Director of Business Development

Hours : Full Time – Exempt

Reports to : VP, Marketing & Communications

Salary : $80-90k annually, DOE

Location : 50 Old Courthouse Square, Suite 110, Santa Rosa, CA 95404

Position Summary :

The Director of Business Development will oversee the planning and execution of business development strategies and product development initiatives that will benefit our destination, visitor experience, and our membership partners. As an overall destination brand ambassador, this position is responsible for continuously fostering strong partnerships, working with local businesses, city, and county leaders, and presenting revenue producing opportunities that maintain and increase market share for Santa Rosa.

This position is full-time exempt and on site, with travel and occasional evening and weekend work required.

Responsibilities :

• Grow demand and lead generation to positively impact room night production by presenting and helping to secure business opportunities for partners.
• Act as a liaison between clients and hospitality partners to ensure professional communication and quality customer service to help close business, improve retention, and keep repeat guests, groups, and events.
• Assist in the research and creation of new visitor experiences which support our tourism partners and business community.
• Host destination site visits and tours and plan FAM events for meeting planners and key industry contacts to generate travel to Santa Rosa.
• Travel and represent Santa Rosa at travel tradeshows, industry conferences, and partner events.
• Keep abreast of lodging and hospitality partner updates and changes within the business environment to identify opportunities.
• Serve on committees and attend workshops as a tourism liaison and destination ambassador.
• Collaborate with The VP of Marketing & Communications and third-party agencies to create and implement sales campaigns.
• Manage group sales advertising budget and advise CEO and VP of Marketing & Communications of opportunities to pursue.
• In coordination with the VP, Marketing & Communications, lead sales and market strategy meetings with stakeholders (bi-monthly or quarterly).
• Send monthly sales / business development recaps to hoteliers.
• Participate in regular visits and meetings with hospitality membership to ensure our organization is meeting their expectations, assisting with opportunities, and ensuring yearly renewal.
• Support processes and engagement in the creation of new business development opportunities, e.g., the creation of a Sports Authority or other visitor generating initiatives.
• Participate in chamber orientation meetings to assist in onboarding hospitality members, to assess their goals and expectations.
• Work closely with the Event & Community Engagement Manager to create and maintain a master event calendar based on historical, current, and anticipated groups / events, to proactively identify need periods and guide clients.
• Guide and manage the personnel and processes in servicing the needs of groups and events staying in our destination.
• Research and assess STR reports to provide recommendations for calendar planning of sales and marketing strategies, to impact need periods.
• Produce monthly reports documenting business development activities, lead generation, economic impact, and other sales related goals.
• Assist with the overall SRTBIA Work Plan annually.
• Create pre and post trip reports, document all sales activities in CRM system.
• Monthly highlight of successes and failures, to continue discussions on elevating the destination and analyzing opportunities.
• Participate in professional development opportunities to enhance job knowledge and performance.
• Guide and assist in the professional development of staff.
• Organize group sales for programs with fewer than 10 room nights by handling client correspondents, providing customer service, prospecting venues, producing bids and conducting site visits.
• Support the CEO and VP of Marketing & Communications with implementing a new strategic plan and key initiatives.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications :

Knowledge, Skills & Attributes :

Physical Demands :

The physical requirements of the job are for employees to talk, hear, bend / stoop, sitting, and / or standing for up to 8 hours per day. Furthermore, the job requires employees to lift / carry / push or pull up to 50 pounds with or without assistance. Requirements also include the ability to conduct basic event set-up, not limited to pop-up tents, tables and displays as well as transporting equipment and supplies using carts or dollies, with or without assistance.

Wages & Benefits :

Pay dependent on experience and qualifications. Employer paid medical, life insurance, long term disability, 401k, and generous Paid Time Off policy.

ABOUT THE CHAMBER :

The Santa Rosa Metro Chamber is one of the largest employer-focused nonprofit organizations in the North Bay region. Located in downtown Santa Rosa, the heart of Sonoma County, the Chamber delivers a network of services, information, and advocacy for membership and the North Bay business community at large. Anchored by long-standing programs and services providing education, training, workforce development, downtown vitality, and marketing among other areas, the Chamber has recently developed innovative efforts to address the region’s most challenging issues, such as housing affordability and access to quality childcare. The Small Business Development Center will be a critical program, working in partnership with the Chamber’s existing efforts, to increase the economic vitality of the region and increasing the economic opportunity for all in Sonoma County.

How to Apply :

The Santa Rosa Metro Chamber encourages qualified candidates to submit a resume and cover letter to janellem@santarosametrochamber.com with “Director of Business Development” in the email subject line. Applications will be reviewed as received. The position will be open until filled.

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Salary : $80,000 - $90,000