Are you an experienced marketing professional looking to lead an exceptional team? Do you consider yourself a travel expert and love to highlight amazing opportunities for tourists and residents alike? Are your marketing plans successful and ambitious? Did you just save a bunch of money on your car insurance by switching to - wait, wrong ad!
If you answered “Yes, that’s me!” we want to discuss with our open Vice President of Marketing position with you. This position offers an exciting opportunity for a talented marketing professional to find new and exciting ways to creatively express the travel opportunities and experiences within the destination of Santa Monica. This position reports to our C-Level Executive team consistency of a CEO, COO & CPO.
Who is SMTT?
We're a Capricorn that likes long walks on the beach...the Santa Monica BEACH! Santa Monica Travel & Tourism (SMTT) is the official travel and tourism promotion agency for the City of Santa Monica. It is our role to tell the story of Santa Monica to the world, promote the exciting and unique aspects of the Santa Monica experience and encourage visitors to stay longer and enjoy more of what our destination has to offer. SMTT is a non-profit, non-member organization governed by a board of 11 community individuals. SMTT operates three visitor center information centers. Check us out at www.santamonica.com.
What's COOL about working at SMTT:
- Hybrid work structure, 3 days from home, 2 days in the office along with other events as needed.
- Stellar medical, dental, vision, 401K, Aflac, parking, accrued vacation from day 1 and so much more.
- We work at the beach! The Santa Monica Community is a passionate city with amazing residents and visitors.
- A FUN place to work, office culture is so important at SMTT and we want applicants who want to enjoy what they do here.
- What she said, above this - a fun place to work.
Here's What You'll Oversee at SMTT:
- Development of creative materials, advertisements, media buying, promotions, email marketing, website content that encourages engagement, SEO, SEM, CRM, systems and solutions.
- Ensure all brand messaging is consistent, nurturing and enriching all external perceptions of the organization and growing SMTT market share.
- Lead the development, global deployment and ongoing refinement of destination brand experiences, tools and assets.
- Collaborate with Business Development Department to develop marketing strategies for international tourism and meetings/conference business.
- Implement a strategic content and marketing plan to advance SMTT’s brand identity.
- Demonstrate a thorough knowledge of product information through marketing initiatives, market research, data analytics, brand strategy, media, leveraging trends and by analyzing challenges and opportunities that will influence the brand.
- Analyze market trends and recommend changes to strategies based on analysis and feedback. Take calculated risks based on data-driven analytics.
- Work in partnership with agency(ies) to identify potential new opportunities and develop plans and action steps to be instituted, managed and measured.
- Evaluate and manage cooperative and strategic partnerships with Brand USA, Visit California, CalTravel, Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board and other tourism offices.
- Clearly set expectations for all direct reports. Evaluate performance based upon expectations providing regular coaching and feedback. Encourage, motivate and improve staff production and consistency.
- Plan and manage marketing department annual budget.
- Prepare and present reports on marketing plans, results, data insights and budgets.
- Evaluate and negotiate contracts with advertising agencies, public relations firms, consultants and publishers. Develop these valued relationships.
- Oversee the hiring, training and professional development of Marketing Department staff.
- Actively network to seek out new talent and add strength to the organization.
- Facilitate, manage and track ongoing training for Marketing Department staff.
- Facilitate fun, remember, up there at the top we talked about culture, typing it again here to remind you that we like to have fun.
Requirements, you know the small print:
Skills/Experience:
- Bachelor’s degree in marketing or a related field (or equivalent experience).
- 7+ years of professional experience in marketing and management (experience in destination marketing strongly preferred).
- Exceptional interpersonal communication, relationship building and customer service. Strong communication (oral and written) and presentation/public speaking skills.
- Track record as a collaborative leader who excels in managing multiple projects and team members in a fast-paced work environment.
- Experience managing agency relationships.
- Experience with branding, messaging and research.
- Broad usage and understanding of marketing platforms.
- Strong knowledge of the local market and its assets.
- Able to travel as necessary and attend some work events outside of normal working hours.
- Able to manage multiple projects, team members and agencies and resolve conflict effectively.
- Problem-solving skills and ability to propose and direct successful solutions.
- Ability to multi-task and to pivot quickly in a rapidly changing, fast-paced environment.
- Tech savvy with proficiency in Microsoft Office, Mac operating systems, Adobe Creative Suite, customer/client relations databases and back-end website editing software.
- Willingness to comply with all local, state, federal and company regulations.
- Experience having fun.
Desired Traits/Abilities:
- Strategically focused and passionate about tourism.
- Strong leadership skills with an inclusive and team-oriented focus.
- Professional in appearance and manner.
- Self-motivated and possessing a strong work ethic.
- Detail-oriented, methodical and extremely organized work style.
- Able to work autonomously yet still collaborate with others as needed.
- Strong drive and a tendency to thrive in a very fast-paced, ambitious environment.
- Professional, adventurous, positive and confident attitude.
- Fun. A fun personality, good at puns and sarcasm.
If this sounds like the exciting opportunity we know that it is, and you want to bring your years of experience to help this DMO spread the word on what the world already knows, which is that Santa Monica is the iconic rockstar of beaches, then send your resume, a cover letter telling us about you, your salary requirements (don't waste your time if we're not in the same ballpark, buy a hotdog in a less expensive stadium) and contact information to employment@santamonica.com. If you really want to stand out, make the subject line read FUNVP2024 and tell us what you love most about Santa Monica in your cover letter.
