CEO/Executive Director

Yosemite Mariposa County Tourism Bureau; California (MO); On-site; USD 120,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Yosemite Mariposa County Tourism Bureau seeks an experienced CEO/Executive Director to provide visionary leadership and fiscal stewardship for Mariposa County's tourism strategy. This role reports to the Board, oversees a $3 million budget, and guides staff and external partners to maximize community value.

The successful candidate will drive destination marketing, branding, and stakeholder relations across local, regional, and national levels, ensuring Brown Act compliance and strong

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in business or related field; 10+ years in destination marketing or tourism leadership.
• Experience with TBIDs or similar funding models preferred.
• Strong strategic thinking, financial analysis, and stakeholder engagement.

Responsibilities

• Provide visionary leadership and fiscal stewardship to maximize value for TBID payers.
• Oversee all organizational operations with a $3 million annual budget.
• Develop and articulate annual strategic operating plans, budgets, and marketing campaigns.
• Lead a core staff of about five and coordinate with external vendors.
• Interface with National Park Service officials, county staff, lodging stakeholders, and partners.
• Maintain Brown Act compliance and govern with integrity.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic planning

Budgeting

Marketing strategy

Stakeholder relations

Public speaking

Team management

Industry knowledge

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Marketing, Tourism/Hospitality Management, Communications, Public Administration or related field

Tools

CRM platforms

Geolocation data

STR analytics

Digital marketing

Microsoft Office

Job description

Yosemite Mariposa County Tourism Bureau (YMCTB) is the official destination marketing organization for Mariposa County, California. We share the stories, places, people, and experiences that make Yosemite Mariposa County a remarkable place to visit, while helping strengthen the local economy and support the communities that call this region home.

Our goal is to invite visitors who value this special place, connect them with meaningful experiences, and ensure that tourism continues to benefit Mariposa County for generations to come.

The Yosemite Mariposa County Tourism Bureau (YMCTB) is a 501(c)(6) non-profit entity funded solely by a 1.5% Tourism Business Improvement District (TBID) assessment fee on overnight stays up to 30 days. YMCTB is governed by a Management District Plan and a Board of Directors consisting of registered lodging owners/managers, public entity representatives, and private citizens.

The bureau’s core mission is to promote Mariposa County lodging as the preferred overnight destination for visitors traveling to the Yosemite National Park region. Messaging positions the destination as a year-round leisure, family, meeting, and conference destination, with a strategic focus on increasing off-season stays from October through May.

Position Summary:

The CEO/Executive Director provides visionary executive leadership and fiscal stewardship to maximize value for TBID payers. Reporting directly to the Board of Directors, the CEO oversees all organizational operations within an estimated annual budget of $3 million. The executive is responsible for developing, implementing, and articulating the bureau's annual strategic operating plans, budgets, and marketing campaigns.

This role directs a core staff of approximately five personnel and interacts regularly with an extensive network of external vendors and contractors. The position demands deep technical knowledge of hospitality lodging revenue management, destination demand metrics, marketing and sales strategy, and corporate budgeting. Essential to this role is an expert understanding of seasonal lodging demands and the meeting/conference sectors, alongside strict compliance with the Brown Act for board management. The CEO must possess the leadership required to interface effectively with National Park Service officials, federal representatives, elected officials, county staff, lodging stakeholders, and diverse industry partners.

Essential Functions:

Strategic Leadership & Organizational Management

• Provides strategic leadership and industry expertise to cultivate collaborative partnerships with local, regional, statewide, and national tourism and conference entities.
• Forecasts, develops, and manages all aspects of organizational finances and corporate compliance.
• Executes high-level organizational, managerial, human resource, and administrative duties.
• Delivers formal reports and strategic briefings to the Board of Directors during regular and special sessions.
• Recruits, trains, elevates, and evaluates staff personnel, overseeing performance reviews, salary structures, sales targets, and all talent management duties.
• Implements Board-approved policies and strategic initiatives.

Destination Marketing, Sales & Brand Development

• Authors and executes comprehensive annual marketing and sales plans.
• Contributes innovative marketing concepts, campaign ideas, and data-driven insights to complement the work of external agencies.
• Organizes and implements specialized tourism services such as developing and hosting familiarization tours.

Industry & Community Relations

• Builds and maintains strong relationships with tourism-related businesses, community leaders, elected officials, government agencies, regional tourism organizations, and other key stakeholders.
• Represents the Bureau at local, regional, state, and national tourism meetings, conferences, trade shows, and industry events.

Government & External Relations

• Maintain awareness of legislation, regulatory developments, economic conditions, environmental considerations, and other factors affecting tourism.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Proven ability to translate Board direction into executable strategy, lead organizational planning, manage resources, make sound decisions, and drive both short- and long-term initiatives to completion.
• Demonstrated success developing and executing destination marketing, branding, communications, public relations, and business development strategies across leisure, group, and corporate markets, including identifying revenue, grant, sponsorship, and partnership opportunities.
• Strong financial and analytical capabilities, including budgeting, forecasting, resource allocation, market research, performance measurement, and the ability to interpret complex financial, legal, marketing, and research information.
• Proficiency with CRM platforms, geolocation traveler data, STR analytics, digital marketing, social media, Microsoft Office, communication platforms, and other business technologies.
• Exceptional relationship-building, negotiation, consensus-building, and diplomacy skills.
• Outstanding written, verbal, presentation, and public speaking skills, with the executive presence and credibility to influence diverse audiences.
• High level of professionalism, integrity, sound judgment, discretion, and responsiveness when managing inquiries, feedback, complaints, and sensitive organizational matters.
• Commitment to residing in Mariposa County full-time, with the ability and willingness to travel locally, regionally, and nationally and work occasional evenings, weekends, and holidays as required.

Education/Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Marketing, Tourism/Hospitality Management, Communications, Public Administration, or a related field; equivalent professional experience may be considered.
• Experience with, and knowledge of, specialized funding models, particularly TBIDs, preferred.
• 10+ years of progressive leadership experience in destination marketing, tourism, hospitality, economic development, or a related field, with deep knowledge of lodging, tourism, destination development.