The City is seeking a dynamic Tourism Manager to lead, plan, and grow Chesapeake’s tourism activities and initiatives.

This role will focus on strengthening the City’s identity as a destination by promoting its unique natural assets, cultural and historical attractions, events and recreational and sports activities, agritourism, and hospitality offerings. The Tourism Manager will drive marketing and branding efforts, foster partnerships with local and regional stakeholders, and develop strategies that attract visitors to the City while enhancing the overall visitor experience. This role offers the opportunity to shape Chesapeake’s tourism landscape—building programs, campaigns, event management, and experiences that highlight the City’s character, boost economic impact, and connect residents and visitors alike to all Chesapeake has to offer. Key responsibilities include:

Project Leadership & Oversight: Lead the development and execution of strategies that grow Chesapeake’s tourism presence and enhance the visitor experience. Work will center on destination marketing, partnership building, and tourism program development that drives economic impact and community pride.

• Tourism Strategy & Development: Plan, implement, and evaluate tourism initiatives that highlight Chesapeake’s unique natural, cultural, historical, and recreational assets and programs.
• Marketing & Promotion: Oversee branding, advertising, social media, and promotional campaigns to attract regional, national, and international visitors.
• Partnerships & Collaboration: Build and maintain strong relationships with hospitality businesses, attractions, event organizers, and regional/state tourism organizations.
• Visitor Experience: Develop programs, events, tours, and services that enhance the quality of life for visitors and residents while creating memorable and impactful experiences.
• Data & Performance Analysis: Monitor tourism trends, visitor data, and industry benchmarks to inform strategy and measure success.
• Community Engagement: Advocate for tourism as an economic driver and community asset, ensuring initiatives reflect the City’s values and identity. Collaborate and participate with local organizations, events, and their activities to promote the City and its assets.

Compliance & Quality Assurance: Ensure all tourism programs, marketing efforts, and visitor services adhere to industry standards, ethical practices, and applicable local, state, and national regulations. Maintain accuracy and consistency in branding, messaging, and service delivery. Uphold high standards of accessibility, inclusivity, and environmental stewardship to ensure Chesapeake’s tourism offerings are welcoming, sustainable, and reflective of the City’s values.

Budget & Resource Management: Assist with the preparation and oversight of operating and capital budgets for tourism initiatives. Monitor expenditures, review invoices, and make cost-effective decisions to ensure tourism programs, events, marketing endeavors, and projects remain financially sustainable and deliver strong value for the community.

Job Description

Supervision: Direct and manage sales, community and City events, and visitor center staff to include hiring, establishing goals, evaluating, training, and leading daily activities. Utilize contractor procurement as needed to include setting objectives, evaluating efficiencies, monitoring activities, and payment processing and ensure performance aligns with project goals, standards, and specifications. Oversees City special event coordination, permitting, activities, and programming.

Strategic Planning: Develop and implement both short- and long-term strategies to grow Chesapeake’s tourism sector, including destination marketing initiatives, visitor experience enhancements, event development, sports marketing, partnering with and help in the promotion of unique and small businesses, implement regional initiatives and collaboration on shared activities, and enhance hospitality partnerships. Align strategies with industry trends and community goals to strengthen the City’s identity as a premier travel destination and place to visit.

Communication & Reporting: Prepare comprehensive reports, presentations, and marketing updates for executive leadership, tourism boards, and community stakeholders. Utilize social media and other marketing and media sources as a platform for communication Chesapeake’s invitation to visit. Communicate the impact of tourism initiatives through data, storytelling, and performance metrics. Address inquiries, engage with and make frequent presentations to residents, visitors, businesses, and partner organizations while building strong relationships that support Chesapeake’s reputation as a welcoming destination and the City that CARES.

Grant & Regulatory Management: Research, apply for, and manage grant funding opportunities. Ensure compliance with regulatory inspections and grant-related documentation requirements. Partner on statewide initiatives and collaborating on potential shared funding opportunities. Develop and offer opportunities and incentives for various potential visitor groups.

Project Monitoring & Documentation: Track ongoing tourism initiatives, marketing campaigns, events, incentives, and partnership projects. Ensure accurate documentation, reporting, and evaluation of outcomes to measure impact, improve future programming, and strengthen Chesapeake’s position as a visitor destination.

Professional Development & Networking: Represent Chesapeake in the tourism and hospitality industry by attending and presenting at conferences, trade shows, professional workshops, and community activities. Stay informed on best practices, market trends, and emerging opportunities in destination marketing and visitor services. Build, promote, and maintain strong relationships with local businesses, regional partners, and state and national tourism organizations to expand Chesapeake’s visibility and influence.

Other Duties: Perform additional responsibilities as assigned to support departmental goals and community priorities.

The City of Chesapeake offers an exceptional range of benefits. Please browse our Benefits Brochure for a full list of benefits and employee perks

Vocational/Educational Requirement: Requires any equivalent combination of education and experience equivalent to bachelor’s degree in a relevant field.

Required Qualifications

Special Certifications and licenses: Requires a valid driver’s license and a driving record that is in compliance with City Driving Standards.

Special Requirements: 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. Emergency operations support work and work locations may be outside of normal job duties.

Preferred Qualifications

• Related education and experience in the tourism, hospitality and convention industry, event management, marketing, and/or public administration type fields
• Strong knowledge of tourism, hospitality, and convention industry trends and practices.
• Proven ability to lead destination marketing initiatives with measurable results.
• Strong leadership skills in overseeing staff, team sales, events, and visitor centers.
• Excellent relationship-building, communication, and public speaking skills.
• Budgeting, financial management, and contract negotiation experience.
• Ability to work collaboratively with diverse stakeholders, from government agencies to local businesses.
• Skilled in digital marketing, data analysis, and leveraging emerging technologies in tourism promotion.
• Commitment to the City’s CARES values and community engagement.

Please Apply Here: City of Chesapeake Portal | Park Manager II - Tourism Manager