Marketing Director

Hattiesburg Convention Commission

10d

About The Position

The Marketing Director serves as the strategic leader and visionary for all marketing, advertising, and promotional efforts across our diverse portfolio of attractions. This executive-level position requires a proven marketing professional who can effectively coordinate and execute comprehensive marketing strategies that drive visitor engagement, increase revenue, and enhance the reputation of our varied venues while working collaboratively with individual facility managers. The successful candidate will develop and implement integrated marketing campaigns that showcase the unique value proposition of each facility while creating synergies across the entire portfolio. This role demands exceptional leadership skills to oversee graphic artists and marketing staff, astute budget management capabilities, and the strategic acumen to determine the most effective advertising channels and promotional strategies for our diverse range of attractions.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Business Administration, Communications, Public Relations, Hospitality Management, or related field
Minimum 7-10 years of progressive marketing experience
At least 5 years in senior marketing management role with supervisory responsibilities
Proven success developing and executing marketing strategies for multiple venues or diverse product lines
Experience managing marketing budgets with demonstrated ability to achieve measurable results
Leadership experience including direct supervision of marketing staff and creative professionals
Exceptional written and verbal communication skills
Strategic thinking and analytical abilities
Project management expertise
Creative problem-solving capabilities
Technology proficiency including marketing software platforms, CMS, social media tools, email marketing, and analytics
Financial management skills including budget development, expense tracking, and vendor negotiations

Nice To Haves

Master's degree preferred
Professional certifications from American Marketing Association, Digital Marketing Institute, Google Analytics, HubSpot, or industry-specific organizations viewed favorably
Tourism marketing or themed attraction marketing experience
Advanced proficiency in marketing automation platforms and CRM systems
Event marketing and promotion experience
Experience working with creative teams and understanding of design principles
Strong leadership qualities with emotional intelligence and cultural sensitivity
Adaptability, attention to detail, innovation, and creativity
Experience in tourism marketing, hospitality marketing, entertainment venue marketing, or cultural institution marketing highly preferred

Responsibilities

Develop comprehensive annual and multi-year marketing strategies for all facilities
Conduct market research and competitive analysis to identify opportunities
Create detailed marketing plans with specific goals, target audiences, messaging strategies, and performance metrics
Establish and maintain cohesive brand identity across all facilities while respecting each venue's unique character
Stay current with industry best practices and emerging marketing technologies
Provide direct supervision to graphic artists, social media marketers, and marketing staff
Recruit, hire, train, and evaluate marketing team members
Develop clear performance standards and provide constructive feedback
Coordinate multiple marketing campaigns across various facilities and deadlines
Foster collaboration between marketing team and facility managers
Work effectively with facility managers responsible for day-to-day operations and programming
Understand unique operational requirements, target audiences, and marketing needs of each venue
Support convention center lead generation, theater show marketing, museum educational outreach, and family attraction campaigns
Respond to immediate marketing needs while maintaining long-term strategic focus
Conceptualize and execute comprehensive marketing campaigns for each facility
Utilize multiple marketing disciplines: traditional advertising, digital marketing, social media, content marketing, public relations
Oversee creation of all marketing materials maintaining consistent brand standards
Manage website, SEO, social media strategy, email marketing, and online advertising
Handle crisis communication and reputation management
Establish comprehensive systems for measuring marketing effectiveness across all facilities
Develop relevant KPIs for each facility's objectives
Use analytics tools to gather data for strategic decision-making
Conduct post-campaign analysis and present findings with recommendations
Drive continuous improvement through data-driven insights
Develop, manage, and optimize the organization's marketing budget across all facilities
Negotiate with vendors, media outlets, and service providers for optimal rates and terms
Monitor expenditures, track performance metrics, and make real-time adjustments
Implement ROI measurement systems and provide regular reports to senior leadership
Justify marketing investments through detailed cost-benefit analysis
Develop and maintain relationships with media outlets and community organizations
Write and distribute press releases, coordinate media interviews, organize press events
Identify newsworthy stories and angles for different types of media outlets