Chief Sales Officer

State of Mississippi; Jackson (MS); On-site; USD 74,000 - 86,000; Full time

Job summary

State of Mississippi in Jackson is seeking a dynamic Chief Sales Officer to lead all sales initiatives that drive visitation, economic impact, and brand growth for the state. You will manage domestic and international sales, sports and outdoor adventure tourism, and cultural tourism partnerships.

The role requires strategic leadership, strong relationship-building, budgeting, and the ability to travel. A Bachelor’s degree and 3–5 years in sales or tourism leadership are preferred; this is a

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and 3-5 years of experience in sales or tourism leadership.
• Experience developing and leading sales strategies across domestic and international markets.
• Strong leadership, relationship-building, and budget management skills.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute a comprehensive sales strategy to increase visitation, overnight stays, and economic impact across Mississippi.
• Lead and mentor sales teams, fostering collaboration, accountability, and innovation.
• Oversee domestic group, leisure, and meetings/conventions markets; direct international sales efforts with travel trade partners.
• Cultivate partnerships with tourism stakeholders to grow Mississippi’s brand and visitor economy.

Education

Bachelor's Degree

Job description

Chief Sales Officer in 25 - HINDS COUNTY, MS

$74,308.35 - $86,000.00 Annually

25 - HINDS COUNTY, MS

Full-Time

$74,308.35

$86,000.00

About the Agency

The Mississippi Development Authority (MDA) is the state's lead economic and community development agency. MDA recruits new companies to Mississippi, helps existing companies expand and provides support to foster growth and new opportunities in a variety of areas, including energy, small and minority business, trade, film, retiree recruitment, and more. Additionally, MDA attracts millions of visitors to the state each year through Visit Mississippi, the tourism division of the agency. MDA also supports pass-through funding and provides support for a variety of grant programs and non-profits, such as Innovate Mississippi and Mississippi Main Street Association.

Visit Mississippi seeks a dynamic, strategic, and results-driven Chief Sales Officer (CSO) to lead and oversee all sales initiatives that drive visitation, economic impact, and brand growth for the state of Mississippi. The CSO will manage domestic and international sales, sports and outdoor adventure, and cultural tourism initiatives, which include the Blues, Country Music, and Freedom Trails. This executive role requires strong leadership, relationship-building skills, and a deep understanding of tourism sales strategies across diverse markets.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Leadership & Strategy
  • Develop and execute a comprehensive sales strategy targeting leisure travelers, business groups, meetings, conventions, and consumers to increase visitation, overnight stays, and economic impact across Mississippi.
  • Lead and mentor sales teams, fostering collaboration, accountability, and innovation.
  • Collaborate with the Director of Tourism and senior leaders to align sales initiatives with tourism marketing and development strategies.
• Domestic & International Sales
  • Oversee development of domestic group, leisure, and meetings/conventions markets.
  • Direct international tourism sales efforts, including partnerships with travel trade, tour operators, and global tourism organizations.
• Sports & Outdoor Adventure Tourism
  • Lead sales efforts to attract sporting events, tournaments, and outdoor adventure travelers.
  • Build partnerships with sporting organizations, outdoor recreation groups, and event rights-holders to increase Mississippi’s share of the sports tourism market.
• Cultural Tourism Development
  • Promote and expand Mississippi’s cultural tourism assets, including the Blues Trail, Country Music Trail, and Freedom Trail.
  • Build partnerships with cultural institutions, attractions, and local communities to elevate authentic experiences that drive visitor interest.
  • Leverage music, history, and cultural assets to grow heritage and cultural tourism markets.
• Partnerships & Stakeholder Engagement
  • Cultivate relationships with industry stakeholders, destination marketing organizations, attractions, hotels, and event organizers to maximize tourism growth and shared success.
  • Proactively cultivate relationships with travel agents, tour operators, meeting planners, and other decision-makers to generate leads and sales opportunities.
  • Collaborate with regional and national tourism partners to strengthen Mississippi’s position as a top-tier destination.
• Performance and Reporting
  • Manage daily operations of the Domestic Sales Office, including supervising, training, performance management, productivity, and staff support.
  • Analyze market trends and sales data, adjust strategies, and report progress regularly to the Director of Tourism.
  • Manage departmental budgets and allocate resources efficiently.
  • Stay informed on industry trends, competitor activities, and emerging opportunities.
  • Work with the marketing team to develop sales materials and messaging aligned with sales initiatives.

(This is a Non-State, X-16 position.)

What you'll need to be Successful

To be successful, a candidate must possess and maintain a valid Mississippi Driver’s License, be a strategic thinker with the ability to innovate and adapt to a changing tourism landscape, have a passion for Mississippi’s culture, music, history, and natural assets, be a collaborative leader who inspires teams and builds strong partnerships, must be results-oriented with a focus on driving measurable impact, and must be able to travel.

Preferred Qualifications

Typically requires a Bachelor's Degree and 3-5 years of experience. — Hiring Agency Note:Experience demonstrating the candidate’s ability to perform all essential functions of the position is beneficial.

See MSPB Careers for information regarding this classifications

Employer State of Mississippi

Address 210 East Capitol Street
Suite 800
Jackson, Mississippi, 39201