PRIMARY PURPOSE OF JOB

The primary purpose of this position is to serve as the central point of contact and responsibility for all diverse tourism-related activities, projects, and issues for the City and Borough of Sitka (CBS). This includes coordinating all activities and entities involved in public outreach, planning, permitting, operations and maintenance, monitoring, and reporting to advance community goals on tourism.

Under the supervision of the Planning and Community Development Director, the Tourism Manager exercises considerable independent judgment and discretion as a professional with expertise to perform the positions daily tasks and responsibilities within department established policies and procedures.

The Tourism Manager assists and acts in a confidential capacity to the Planning and Community Development Director, Municipal Administrator, Assembly, and other department heads to formulate, determine, or effectuate management policies.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Participates in the development and oversees the implementation of tourism goals, objectives, policies, and priorities
• Plans and leads public processes to evaluate impacts from tourism and inform long-term decision making on tourism-related issues
• Coordinates internal tourism communications, policies, processes, initiatives, and projects
• Participates in meetings with local businesses, non-profit organizations, community groups, professional associations, the cruise industry, and other governmental agencies
• Oversees and enforces tourism permitting and other regulatory requirements
• Develops and manages contracts with organizations providing tourism-related services
• Works proactively to address potential opportunities or challenges based on new trends and developments in the tourism industry
• Serves as the staff liaison to the Tourism Commission
• Performs other duties as assigned

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

Knowledge of:

• Tourism and the cruise industry operational characteristics, services, and activities
• Recent developments and trends in the Southeast Alaska visitor industry
• Regulatory frameworks pertaining to the visitor industry

Skills:

• Operating a personal computer using standard software, such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Adobe Pro, and customized software
• Dealing with a variety of people with various, and sometimes competing interests, calmly and professionally, to inform and de-escalate potential or actual conflict
• Maintaining positive working relationships with others both internal and external to the organization
• Speaking and presenting technical information for the purposes of educating and explaining tourism-related issues to different groups
• Conducting public outreach and engagement
• Writing policies and procedures
• Performing research and data analytics

Ability to:

• Recognize and maintain confidential information
• Communicate effectively with others, both orally and in writing, using both technical and non-technical language
• Understand and follow oral and written policies, procedures and instructions
• Prepare and present accurate and reliable reports containing findings and recommendations
• Use logical and creative thought processes to develop solutions according to written specifications and oral instructions
• Perform a wide variety of duties and responsibilities with accuracy and speed under the pressure of time-sensitive deadlines.Quickly learn and put to use newly acquired skills and knowledge