COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER

REPORTS TO:           Director of Marketing & Communication

DEPARTMENT:         Marketing & Communication, Sales, Visitor Experience

CLASSIFICATION:   Full-Time Exempt

ORGANIZATION OVERVIEW

Visit Bellevue serves as Bellevue, Washington’s Official Destination Management Organization. Our mission is to stimulate economic growth and development in Bellevue’s visitor economy and inspire memorable visitor experiences. Visit Bellevue is guided by an advisory board comprised of civic and tourism industry leaders with oversight by the  Bellevue Convention Center Authority and Bellevue Tourism Promotion Area with ongoing recommendations from our four Bellevue Tourism Councils.

We strive to be a collective voice to develop, grow, and manage Bellevue’s Hospitality and Tourism community and build our industry to further increase our overall economic impact to $2 billion by the end of 2023. Through the impact of travel, by increasing the number of visitors, and through the implementation of Bellevue's Destination Development Plan, we strengthen Bellevue's economic position, bringing direct economic benefit to our city and providing an elevated quality of life for our community.

POSITION OVERVIEW

The Communications Manager for Visit Bellevue is responsible for managing Visit Bellevue communications, public relations, influencer, and earned media programs on an ongoing basis.

The Visit Bellevue Communications Manager will develop, position, and promote active, consistent, and meaningful communications on a day-to-day basis through digital and traditional communications to ensure open, inclusive, transparent, and professional messaging consistent with the Visit Bellevue destination brand, marketing plan, and Bellevue destination development plan.

He/She/They engages with Visit Bellevue staff, partners, and stakeholders to fulfill the mission, vision, strategy, and programs of Visit Bellevue and works to develop collaboration, visibility, alignment, and support for Visit Bellevue, the Bellevue Destination Development Plan.

He/She/They will work as part of Visit Bellevue’s marketing and communication department while supporting Visit Bellevue Sales and Visitor Experience departments and programs.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• He/She/They is responsible for managing Visit Bellevue’s communications program to include but not limited to branded communication, copywriting, and editing for print material, website copy (www.visitbellevuewa.com), digital publications (Aspire by Visit Bellevue – Planners Edge), blogs (Insiders Edge – The Vue), SMS, newsletter (The Buzz, Media Brief), and social media copy/imagery.
• He/She/They is responsible for managing Visit Bellevue’s earned media and public relations program to include working with our public relations firm, media outreach, media alerts, and ongoing information releases. Coordinate FAM tours, and managing media pitching and outreach.
• Regularly develop, deliver, and conduct story angles, content, and media pitches by collecting and staying current on Bellevue businesses, organizations, key partners, news, and regional businesses from the hospitality/tourism/visitor industry. Including implementation of the Visit Bellevue marketing plan and utilization of Cision as a prospecting and tracking mechanism.
• Maintain Visit Bellevue’s media and PR database which is integral to our ongoing operation. This includes media information, partner information, events, images, and individual contacts in Visit Bellevue database to insure accurate, timely and comprehensive records. Also maintain proper information, reports, and updates on all Visit Bellevue communications programs and systems.
• Participate in, provide reporting, information, and updates for Visit Bellevue’s ongoing meetings relative to Visit Bellevue’s communications and public relations programs. These include but are not limited to weekly staff meetings, monthly advisory board meetings, sub-committees, tourism councils, and partner meetings.
• Work with Marketing and Communications team to create and deliver highly engaging and useful partner information, newsletters, updates, information, events, and other marketing and sales related communications.
• Ensure that Visit Bellevue staff is updated and current on news, happenings, and information from our communications programs. Ensure that partner information is included and accurate in Visit Bellevue information, sales, visitor experience, and marketing outlets.
• Co- develop Visit Bellevue’s social media channels and content and ensure proper and timely deployment, including ongoing management, development, and oversight of Visit Bellevue’s influencer programs (The Vue) and influencer and content creator outreach.
• Identify and develop new communications opportunities for Visit Bellevue programs and initiatives on an ongoing basis. Make recommendations for initiatives and programs that will engage media, public relations, communications in supporting the Bellevue destination development plan.
• Continually review and analyze the Visit Bellevue partner benefit offerings, partner opportunities, sponsorships, and work to keep them current, relevant, and valuable.
• Work with the Visit Bellevue public relations agency to conduct media pitching, outreach, relationship building, and follow up on an ongoing basis including media and content creator visits within Visit Bellevue’s geographic target markets.
• Attend community, business organization, and key partner meetings and events as a representative of Visit Bellevue as needed and on an ongoing basis.
• Assist Visitor Experience Department with visitor information, visitor communications, and visitor surveys on an ongoing basis.
• Assist Sales Department with media support within the meetings and convention vertical market segment and with their ongoing communications relative to sales proposals, materials, and presentations.
• Ensure proper awareness, engagement, coordination, and maximum return on investment from Visit Bellevue communications and public relations programs.
• Support crisis communication efforts and assist with corporate communication tasks as needed.
• Execute content calendar for all communications channels to ensure consistent and effective messaging.
• Analyze communications efforts to determine impact and refine strategies based on performance data.

COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS & GOALS

Marketing & Communications Results

Content Development

Content Engagement (Click Thru, Shares, Likes, & Subscribers)

Earned Media Generated

Website Traffic

Branding and Positive Sentiment

Overnight Visitors & Visitor Spending

ALLOCATION OF TIME

Content Development, Communication, Copywriting, and Editing: 50% – 60%

Media Relations, Earned Media & Public Relations: 20% – 30%

Influencer and Social Media Management: 15% – 20%

Database Management, Follow Up, and Administrative: 5% -10%

Projects & Collaboration: 5%

Events, Activities & Other: 5%

QUALIFICATIONS

• Four-year degree in Communications, Marketing, Tourism, Business, Communications, or relevant field of study.
• Minimum 3 years’ experience in sales or partnership development required; additional marketing and/or public relations experience a plus; tourism, travel or related industry experience a plus.
• In-depth understanding of the tourism industry, Bellevue, the Bellevue Destination Development Plan, and both short-term and long-term Visit Bellevue programs, goals, and priorities.
• Must be a confident communicator and presenter. Able to effectively present information and respond to questions from media, partners, managers, colleagues, tourism & hospitality industry, and the public.
• Excellent journalism, presentation, sales, and public speaking ability. Strong writing skills. Able to create business reports, business correspondence and memorandums.
• Strong interpersonal skills & professional relationship builder and ability to think creatively and innovatively.
• Strong research and analytical skills.
• Excellent professional judgment and discretion.
• Strong ability to multi-task.
• Excellent proficiency in project management processes, workflow and terminology.
• Ability to function well in a fast-paced environment under tight deadlines.
• Must possess excellent organizational networking and planning skills.
• Strong knowledge and understanding of current trends in communications/public relations/marketing/digital media as well as destination marketing and sales.
• Self-motivated with a positive and professional approach to management.
• Other combinations of education and experience may be considered.
• Some travel and flexible hours may be required.
• At times, the Visit Bellevue Communications Manager may be required to work evenings, weekends and/or events.

OTHER DUTIES

Please note this job description is not designed to cover a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job as they may change at any time, with or without notice.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee, with or without reasonable accommodation, to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use hands and fingers to handle, or feel or operate objects, tools, or controls, and to reach with hands and arms. He/She/They is frequently required to sit for extended periods of time as well as stand, bend and/or stoop, talk and hear. He/She/They must be able to drive and occasionally lift up to 40 pounds.

EEO STATEMENT

Visit Bellevue provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, amnesty or status as a covered veteran in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws.  This statement applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.

COMPENSATION:

$72,000.00 - $88,000.00 per year including full benefits package.