Director of Cultural & Heritage Tourism

Applications Accepted: June 26, 2025 - August 25, 2025

Email: [email protected]

The Rutherford County Convention and Visitors Bureau is seeking a dynamic individual to lead efforts that expand cultural, heritage, and arts tourism across the county. This leadership role offers an exciting opportunity to promote Rutherford County’s rich history, vibrant arts scene, and diverse attractions. Interested candidates should submit a cover letter, resume, and references to Carrie Allen at [email protected].

Priority consideration will be given to resumes received by Friday, July 11, 2025.

Job description below: 

RUTHERFORD COUNTY CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU
Director of Cultural and Heritage Tourism
Job Description
Job Title: 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, July 11, 2025 will be given priority consideration.