The Vermont Department of Tourism and Marketing seeks an outgoing, enthusiastic, and experienced partner relations professional to support the department in building and maintaining strategic partnerships, grant administration and events management. The successful candidate will work with an internal marketing team to provide technical assistance visits and presentations to industry associations, represent Vermont at events around the country and within the state, and facilitate grants and contract development.
Primary responsibilities include managing relationships with industry partners and representing the Department of Tourism and Marketing on various planning and intra-agency committees, providing individual and community site visits with Vermont tourism businesses, maintaining tour operator and industry contact databases and itinerary creation for travel trade and media familiarization tours. In addition to representing Vermont at consumer and trade events and outside the state, this position also manages all aspects of the tourism booth in the Vermont Building at the Eastern States Exposition (Big E) in Springfield, MA. This position supports all aspects of departmental grant programs and contracts such as managing the RFP process, handling financial information and oversees the entire grant/ contract process while working with the Agency’s Contracts and Grants Team. Duties also include managing our lead fulfillment process and information requests through VermontVacation.com.
The ideal candidate will have 3 or more years’ experience in sales, communications, tourism and hospitality, or events. Candidate must be comfortable with public speaking in front of large groups and have the ability to engage a variety of audiences in a positive and persuasive manner. Must be able to deal effectively with a diverse mix of tourism businesses and trade associations as well as with the general public. Must be able to assemble and analyze statistical, economic, and marketing information and to develop practical recommendations. Candidate must be able to manage multiple complex projects with differing timelines concurrently. Should have a considerable knowledge of the state’s tourism resources, including attractions, outdoor recreation opportunities, cultural amenities, events, lodging properties and resorts.
Duties are performed in both a standard office setting and in the field. A considerable amount of travel is required in state and out of state and will require overnight stays. Private means of transportation must be available. Strong customer service and public speaking skills are required as contact with the public is frequently necessary.
The Vermont Department of Tourism and Marketing is committed to identify, remove, and reform barriers that prevent people of all backgrounds and abilities from connecting with Vermont as a tourism destination. With an awareness that we are on the land of ancestral stewards, we know the important role that government has to increase meaningful inclusion and representation. We recognize that there is much work to do, and we are committed to being a leader and collaborator on local and statewide efforts to advance equity and accessibility in Vermont.