Georgia Visitor Information Center Manager

The Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD) is the state’s sales and marketing arm, the lead agency for attracting new business investment, encouraging the expansion of existing industry and small businesses, addressing macro-level workforce issues, locating new markets for Georgia products, attracting tourists to Georgia, and promoting the state as a destination for arts events and location for film, music and digital entertainment projects, as well as planning and mobilizing state resources for economic development.

Explore Georgia, GDEcD’s Tourism Division, works to promote the state, and its communities and attractions, to help visitors discover all of Georgia’s unique vacation opportunities. Georgia’s state-run Visitor Information Centers (VICs) are the first points of contact with more than 13 million visitors each year.

The Visitor Information Center Manager will report to the Visitor Services Manager and will be responsible for managing the day-to-day operations of the Lavonia VIC (located on I-85 South), including supervising full-time and part-time staff and overseeing center activities.

Primary responsibilities will include, but are not limited to: customer service, team training, supervision and leadership, assisting with content for the website/social media/publications, working closely with the Partner Marketing and Marketing & Communications teams to sell and market Georgia and its destinations, managing displays and the overall look and feel of Center, and ensuring that Center goals are met.

Other responsibilities include:

Minimum Qualifications:

• Assisting with the development and implementation of special projects and promotions.

• Collaborating with other state-run VIC managers on group assignments and projects.

• Administrative duties including budget management, traffic reporting, hiring, scheduling, employee relations, training and development, performance management, and discipline.

• Working closely and cooperatively with other state and local agencies such as the Georgia Department of Transportation.

• May attend meetings and give presentations on behalf of the GDEcD.

• High school diploma/GED and five (5) years in a lead worker, team leader, or supervisory role communicating information in a customer service setting; OR two (2) years of experience as an Information Specialist in a Georgia VIC or similar tourism organization.

• Basic knowledge of the State of Georgia, including major attractions, destinations, history, and natural resources.

• Strong customer service skills.

• Proficiency with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel and PowerPoint)

• Strong oral, written and interpersonal communication skills.

• Strong team building skills

• Strong leadership skills and ability to use judgement to make sound split second decisions

• Capable of learning, following, and creating protocols for day-to-day operations

• Capacity to work both independently AND in a team-oriented environment.

• This role requires a willingness to be flexible and able to work holidays, and weekends, and to be on call for staffing and/or building emergencies. The ability to move boxes weighing up to 25 pounds and to stand for potentially long periods of time while assisting and greeting visitors is also required.

Preferred Qualifications:

Bachelor’s degree and three (3) years of supervisory experience in hospitality, tourism, or other area with a strong customer service focus which included responsibility for administrative functions.

• Experience learning, following, and creating protocols for day-to-day operations

• Georgia tourism industry experience with extensive knowledge of the State, including major attractions, destinations, history, and natural resources.

• Knowledge of State of Georgia operating policies and procedures.

• Experience giving formal presentations.

• Experience working on collaborative projects.

• Demonstrated creative thinking and problem solving skills.

Application Instructions: To apply for this position, you must submit your resumé and cover letter (PDF format preferred) via the link on our careers page at https://www.georgia.org/about-us/career-job-search. If you do not have internet access or require an accommodation because of a disability, please contact GDEcD Human Resources at 404-962-4000 or email jobs@georgia.org.