Years of Experience: 0-5
Full Time / Part Time: Full Time
Employment Type: Permanent
Job Category: Manager/Director
Shift: 1st
RUTHERFORD COUNTY CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU
Director of Cultural and Heritage Tourism
Summary: The Director of Cultural and Heritage Tourism is responsible for developing and managing cultural and heritage tourism initiatives to enhance Rutherford County’s appeal as a destination, preserve its cultural assets, and boost economic growth. This role requires a visionary leader who can collaborate with various stakeholders, including local communities, and tourism partners, to create sustainable tourism experiences of cultural and historical significance in Rutherford County.
Reports to: Senior Vice President of the Convention and Visitors Bureau
Key Responsibilities:
• Identify, align, and prioritize key cultural and heritage assets to encourage visitation to local tourism attractions
• Work with the Rutherford County Convention and Visitors Bureau staff in the planning and execution of various tourism related events, including sports
• Manage and evaluate Cultural and Heritage related partnership programs with a focus to increase the overall tourism economic impact
Stakeholder Engagement:
• Establish partnerships with Middle Tennessee State University, museums, attractions, and heritage organizations to nurture relationships and promote collaborative projects and events
• Represent the Convention and Visitors Bureau at local Rutherford Arts Alliance meetings, tourism related events, and the private sector to support cultural and heritage tourism
• Serve as a liaison with tourism partners on cultural and heritage related ‘best practices’ in Rutherford County
Marketing and Promotion:
• Collaborate with the Convention and Visitors Bureau’s marketing team to create engaging content, including digital media, and brochures, that highlights the destination’s cultural and historical assets
• Provide content suggestions for newsletters, blogs, and cultural heritage related information submitted to the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development
• Maintain and manage artist directory and artist profiles on the VisitRutherfordTN.com website
Program Management:
• Oversee the development and execution of cultural and heritage tourism programs and educational presentations
• Encourage all tourism activities to embrace sustainable practices and support local communities
• Execute cultural and heritage tourism related programs e.g., Tennessee Civil War Trails, Discover Tennessee Trails and Byways, Tennessee Songwriters Week
Research:
• Conduct research on the destination’s cultural and historical assets to identify opportunities for new tourism products and experiences
• Analyze and assess research economic impact, visitor demographics, and engagement trends related to cultural and heritage tourism
• Stay informed on global developments in cultural and heritage tourism, including Creative Placemaking and Main Street programs, to incorporate best practices into local strategies
Additional Responsibilities:
• Provide assistance with database management in Convention and Visitors Bureau’s CRM system
• Attend Convention & Visitors Bureau’s board meetings
• Assist with visitor inquiry requests related to Cultural and Heritage Tourism
• Other duties as assigned
Requirements:
• Bachelor’s degree in Tourism Management, Cultural Studies, History, or a related field and three (3) to five (5) years of related work experience or an equivalent combination of training and experience that provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities
• Proven experience in strategic planning, project management, and stakeholder engagement
• Excellent communication and leadership skills
• Ability to work collaboratively with diverse groups and build strong partnerships
• Proficiency in digital marketing tools and strategies
• Ability to multitask and work on multiple programs simultaneously (Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel, social media platforms, etc.)
• Must be a self-starter, detail oriented, reliable business professional, and team player
• Moderate flexibility to work beyond regular hours on an as-needed basis to meet deadlines
Salary Range: Commensurate based on experience
Job Type: Full Time/exempt. Work Hours 8:00 am – 4:30 pm, with occasional evening and weekend requirements.
Application Process:
Interested candidates should submit their resume, cover letter, and references to Carrie Allen at [email protected]. Resumes received by Friday, May 2, 2025 will be given priority consideration
