CEO/Executive Director

Destination Marketing Association International; California (MO); On-site; USD 150,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

Yosemite Mariposa County Tourism Bureau seeks a visionary CEO/Executive Director to steward a $3M budget, drive strategic plans, and lead a small team toward strong lodging and destination growth in Mariposa County, CA. The role interfaces with federal, state, and local partners to promote year-round visitation and economic development.

The candidate will manage marketing, revenue metrics, and governance, requiring deep knowledge of hospitality, seasonal demand, and meetings/conferences sectors,

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Marketing, Tourism/Hospitality Management, Communications, Public Administration, or related field.
• Experience with TBIDs or similar funding models is preferred.
• 10+ years of progressive leadership experience in destination marketing, tourism, hospitality, economic development, or related field.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership and oversight of organizational operations and annual budget (~$3 million).
• Develop and articulate annual strategic operating plans, budgets, and marketing campaigns.
• Lead staff recruitment, development, performance reviews, and organizational policy implementation.
• Represent the Bureau at local, regional, state, and national tourism activities and meetings.
• Build partnerships with stakeholders across government, industry, and communities.
• Ensure compliance with relevant laws and maintain governance standards.

Skills

Executive leadership

Strategic planning

Marketing & branding

Public speaking

Team development

Negotiation

Education

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

Tools

CRM platforms

STR analytics

Digital marketing tools

Social media

Microsoft Office

Job description

Yosemite Mariposa County Tourism Bureau Mission:

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.

Yosemite Mariposa County Tourism Bureau Overview:

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.