Director of Destination Policy

Destinations International • Ashburn, VA

17d • $80,000 • Remote

About The Position

The Director of Destination Policy is a senior-level position within the Advocacy and Research department and is responsible for strengthening Destinations International's role as a global leader in policy analysis, advocacy readiness, and public-sector intelligence for destination organizations. This individual will guide the organization’s efforts to monitor, interpret and communicate policy developments that affect destination organizations, while also supporting coordinated responses during periods of legislative, regulatory or political pressure.
The Director will frequently represent Destinations International in public settings. This includes speaking at conferences, presenting policy insights to members, facilitating discussions with destination organization leaders and communicating with elected officials, government agencies and other tourism stakeholders. The individual must be comfortable delivering information clearly and confidently to both large and small audiences.
This position plays a critical role in ensuring that members have timely information, strategic guidance and research-based insights that protect the visitor economy and the essential work of destination organizations.
This role focuses on policy monitoring, analysis, and member guidance. It does not include lobbying activities or direct legislative advocacy on behalf of Destinations International or its members. Instead, the position supports destinations by providing intelligence, resources, and strategic insights that enable informed local advocacy and decision-making.

Requirements

• 7 + years of experience in public policy, advocacy, public affairs, government relations or association leadership, ideally within the tourism, hospitality or destination organization sector.
• Demonstrated experience presenting complex policy concepts in clear and accessible ways to both expert audiences and the general public.
• Strong knowledge of legislative and regulatory processes in the United States and Canada and exposure to additional international policy environments.
• Comfort speaking to diverse audiences such as elected officials, community leaders, business partners and tourism sector professionals.
• Confident communicator who delivers policy information effectively in public presentations, member meetings, webinars, and stakeholder discussions.
• Analytical thinker capable of interpreting complex policy environments and presenting findings in clear, accessible formats for diverse audiences.
• Trusted advisor who builds strong working relationships with destination organization leaders, elected officials, partner associations, and cross-sector collaborators.
• Calm and organized during time-sensitive situations, able to communicate clearly and maintain focus under pressure.
• Globally minded professional who values comparative policy learning and understands the role of destination organizations within diverse government and funding systems.
• Collaborative colleague who approaches policy challenges with curiosity, professionalism, and a commitment to shared problem-solving.
• Willing and able to travel up to approximately 35% annually to support member engagement, policy advocacy efforts, conferences, and stakeholder meetings.

Nice To Haves

• Experience using policy tracking software platforms such as Quorum, FiscalNote, Bloomberg Government, or comparable tools.
• Ability to build dashboards, interpret real-time policy data, and translate analytical findings into clear, actionable insights for members and stakeholders.
• Ability to translate complex legislative and regulatory developments into practical, action-oriented guidance for non-policy audiences.
• Skilled facilitator who can guide constructive conversations among leaders and stakeholders with differing perspectives.
• Demonstrates sound professional judgment in determining when policy developments require escalation, communication, or coordinated response.
• Service-oriented professional committed to supporting destination organizations with practical and actionable policy intelligence.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary point of contact for destination organizations seeking support on urgent policy or governance related issues and communicate guidance clearly through written and verbal channels.
• Present policy findings and recommended actions to member groups, board committees, partner associations and other stakeholders where appropriate.
• Develop written issue briefings, policy summaries and guidance documents that support destinations in responding to funding threats, structural changes and public accountability challenges.
• Facilitate coordinated information sharing and strategic dialogue between Destinations International and relevant partners when multiple jurisdictions are affected by similar policy concerns.
• Monitor legislative and regulatory activity across the United States, Canada and other international markets and communicate key developments through presentations, webinars and policy briefings.
• Prepare written and verbal reports that summarize implications of policy trends and support informed decision making among members and stakeholders.
• Identify policy signals that may influence destination funding, governance or operations and present findings in a clear and accessible format.
• Engage with industry associations such as the United States Travel Association (USTA), Tourism Industry Association of Canada (TIAC) and international associations/partners to communicate shared policy priorities and align messaging.
• Lead or support presentations during coordinated advocacy or policy response efforts to ensure that groups operate with consistent information.
• Represent Destinations International in public forums, international meetings and member facing sessions focused on policy, governance or advocacy.
• Share policy insights and global examples with members through presentations, facilitated discussions and conference sessions.
• Create policy resources such as briefing papers, model frameworks and talking points and present these resources in workshops, webinars and educational programs.
• Develop and deliver educational content focused on improving member understanding of policy and advocacy through conferences, learning modules and public sessions.
• Collaborate with Membership, Professional Development, Communications, and Global Development teams to ensure policy insights are integrated into member programming, resources, and communications.
• Support internal teams by providing policy context and intelligence that strengthens member engagement and strategic initiatives across the organization.
• Support rapid response efforts when destination organizations face urgent legislative, funding, or governance challenges by coordinating timely intelligence and guidance.
• Develop response templates and communication frameworks to assist members during public policy or governance crises.
• Develop practical tools, templates, and policy response resources that destination organizations can adapt locally.
• Maintain and update a library of policy case studies and successful advocacy practices available to members.
• Establish performance indicators to measure the effectiveness and reach of policy intelligence and advocacy support efforts.
• Track member engagement with policy resources and adjust programming and communications based on impact and feedback.

Benefits

• Employee Paid Health Coverage: Ensuring you and your loved ones are well cared for.
• Financial Wellness Programs: Including retirement plans with employer contributions to secure your future.
• Flexible Work Environment: Embracing a remote-first approach with the necessary tools and support.
• Generous Time Off: Recognizing the importance of rest and rejuvenation.
• Continuous Learning Opportunities: Encouraging professional development and growth.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director
• Education Level: No Education Listed