Director of Strategic Communications

Cincinnati USA Regional Tourism Network

Job Description

Title	Director of Strategic Communications
Department(s)	Communications
Reports to	President

Job summary – Key Areas of Responsibility

As a key collaborative member of the RTN Management Team, the Director of  Strategic Communications and Development is responsible for all Business to Business and Consumer strategic publicity, promotion, earned media and communications, both printed and electronic. This will include annual travel writer campaigns and Corporate PR for both the RTN and its newly formed 501 C-3, the CincinnatiUSA Tourism Alliance (CUSATA).   In addition, activation and deliverables for funding partnerships, promotional relationships, and new relationships with the RTN and CUSATA, are key areas of focus.  This includes evolving funding and promotional models to leverage current constituent relationships.

Business to Business Positioning Development

·         Develop a Corporate Communications Plan for the RTN and its supporting 501 C-3, CUSATA, to include Annual Impact Report, ongoing Media and Public Relations Plan with monthly, quarterly and annual stories and e-communications  that create an image and positioning for the RTN and its new 501 C-3, CUSATA and position its President and Board in the community

·         Supervise the contract agents  identified to support the Corporate Communications Plan, keeping all team members informed

·         Work with President to re-model and add value to the P&G and other non-civic funding  relationship

·         Manage contract deliverables of the Cincinnati Reds partnership as it relates to PR and Publicity/Promotion; work in conjunction with President and the Director of Marketing on annual partnership renewal

·         Work with President to leverage P&G and Reds partnerships to attract new revenue and promotion partners to both the RTN and the CUSATA

·         Establish success metrics across all programs

Consumer Communications, Promotion & Publicity

·         Establish credible relationship with local event producers, attractions and hospitality partners  to gather information about their events and attractions for publicity and media promotions in the outer markets

·         Manage annual contractors in the proactive seasonal travel writer media plan and event promotions

·         By leveraging paid media, create outer market promotions and on-air interviews, ensure participation from key ‘driver’ attractions/events; coordinate with Director of Marketing on paid media through buying firm and direct PR specialist in fulfillment process.

·         Work with both Ohio and Kentucky Divisions of Travel and Tourism to develop Travel Writer opportunities; develop and manage itineraries; work in conjunction with media vendors, attractions and CVBs

·         Lead relationship-building with PR contacts at regional hospitality partners (attractions and hotels, CVBs) and RTN corporate partners to maximize PR impact for region and be consumer spokesperson as needed for such.

·         Serve as RTN representative on Communications Alliance

·         Build regional FAMS to leverage seasonal drivers and grow voice for the destination

·         Manage contractors to ensure on-time, on-budget, execution of plans from contract deliverables to budget settlement, in partnership with Director of Marketing 

·         Collaborate with Director of Marketing  to create editorial content/positioning for collateral materials such as OVG, Seasonal Pocket Calendar, press materials, brochures and signage for publicity and promotion events

·         Lead development of marketing power point and public presentations for President and RTN team, with assistance of PR/Marketing Specialist and contract designers, ensuring consistency of brand and business to business positioning for the RTN and CUSATA

·         Works together with the President and the Director of Marketing to identify fresh approaches and innovative expression of the Destination Marketing and Communications campaigns on all levels with an end result of increasing our destination’s position in the consumer’s mind and our credibility and success in the eyes of our stakeholders.

Summary of essential job functions

Must demonstrate leadership, strategic thinking, analytical, creative, communication and collaboration skills. Demonstrate experience in gaining alignment to key projects with leadership and constituents.

Requirements

·         Minimum 10 years of related Communications Agency and/or attraction or tourism industry work experience

·         4 year degree, preferably in Communications, Public Relations and/or Marketing

·         Must have advanced knowledge of Microsoft Office: MS PowerPoint, MS Word, MS Excel, and MS Outlook and Media Contact/Valuation Databases.  Must be able to work in a fast paced environment with changing priorities as a key member of the leadership team with the Director of Marketing.

Strong Corporate Culture Skills including:

·         Initiator, Self-Starter and Self-Motivator, with highly developed teamwork skills

·         Multi-Tasker who can juggle in a highly dynamic environment with changing priorities

·         Acute attention-to-detail, highly organized and ability to manage a budget and motivate staff, the media and constituents in general

·         Exceptional Communicator with ability to relate to audiences at many levels within an organization

·         Advanced  Communications, Publicity, Public Relations and Partnership Collaboration skills required

·         Consensus builder who leads by example

·         Disciplined and creative thinker with mature decision-making skills and outstanding ability to execute on a plan

·         Research  and Not-for-profit development experience a plus

The CincinnatiUSA Regional Tourism Network is an Equal Opportunity Employer