DESTINATION DEVELOPMENT MANAGER - UNCLASSIFIED

State of Nevada; Carson City (NV); On-site; USD 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

State of Nevada's Department of Tourism & Cultural Affairs – Division of Tourism (Travel Nevada) seeks a Destination Development Manager to cultivate a vibrant visitor economy built on exceptional and enriching experiences that enhance quality of life for all Nevadans.

Based in Reno, Carson City, or Las Vegas, this role reports to the Chief Industry Development Officer and advances destination and product development through rural Nevada, fostering collaboration with partners and government

Qualifications

• 3+ years in tourism development or related fields.
• Understanding of destination stewardship and community engagement preferred.
• Ability to use data visualization and CRM tools; strong problem-solving.
• Willingness to work evenings/weekends and travel when needed.

Responsibilities

• Implement initiatives to grow rural tourism-related economic development.
• Monitor and evaluate project outcomes; adjust strategies for benefits.
• Administer grant programs from review to metrics tracking and coordination.
• Manage destination-development contractors, budgets, RFPs, workshops, and tracking.
• Develop and implement destination development strategies aligned with Travel Nevada’s mission.
• Collaborate with businesses, government agencies, and stakeholders to support statewide development.
• Communicate Travel Nevada’s strategic direction with diplomacy and integrity.
• Demonstrate strong project and time management to meet deadlines.

Skills

Tourism development

Destination management

Grant management

Economic development

Community development

Data visualization

Tools

CRM systems

Microsoft Suite

Project management software

Job description

The Department of Tourism & Cultural Affairs – Division of Tourism (Travel Nevada) is seeking a Destination Development Manager to support its vision of cultivating a vibrant visitor economy built on exceptional and enriching experiences that enhance quality of life for all Nevadans.

Based in Reno, Carson City, or Las Vegas, this role reports to the Chief Industry Development Officer and plays a pivotal part in advancing destination and product development throughout rural Nevada.

The Destination Development Manager will be required to action strategic planning expertise, diplomacy with stakeholders, and effective resource management to strengthen Nevada’s tourism landscape.

This role requires the ability to clearly communicate Travel Nevada's priorities and foster collaborative engagement among community partners, businesses, and governmental entities.

Operating within a highly collaborative, team-based model, the Manager maintains transparent communication with leadership, ensures organizational stewardship of stakeholder relationships, adheres to defined grant-authority parameters, and partners with colleagues and grant review teams on all major programmatic decisions.

Through this work, the Manager helps drive Travel Nevada’s long-term mission to share the heart of Nevada with the world through stewardship, development, and promotion of the best of the Silver State.

Essential Qualifications

Proven experience and/or education (3+ years) in tourism development, destination management, economic development, community development, grant management or other related fields.

An understanding of destination stewardship principles and community engagement practices is preferred.

Must be skilled in creative problem-solving and a passion for crafting memorable visitor experiences.

Ability to use analytic and data visualization software and/or CRM systems, project management software, grant management platforms, and Microsoft Suite products.

This position may require occasional work during evenings and weekends to meet program or project needs.

Must possess a valid driver’s license and be able to travel by air when needed.

Job Duties

• Implementing initiatives that grow rural tourism-related economic development by strengthening high-quality tourism assets, infrastructure, and workforce capacity.
• Monitoring and evaluating tourism project outcomes, adjusting strategies to maximize economic, social, and environmental benefits.
• Administering grant programs, including full-cycle management from application review and guideline development to documentation, metrics tracking, and coordination with the grant committee.
• Managing destination-development contractors, program budgets, RFPs, workshops, and project tracking through completion.
• Develop and implement destination development strategies aligned with Travel Nevada’s mission, vision and goals.
• Collaborating with local businesses, government agencies, and community stakeholders to support cohesive, statewide destination development.
• Communicating and representing Travel Nevada’s strategic direction with integrity and diplomatically, using effective conflict resolution skills when necessary, and fostering positive stakeholder engagement.
• Proficiency in project and time management skills, including the ability to meet deadlines and prioritize multiple initiatives.

Knowledge, Skills, And Abilities

• Strategic Planning – Develop and implement destination development strategies that align with Travel Nevada’s goals, vision and mission.
• Stakeholder Coordination – Collaborate with local businesses, government agencies, and community members to ensure cohesive destination development.
• Resource Management – Excellent time management skills, including demonstrated ability to meet deadlines and prioritize multiple projects.
• Diplomatic Communication – Adept at diplomacy, negotiation and issue resolution, managing conflict and disagreement through collaborative discussion to reach positive conclusions. ability to communicate and implement Travel Nevada’s vision and strategic plan with enthusiasm, building positive participation with stakeholders.

The State of Nevada is an equal opportunity employer dedicated to building diverse, inclusive, and innovative work environments with employees who reflect our communities and enthusiastically serve them. All applicants are considered without regard to race, color, national origin, religion or belief, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, domestic partnership, genetic information (GINA), or compensation and/or wages.

Benefits Include

• Health Insurance: Medical, dental, life, and disability insurance programs for employees and their dependents/family are offered through the Public Employees’ Benefits Program (PEBP).
• Vacation: Accrual of three weeks of annual leave each year.
• Sick Leave: Accrual of three weeks of sick leave each year.
• Holidays: 12 paid holidays per year.
• Retirement: Participation in the Nevada Public Employees Retirement System (PERS). Employees do not contribute to Social Security but will contribute to PERS if their position is at 50% or more full-time equivalency. For more information on how PERS service may impact Social Security benefits, visit the SSA publication.
• Deferred Compensation: The State offers a voluntary Deferred Compensation Program.
• No Nevada state income tax.
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness: Eligible due to public sector employment.
• Longevity Payments Eligibility: Employees who have received a performance rating of “standard” or better and have completed eight (8) or more years of continuous service are eligible for longevity pay.

Additional benefits may apply to employees covered under a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), depending on their designated bargaining unit. For more information, visit the Labor Relations Unit (LRU).

For more details about your rights and responsibilities as a State of Nevada employee, please review the State of Nevada Employee Handbook (PDF).

State Holidays The holiday schedule for State employees is established by the Legislature.

The Following Are Legal Holidays

January 1.............................................. New Year's Day

Third Monday in January.................. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s Birthday

Third Monday in February................ Washington’s Birthday

Last Monday in May........................... Memorial Day

June 19................................................ Juneteenth Day

July 4.................................................... Independence Day

First Monday in September.............. Labor Day

Last Friday in October....................... Nevada Day

November 11........................................ Veterans' Day

Fourth Thursday in November........ Thanksgiving Day

Friday following the Fourth Thursday in November...................... Family Day

December 25........................................ Christmas Day

When January 1, June 19, July 4, November 11, or December 25 falls on a Saturday, the preceding Friday is the observed legal holiday. If these days fall on Sunday, the following Monday is the observed holiday. Eligibility for holiday pay is covered by the provisions of NAC 284.255