Director of Marketing

Summary: The Director of Marketing is an engaging leader who can inspire creative energy and transform vision into effective marketing communication that improves visitation and fuels transformational growth in our communities. This role has four key purposes: 1) Increase overall tourism traffic to the destination by improving visitor awareness, understanding, and interest. 2) Strategically develop, implement, and evaluate marketing, advertising, public relations, social media, websites and creative services to enhance communications and strengthen the destination brand. 3) Lead and support a team of marketing, creative and communication professionals to create content and develop tools to promote the Tri-Cities as a premier destination for meetings and conferences, sports events and leisure travel. 4) Implement and oversee media outreach programs to increase positive media exposure for the destination. This full-time position requires a flexible schedule to include some evenings, weekends, and travel.

Duties & Responsibilities:

• Understands and is passionate about the vision, mission values and purpose of the organization with clear understanding of the business strategy, objectives, and operations.
• Understands the target audiences and motivations for each core market.
• Researches, analyzes and monitors industry trends, norms, and travel motivations.
• Leads a team of marketing and creative professionals providing inspiration, direction and guidance to promote the Tri-Cities as a premier destination.
• Inspires and directs strategies for marketing, advertising & design, websites, multi-media, social channels and PR.
• Creates, and executes comprehensive, results oriented annual marketing and communication plans for internal and external audiences.
• Monitors and evaluates campaign metrics and prepares reports.
• Leads strategy and development of the destination’s leisure travel market while implementing marketing tactics for all external markets.
• Oversees, develops and implements media outreach strategies that target travel, tourism, and lifestyle writers, publications, and media outlets.
• Works with public relations agency of record to secure positive media exposure.
• Monitors media coverage and reports on related press value.
• Develops strategy, goals, and creative concepts and content for VTC websites.
• Oversees website management including content, development, implementation, and maintenance and ensures sites are utilized as premier tools in the overall visitor and destination strategy.
• Monitors, researches, analyzes and evaluates website strategies to determine effectiveness and ensure continuous improvement.
• Responsible for online performance, analysis and reporting.
• Oversees and assists with production of creative assets and collateral.
• Writes, produces and presents marketing and advertising content.
• Develops materials and content for travel media, sales teams, digital blogs, articles, etc.
• Coordinates development of digital assets (e.g. photography, video content, graphics, etc.)
• Ensures digital assets are identified, organized, managed and readily accessible.
• Collaborates with VTC team leaders about creative projects to accomplish the objectives and communication needs specific to each audience.
• Provides collateral and tools for visitor information centers, kiosks and visitor services.
• Develops and maintains annual budgets for areas of responsibility.
• Negotiates contracts for agency agreements, media purchases and production.
• Manages contracts, oversees agency efforts and coordinates interaction for contracted agencies, services and platforms.
• Manages production of VTC publications and reports.

Duties & Responsibilities - General

• Cultivate and inspire a community shared vision about the benefits and opportunities generated by the visitor economy.
• Foster positive relationships with local organizations, businesses, media, stakeholders, and residents to educate locals about the activities, purpose and role tourism plays in our communities.
• Engages with boards and committees and community leaders as needed to fulfill objectives.
• Maintains good knowledge of the destination’s assets, attractions, recreation opportunities, climate, venues, hotels, public spaces and area services.
• Represent the vision and objectives of VTC in a professional and proactive manner.
• Present in various meetings to communicate tourism and destination development vision, needs and opportunities.
• Assists with convention, sports and event marketing activities.
• Serves and provides leadership for various committees and perform various other duties as assigned.
• Attend industry meetings and events and perform various other duties as required.

Requirements:

• Degree in public relations, journalism, marketing or communications preferred.
• Experience working with a Destination Marketing Organization (DMO) is a plus.
• Proficient in destination marketing principles and advertising strategies.
• Minimum three years of experience in marketing, advertising or public relations field.
• Minimum two years of experience buying digital advertising.
• Strong background in communications and event marketing.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with experience in writing advertising and marketing content, promotional text, newsletter content and marketing collateral.
• Skills in creative concepting and advertising design.
• Proficiency with digital advertising data analysis tools.
• Skilled in relationship building, public speaking, and collaborative problem-solving.
• Aptitude for diplomacy, negotiating and sales.
• Optimistic, solution-oriented and good natured.
• Energetic, positive, professional and adaptable.
• Ability to work with executives, key business leaders and community decision makers.
• Available for flexible hours, including nights, weekends, and holidays.
• Willing to travel regionally and nationally, including occasional overnight trips.

Benefits:

• Salary Range: $70k - $90k – candidates are hired based on qualifications, capabilities, and aptitude
• Employer-paid full health benefits including 100% employer paid medical, vision, dental, life & long-term disability insurance for employees
• Paid time off program including vacation, sick and holidays
• Flexible work options including a hybrid schedule
• 401k retirement plan with employer contribution match
• Professional and career development, performance incentives, volunteerism program and team building opportunities

For additional information to help further familiarize you with Visit Tri-Cities, please visit https://www.visittri-cities.com/about-us/careers/

Join us! To apply for this position, submit your cover letter, resume and the answers to these questions.

• What is your favorite thing about the Tri-Cities?
• Why would we be crazy not to hire you?

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $70,000.00 - $90,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Flexible schedule
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Professional development assistance
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance
• Work from home stipend

Work Location: Hybrid remote in Kennewick, WA 99336

Salary : $70,000 - $90,000