Virginia Beach is a diverse, vibrant, appealing community with a dynamic year-round tourism economy that serves the needs of local residents and visitors alike. The Virginia Beach Convention & Visitors Bureau develops and promotes Virginia Beach as a first-class, year-round destination that contributes to the quality of life and a diverse local economy.

The Marketing & Public Relations Division is an in-house agency to manage advertising campaigns, public relations, social media, content creation, collateral development, graphic design and research for domestic leisure travel and internal business unit clients including international tourism, sports marketing, meetings and conventions, group tour, visitor information services, resort management and convention center. The team utilizes outside contracted creative, production and media buying services only on an as-needed project basis.  The unit also provides market performance insights and forecasting trends for tourism investors and stakeholders that may assist in tourism product development. Up-to-date images and video of Virginia Beach are maintained by this team to ensure VisitVirginiaBeach.com, the CVB's official website, stays fresh and relevant to prospective and returning visitors. 

This position reports to the Director of the Virginia Beach Convention & Visitors Bureau (VBCVB) and serves as an integral member of the senior management team. The Vice-President of Marketing & Public Relations is responsible for the development of the CVB’s marketing, branding and public relations strategy and will contribute to the CVB’s organizational strategic planning process. The VP of Marketing & Public Relations will develop a world-class marketing and public relations plan for the VBCVB, directly managing strategies and activities that promote, enhance and protect the organization’s brand reputation.

The VP of Marketing & Public Relations will be responsible for the development, integration, and implementation of a broad range of marketing and public relations activities relative to the strategic direction and positioning of the organization and its leadership. The individual will be an ambassador for the organization and will build relationships with key stakeholders including city officials, media and influential organizations to advance the organization’s position with relevant constituents, as well as the drive broader awareness and support for tourism.

Marketing:

• Oversee and direct content development for all marketing channels used by the organization including web, blogs, newsletters and social media.
• Actively participate and lead strategic discussions and meetings with key stakeholder groups.
• Identify new marketing trends and strategies that can be implemented to increase our impact in the marketplace.
• Evaluate cooperative marketing program opportunities with tourism partners to increase destination brand awareness.

Management:

• Oversee day to day activities with the marketing, branding, and public relations division.
• Demonstrate ability to prioritize activities.
• Ability to handle multiple responsibilities simultaneously.
• Manage contractual and vendor relationships effectively and efficiently with defined roles and objectives.
• Ability to develop an annual budget supported with clearly defined tactics to achieve goals.
• Monitor and manage divisional budget: forecasting/projections, financial analyses, procurement with the ability to account for expenditures and encumbrances.
• Be able to communicate expectations to direct reports and hold them accountable.
• Maintain and be able to interpret key statistical data and KPIs and relate them to strategic planning.
• Ensure that public funds are used in accordance with established guidelines and policies with emphasis on what is appropriate and responsible and not just allowable.

Critical Knowledge:

• Ability to execute strategy.
• Possess a strong analytical perspective.
• Have an eye for creative design to convey destination messages.
• Current with the digital tools and marketplace.
• Understand contractual and vendor relationships.
• Effective communication techniques with writers and editors.
• Ability to write and present effectively.
• Understand of destination brand concepts.
• Effective management of team building techniques.

Key Traits:

In addition to the minimum requirements, the ideal candidate for this position will have experience listed in the preferences below. Candidate with the preferred experience should ensure the information is provided in the application.

As a City employee, you will enjoy a generous benefits package that includes paid time off, paid holidays, health, dental and vision insurance options, a wellness program, retirement, tuition reimbursement and more.

Any combination of education (above the high school level) and experience equivalent to ten (10) years in fields related to the meeting/convention, sports tourism and/or group leisure tourism industry, which provide the required knowledge, skills, and abilities. SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS: All employees may be expected to work hours in excess of their normally scheduled hours in response to short-term department needs and/or City-wide emergencies.