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 judgement and discretion as a professional with expertise to perform the position’s daily tasks and responsibilities within department established policies and procedures.

The Tourism Manager assists and acts in a confidential capacity to the Planning & Community Development Director, Municipal Administrator, Assembly, and other department heads who 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, & 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 in:
• 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

Minimum Qualifications

• HS Diploma or GED; Bachelor degree in business, hospitality, planning, public administration, or related field preferred; and
• Five years of experience working in a position which deals with planning, analysis, or management related to the visitor and travel industry; and
• Experience with cruise tourism, in Alaska or the Pacific Northwest strongly preferred; and
• Experience working with elected officials, advisory boards, and citizen or business groups; or
• Any equivalent combination of experience, education, and training which provides the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to perform the work.

Other Job Requirements or Expectations

• Will be expected to work some evenings
• May be expected to work some weekends
• Will be expected to travel outside of Sitka

Working Conditions:

• Primarily works in a general office setting or meeting rooms
• Occasionally works outdoors, often in inclement weather and working around vehicles and equipment such as large busses, flatbed trucks carrying street barricades, machinery that services temporary restroom facilities, and portable restrooms

Specific Physical Requirements:
• Regularly operate office equipment requiring repetitive hand movement and fine coordination using a computer and keyboard
• Stand or sit for prolonged periods of time either in front of computer or a group
• Occasional bending, climbing, stooping, reaching and twisting
• Occasional lifting, carrying, pushing, or pulling up 20 pounds with or without the assistance of proper equipment

General Physical Requirements:
• Sufficient clarity of speech and hearing or other communication capabilities which permits the employee to communicate effectively
• Sufficient vision which permits the employee to perform assigned tasks and function in general office and meeting room environments
• Sufficient manual dexterity, which permits the employee to operate computers and related equipment and prepare handwritten work
• Sufficient personal mobility and physical reflexes which permits the employee to function in
a general office environment and visit various CBS worksites