Tourism Development Manager

Shenandoah County•Shenandoah County, VA

About The Position

The Tourism Development Manager performs complex professional and administrative work to promote tourism, manage projects, and provide tourism services within Shenandoah County. The position works under the general supervision of the Director of Tourism & Economic Development and requires independent work, follow-through, and leadership of multiple projects while building relationships with stakeholders and partners. The manager supports tourism development and increased visitation through partnerships, planning, programming, marketing, public relations, and promotion. The role also supports tourism-related businesses and entrepreneurs, assists with grants and RFPs, maintains digital content and industry data, and provides administrative and staff support to the Tourism Council and related advisory bodies.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, Public Relations, Economics, Business Administration, or a related field, and advanced experience in business development, tourism, marketing, or a related field; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Possess an appropriate driver’s license valid in the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Knowledge of standard office practices, procedures, equipment, and techniques; business English, spelling, and arithmetic; departmental organization and general administrative policies and practices.
Knowledge of Microsoft Office programs for creating and formatting documents, graphs, presentations, databases, and spreadsheets.
Knowledge of public relations, effective communication, and the principles and practices of tourism and related areas.
Strong oral and written communication skills in an interactive, team-oriented work environment.
Skills in website and social media maintenance through content management systems and in delivering presentations to diverse stakeholder groups.
Ability to use computers for data entry, word processing, and/or accounting, and to operate standard office and other work-related equipment.
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with public officials, the business community, citizens, associates, and the general public.
Ability to communicate information clearly, analyze and interpret complex information, and develop detailed reports.
Ability to maintain office records and prepare accurate reports from file sources.
Ability to organize and perform work independently, prepare effective routine correspondence, and handle routine office management details without referral to a supervisor.
Ability to maintain regular and predictable attendance.
Successful completion of a pre-employment, post-offer drug screening and background check.

Responsibilities

Coordinate activities that support tourism development and increase visitation in the County.
Serve as a liaison with tourism and economic development organizations, civic groups, and local, regional, and state agencies; maintain relationships with public- and private-sector partners.
Assist with short- and long-range project planning intended to increase visitation and County tax revenues.
Develop, recommend, and implement tourism programming, including product development, special events, advertising, and promotions.
Coordinate and implement programs supporting tourism-related businesses and entrepreneurs.
Assist with preparing and administering grants and RFPs related to tourism development and marketing.
Coordinate implementation of marketing, public relations, and promotion plans to attract tourists to the County.
Build and maintain relationships with travel writers and public relations officials to promote Shenandoah County in publications, blogs, and social media.
Research media outlets and editorial calendars and develop a content calendar for the office.
Maintain accurate, current information on the County tourism website and social media platforms, and create organic content for Meta, YouTube, and Pinterest.
Assist in developing a strategic plan for the department’s tourism-related functions and generate ideas to increase visitation and visitor spending.
Lead planning and execution of tourism-related projects and coordinate activities with the towns in Shenandoah County.
Perform administrative tasks related to project and office operations and provide staff support to the Tourism Council and related advisory boards and commissions as directed.
Compile and maintain marketing, demographic, tourism-industry, and County data, including annual economic impact, visitation trends, marketing statistics, existing businesses, and short-term rentals.