Marketing and Communications Manager

Position Objectives

 

The Marketing and Communications Manager will be responsible for serving as the main liaison
between partners and vendors of the TDA and the day-to-day advertising campaigns. This
includes trafficking and analyzing all program-specific materials in the creation of both
sponsored content/advertorials, display advertising, media and digital content, including initial
program/materials outreach, quality control and internal review, and final approval placement.

Duties & Responsibilities

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PROJECT MANAGEMENT: Assist in developing marketing strategies and tactics that
ladder directly to TDA’s objectives and initiatives. Develop, implement and monitor
integrated marketing plans for targeted overnight visitors. Direct the activities of third
party vendors, in-market marketing vendors; monitor program effectiveness; assure
accountability and fully implement marketing programs.

● WEBSITE CONTENT MANAGEMENT: Work with the Executive Director to manage
content for the TDA’s website, including creating and updating content on a regular
basis, writing and publishing engaging blog posts, communicating with the TDA’s
partners to regularly add events taking place in McDowell County, and working with the
TDA’s contracted web development company on design changes and updates; in
addition, handle search engine optimization duties.

● PHOTO AND VIDEO MARKETING: Manage and build upon the TDA’s existing
photography and video library by serving as point-of-contact with photographers and
videographers on contract to set up regular photo shoots and marketing videos for
promoting McDowell County as a destination for travelers.

● EMAIL MARKETING: Manage the TDA’s monthly e-newsletter, including creating
original content, handling distribution, and actively working to build the e-newsletter
audience.

● SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGEMENT; Manage the TDA’s communications on its social
media platforms, including but not limited to Facebook, Instagram and Youtube, creating
original content and sharing relevant content posted by the TDA’s partners, and
moderating comments on the TDA’s platforms.

● TDA MARKETING MATERIALS: Work with the Executive Director and the graphic
designer on contract to produce and update the TDA’s Blue Ridge Traveler Guide as
well as high quality collateral that successfully promote McDowell’s different
communities, keep inventory of print marketing materials and handle ordering when
reprinting is needed, develop a list of locations where the TDA’s print marketing
materials are housed and distribute to those locations accordingly in person or through
shipping.

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● ONLINE ADVERTISING: Work with the Executive Director to strengthen the TDA’s
online presence and increase its audience and reach through the planning, creation and
implementation of social media and digital ads, collaborate with the TDA’s contracted
graphic designer on digital advertising, and serve as marketing point-of-contact for
online channels.

● PRINT ADVERTISING: Work with the Executive Director and the TDA’s contracted
graphic designer on ads for print publications and serve as marketing point-of-contact for
print media publications.

● COMMUNITY RELATIONS: Serve as marketing point-of-contact for the TDA’s strategic
partners, tourism-related and tourism-adjacent businesses, nonprofits and community
organizations, regularly visit and meet with McDowell business groups, nonprofits and
community organizations to assess their tourism marketing needs and come up with
dynamic and creative ways for the TDA to promote and market these entities through
social media, advertising and media, and attend tourism-related new business ribbon
cuttings and other tourism-related community events as needed.

● TOURISM INDUSTRY RELATIONS: Under the guidance of the Executive Director,
attend trade shows, conferences and tourism-related events as appropriate and meet
with tourism-related organizations as needed and appropriate to successfully develop a
strong marketing plan for the TDA.

● VISITOR CENTER: Help with staffing the TDA Visitor Center in Old Fort, welcoming
visitors and sharing knowledge of the area, presenting a positive representation of the
McDowell community.

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Travel Required.

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Minimum Requirements

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Bachelor’s degree (B.A., B.S., or B.B.A.) from a four-year college or university. Preferred
degree in Marketing, Business Administration, Communications, Hospitality and Tourism
Management or other related field

● 3-5 years’ experience in marketing, preferably with a focus on destination marketing,
social media marketing, content creation and management, and storytelling as a
marketing tool

● Excellent written and oral communication skills
● Ability to keep neat and accurate records and reports with great attention to detail
● Excellent time management skills and the ability to work successfully on a tight deadline
● Ability to communicate effectively with many different community partners, i.e.,
government entities, tourism-related businesses and nonprofits, business organizations,
and community organizations

● Computer proficiency including email communication, knowledge of Microsoft Word &
Excel, digital photo downloading and sharing, database management, and ability and
willingness to learn other software as needed
● Experience in using storytelling as a marketing tool
● Passion for western North Carolina, McDowell County and its communities, outdoor
recreational tourism, and the Blue Ridge Parkway is a plus

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Benefits

Benefited after 90 days

Medical, dental, and life insurance
Sick, vacation, and holiday pay
Membership in the Local Government Retirement System

Supplemental retirement 401k/457

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