move about a 103,000 square foot facility and its grounds for extended periods, including on concrete surfaces.
• Remain in a stationary position at a workstation and operate a computer and other office equipment.
• Position self to inspect equipment and building systems, including in low, elevated or confined areas.
• Ascend and descend stairs and ladders.
• Move objects weighing up to 50 pounds occasionally, with or without assistance.
• Communicate clearly and exchange accurate information with staff, clients and guests in person, by phone and by radio, including in noisy environments.
• Observe details at close range and at a distance to assess facility conditions, event setups and safety hazards.
• Work extended shifts, including consecutive days during peak event periods.
COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS
Salary range: $60-80k annually, depending on experience and qualifications.
Benefits: PTO, Medical, Dental and Vision. 60,000-80,000