This position reports to the Director of the CVB’s Sports & Events Department or his/her designee. This position is a specialized sales and marketing position responsible for assisting in promotion of Pinellas County and its sport venues with the express purpose of increasing sports-related tourism business. This position will assist with the development, design, and implementation of sports business strategic plans for marketing and promoting Pinellas County. Additional responsibilities include generating leads and developing relationships within the event organizers and National Governing Bodies (NGB). This position requires travel, as well as work during evenings and weekends, as necessary to accomplish established goals.
Essential Job Functions
Assist in developing and assembling Sports & Events strategic business plans.
Research and pursue new events to Pinellas County that correlate with Sports & Events strategic plans; assist with bid assembly and presentations.
Assist in developing, preparing, and coordinating marketing plans, promotional packets, sponsorships, and/or other promotional events.
Prepare clear and concise reports for various business development uses and functions.
Assist with developing a monthly report on department activities for the Tourist Development Council, if assigned.
Establish good working relationships with municipal parks and recreation facility staff and local industry stakeholders.
Assist on events with local, regional, or national implications where directed.
Assist with coordination of external communications to clients and site inspections for visiting event owners and organizers.
Coordinate organizational response to a variety of requests and inquiries.
Manage all Customer Relationship Management (CRM) functions for assigned markets, including but not limited to; creation and maintenance of accounts, contacts, events, reports, and ordering/tracking of marketing materials.
Distribute RFP’s and sales leads to appropriate local industry representatives.
Manage internal processes for business development; prepare and process communications, invoices, and reporting.
Staff industry tradeshows, conferences, meetings, and other related events to sell Pinellas County as a sports destination.
Other duties as assigned.
Position Specific Requirements
4 years technical and specialized tourism and hospitality industry experience implementing sales and marketing plans and programs within the tourism and travel industry; or
Associate’s degree in marketing, hospitality, recreation, public relations, advertising, business administration, or related field and 2 years’ experience as described above; or;
Bachelor’s degree in a related field as indicated above, or
An equivalent combination of education, training, and/or experience.
Florida Driver’s License or Florida Commercial Driver’s License and endorsement, if any.
Assignment to work a variety of work schedules including compulsory work periods in special, emergency, and/or disaster situations.
Other highly desirable knowledge, skills, abilities, and credentials relevant to the position.
Four years related experience work in the sports tourism market.
Familiarization with local hospitality partners, service vendors, and Pinellas County/Tampa Bay area attractions.
Ability to interact and communicate effectively and fluently in English and Spanish, in written and oral forms.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
Intermediate to advanced level proficiency using Microsoft Office products (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.)
Ability to interact and communicate effectively and fluently in English and a second language (preferably Spanish), in written and oral form.
Knowledge and experience in the sports tourism industry including regional, state, and national sports commissions, colleges and universities, parks and recreation departments, individuals in the sports business and/or other sports entities.
Must be available to work a variety of schedules including evenings, weekends, and overnight travel.
Strong communication skills. Must be able to communicate clearly and concisely both orally and in writing.
Familiarity with basic social media concepts, strategies, and executions.
Experience with using CRM database management systems, specifically Simpleview.
Experience with managing sales leads and reporting.
Strong organizational skills: ability to multi-task and prioritize deadlines.
Experience with public speaking, presentations, trade shows, conferences, meetings, and other related interactions with diverse groups of people (large groups, small groups, varied educational backgrounds, etc.).
Experience working within a high volume, deadline-based sales organization. Must be able to work under pressure and within defined deadlines.
Ability to make decisions with a strong business acumen.
Knowledge of government process and responsibilities: reporting, conduct, transparency, and representation.
Physical/Mental Demands
The work is light work which requires exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 10 pounds of force to move objects. Additionally, the following physical abilities are required:
Fingering: Picking, pinching, typing, or otherwise working, primarily with fingers rather than with the whole hand as in handling.
Handling: Picking, holding, or otherwise working, primarily with the whole hand.
Lifting: Raising objects from a lower to a higher position or moving objects horizontally from position-to-position. Occurs to a considerable degree and requires substantial use of upper extremities and back muscles.
Visual ability: Sufficient to effectively operate office equipment including copier, computer, etc.; and to read and write reports, correspondence, instructions, etc.
Hearing ability: Sufficient to hold a conversation with other individuals both in person and over a telephone; and to hear recording on transcription device.
Speaking ability: Sufficient to communicate effectively with other individuals in person and over a telephone.
Mental acuity: Ability to make rational decisions through sound logic and deductive processes.
Talking: Expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word including those activities in which they must convey detailed or important spoken instructions to other workers accurately, loudly, or quickly.
Repetitive motion: Substantial movements (motions) of the wrist, hands, and/or fingers.
Standing: Particularly for sustained periods of time.
Walking: Moving about on foot to accomplish tasks, particularly for long distances or moving from one work site to another.
Working Conditions
Work is performed in a dynamic environment that requires sensitivity to change and responsiveness to changing goals, priorities, and needs.
For questions or issues applying, contact Pinellas County Human Resources at: hiring@pinellas.gov or (727) 464-3367,option 2.
EOE/AA/ADA/DFW/VP
Certain servicemembers and veterans, and the spouses and family members of the servicemembers and veterans, receive preference and priority in employment by the state and are encouraged to apply for the positions being filled.
VSPC is a department of Pinellas County Government and is the official tourism marketing and management organization for the St. Pete/Clearwater area. Visit St. Pete/Clearwater Destination Marketing Organization (DMO) is charged with enhancing the county's economy by increasing direct visitor expenditures and job development, training and retention in the tourism industry. The organization works domestically and internationally to develop and enhance sustainable tourism for the St. Pete/Clearwater area in both the leisure and meetings markets and targets consumers, travel media, the travel industry, meeting and conference planners, sports promoters and film producers with research-driven marketing programs touting beaches, sports, arts and culture and nature-based opportunities.