Director of Operations: Regional Tourism Growth Leader

Destinations International; Georgetown (DE); On-site; USD 90,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Southern Delaware Tourism is seeking a Director of Operations to translate strategy into disciplined execution across internal operations, marketing coordination and partner services. This executive role leads a small team and partners with the Executive Director to drive accountability and measurable impact in Sussex County.

The DOO will build structure, align priorities, and oversee day-to-day activities, ensuring timely delivery of programs and campaigns while expanding countywide engagement

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in business, communications, marketing, hospitality, tourism, public/nonprofit administration or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
• Eight or more years of progressively responsible operations, organizational leadership or related executive-level experience, including at least three years of direct people leadership.
• Demonstrated success implementing strategic plans, building accountability systems, improving workflows and leading cross-functional execution.
• Strong understanding of integrated marketing, audience research, campaign measurement, digital content and vendor coordination.
• Working knowledge of communications, public relations and media-relations functions sufficient to direct priorities, evaluate service quality and supervise communications talent.
• Experience working with executive leadership, Boards, community stakeholders and external partners in a collaborative environment.
• Ability to interpret financial information, build costed work plans and make resource recommendations while operating within established financial controls.
• Excellent judgment, communication, organizational and relationship-management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a visible public-facing organization.

Responsibilities

• Translate SDT's strategic plan and Executive Director priorities into annual and quarterly work plans with clear owners, milestones, timelines and resource needs.
• Lead day-to-day organizational execution, resolve cross-functional obstacles and establish consistent operating rhythms across the team.
• Maintain operational visibility across projects, contracts, renewals, partner commitments and key delivery deadlines.
• Identify process improvements that strengthen accountability, reduce duplication and improve service delivery.
• Directly supervise, coach and evaluate the Marketing Manager and Digital Content Manager, as well as the Communications Manager if and when the position is added.
• Establish clear goals, development plans and workload expectations for each direct report; coordinate Digital Content deliverables with Marketing while maintaining direct supervisory accountability for both positions.
• Set marketing and outreach priorities in alignment with the Executive Director, SDT destination goals, audience trends, research and state tourism opportunities.
• Provide strategic direction to the Marketing Manager while preserving Marketing ownership of campaign development, media mix, vendor relationships, brand standards and day-to-day marketing execution; directly supervise Digital Content and align its production priorities with the Marketing Manager.
• Maintain one coordinated event and campaign calendar and ensure marketing, digital content and partner requests are prioritized against organizational capacity.
• Use performance data and partner feedback to refine campaigns, resource allocation and countywide marketing support.
• Serve as SDT's primary operational liaison to local chambers of commerce and tourism partners, coordinating shared priorities, campaign support, partner requests and reporting.
• Connect state-level opportunities, visitor research and market trends with local campaigns, seasonal needs and geographic growth opportunities.
• Improve collaboration through shared calendars, brand resources and coordinated production where appropriate.
• Identify opportunities to strengthen partner value, reduce unnecessary duplication and improve the reach of tourism initiatives across Sussex County.
• Ensure reliable communications coverage and clear coordination of media inquiries, public relations needs, familiarization (FAM) activity and partner communications.
• Work with the Executive Director, Marketing and Digital teams, chambers and outside communications support to maintain consistent messaging and service continuity.
• When the future Communications Manager is added, provide strategic oversight while that role leads media relations and community advocacy.
• Track communications demand and service gaps so staffing and resource recommendations are based on demonstrated need.
• Prepare costed work plans, resource requests and operating updates for the Executive Director.
• Maintain a consolidated view of operational, marketing, partner and communications performance, using clear metrics and documented baselines.
• Coordinate program evidence and reporting for chamber of commerce initiatives and other funded programs.
• Surface material operating risks, resource constraints and performance issues early and recommend practical solutions.

Skills

Strategic planning

Cross-functional leadership

Operations management

Marketing coordination

Performance measurement

Communication

Relationship management

Budgeting/financial controls

Education

Bachelor's degree in business, communications, marketing, hospitality, tourism, public/nonprofit administration or related field

Job description

Southern Delaware Tourism is seeking a Director of Operations to translate strategy into disciplined execution across internal operations, marketing coordination and partner services. This executive role leads a small team and partners with the Executive Director to drive accountability and measurable impact in Sussex County.

The DOO will build structure, align priorities, and oversee day-to-day activities, ensuring timely delivery of programs and campaigns while expanding countywide engagement