DISTINGUISHING FEATURES OF THE CLASS: This is an administrative position responsible for planning, developing, and implementing programs to promote and increase leisure and business travel to Putnam County. The incumbent will be in frequent contact with travel writers, press, travel agents, and others. Routine travel will be required, and the incumbent may be required to work flexible hours, evenings and weekends as needed. The incumbent of this position must provide dynamic leadership in promoting tourism. Work is performed under the general supervision of the County Executive with wide latitude for independent judgement in the day-to-day operation. Does related work as required.

TYPICAL WORK ACTIVITIES:  (Illustrative only)

• Plans, develops and implements programs and projects aimed at promoting tourism, including business travel, in Putnam County;
• Plans, formulates and recommends policies and programs which will further overall tourism objectives;
• Assists various County agencies, both public and private, in developing strategies for increasing visitor volume and expenditures;
• Leads and guides local and regional organizations in building the awareness of the tourism/travel industry and of the Office of Tourism;
• Develops and distribution of brochures, articles, press releases, etc., on tourism-related subjects including Putnam attractions, events, services, facilities, tourism marketing and public relations;
• Formulates objectives and priorities and implements plans that support the long-term interests of the Society;
• Supervises and participates in trade shows, sales missions, and familiarization tours for journalists, travel agents, and tour operators;
• Oversees market research and the dissemination of data on tourism trends and the economic impact of tourism to the County;
• Participates in cooperative ventures with various tourism agencies regionally to promote Putnam tourism;
• Maintains an enthusiastic, self-reliant, and self-starting approach to meet job responsibilities and accountabilities;
• Collaborates with advertising agencies to create campaigns to promote Putnam to relevant market segments;
• Keeps abreast of changes to Putnam County’s business and leisure opportunities;
• Designs, develops and implements an annual marketing plan;
• Issues a variety of reports and studies related to promoting tourism in Putnam;
• Keeps informed on current trends in the travel/tourism industry and of the uses and capabilities of the variety of destinations in the County;
• Uses computer applications or other automated systems such as spreadsheets, word processing, calendar, e-mail and database software in performing work assignments
• Performs a variety of related activities as required.

Typical Work Activities are intended only as illustrations of possible types of work that might be appropriately assigned to an incumbent of this title. Work activities that do not appear above are not excluded as appropriate work assignments, as long as they can be reasonably understood to be within the logical limits of the job.

FULL PERFORMANCE KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, ABILITIES AND PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS:  Thorough knowledge of the geographic and business area layout of communities in Putnam County; Thorough knowledge of tourism development and promotional activities in Putnam County; good knowledge of the principles, methods and techniques used in tourism marketing, promotional and public relations, local tourism development, tour packaging, and tourism event development and coordination; good knowledge of the methods and techniques of program management; working knowledge of issues, concerns and impediments affecting tourism development; ability to meet and deal effectively with people at all levels in the public and private sector; ability to multi-task; ability to present ideas and informational materials clearly and effectively, both orally and in writing; ability to supervise the work of others; ability to effectively use computer applications such as spreadsheets, word processing, calendar, e-mail and database software; sound judgment; integrity; resourcefulness; self-starter; creativity; outgoing; physical condition commensurate with the demands of the position.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: Either

1. Bachelor's Degree or higher in Marketing, Business Administration, Public Administration, Communications, Tourism, or closely related field and three (3) years of administrative or managerial experience in tourism development, advertising, business development, marketing activities, or closely related field, for a public or private enterprise; or
2. Bachelor's Degree or higher and five (5) years of administrative or managerial experience in tourism development, advertising, business development, marketing activities, or closely related field, for a public or private enterprise; or
3. Associate degree in Marketing, Business Administration, Public Administration, Communications, Tourism, or closely related field and seven (7) years of administrative or managerial experience in tourism development, advertising, business development, marketing activities, or closely related field, for a public or private enterprise; or
4. Associate degree and nine (9) years of administrative or managerial experience in tourism development, advertising, business development, marketing activities, or closely related field, for a public or private enterprise

PLEASE NOTE: Your degree must have been awarded by a college or university accredited by a regional, national, or specialized agency recognized as an accrediting agency by the U.S. Department of Education/U.S. Secretary of Education.

2/22

Pending Jurisdictional Classification