Director of Sales

eXploreLawrence; Lawrence (KS); Hybrid; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

A tourism promotional organization in Lawrence, KS, is seeking a Director of Sales to develop and execute sales strategies, manage the sales process, and lead relationship-building efforts. The ideal candidate has a Bachelor’s degree and at least 5 years of experience in destination sales or hospitality. This full-time position offers flexibility in working hours and responsibilities include representing the organization at trade events and managing sales initiatives.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 5 years in destination sales or related industry.
• Proven ability to close business with strong negotiation skills.
• Experience managing incentive funds and understanding of ROI.

Responsibilities

• Develop and oversee annual sales plans and strategies.
• Manage the end-to-end sales process and maintain CRM records.
• Represent eXplore Lawrence at events and trade shows.

Skills

Relationship-building

Negotiation

Sales strategy development

CRM proficiency

Market analysis

Education

Bachelor’s degree in business, marketing, hospitality, or related field

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

CRM systems

Job description

Overview

Position Title: Director of Sales

Company: eXplore Lawrence

Location: Lawrence, KS

Turning visitors into fans — one mural, meal, and memory at a time.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute an annual sales plan with measurable goals, priorities, and performance metrics.
• Lead proactive prospecting, lead generation, and relationship-building efforts across key markets (meetings, sports, conventions, travel trade).
• Design and oversee the Bid Fund deployment strategy to ensure the effective and strategic use of incentive funds that yield the highest return on investment.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with meeting planners, sports rights holders, event organizers, and industry professionals.
• Directly manage the end-to-end sales process, from lead acquisition through proposal development, contract negotiation, and post-event evaluation.
• Oversee the work of the Sales and Service Manager to ensure high-quality client support, efficient services delivery, and accurate event reporting.
• Collaborate with local partners, including hotels, venues, attractions, and the University of Kansas, to package and promote Lawrence as a premier destination.
• Maintain accurate and comprehensive CRM records to track leads, opportunities, event impact, and incentive fund usage.
• Work closely with the marketing and community relations teams to align promotional efforts with sales strategies and develop compelling bid materials and collateral.
• Represent eXplore Lawrence at tradeshows, marketplaces, conferences, and networking events to promote Lawrence to key audiences.
• Analyze market trends, competitive destinations, and performance data to inform strategy and provide regular reports to leadership, the board, and stakeholders.
• Collaborate with the Executive Director and leadership team on major organizational initiatives and citywide projects.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in business, marketing, hospitality, tourism, or related field, or equivalent professional experience.
• Minimum of 5 years of progressive experience in destination sales, hospitality, or a related industry.
• Demonstrated success in developing and implementing sales strategies that produce measurable results.
• Experience managing incentive funds, cooperative sales programs, or bid funds with a clear understanding of ROI analysis.
• Strong relationship-building and negotiation skills with proven ability to close business.
• Excellent written, verbal, and presentation skills.
• Proficiency with CRM systems, Microsoft Office Suite, and virtual meeting platforms.
• Ability to travel, work irregular hours as needed, and represent eXplore Lawrence at events and tradeshows.
• Knowledge of the meetings, sports, and group travel industries and their economic impact on local communities.

Supervisory Responsibility

• The Director of Sales directly supervises the Sales and Service Manager, ensuring that services align with sales initiatives and client expectations.
• Coaching, mentoring, and supporting the Sales and Service Manager in professional development.
• Establish clear performance expectations and conduct regular evaluations.
• Ensuring services and logistics provided for groups and events enhance the visitor experience and contribute to repeat business.
• Overseeing the accuracy and quality of event data collection and reporting.

Work Environment

This is a full-time position, and typical hours of operation are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. A flex schedule and remote work options are available. The job operates in a professional, open-office environment in Downtown Lawrence.

Other Duties

Please note that this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities required of the employee for this job.

eXplore Lawrence is an equal-opportunity employer with an organizational commitment to the principles of diversity and inclusion. In that spirit, we welcome all qualified individuals regardless of race, religion, color, sex, ancestry, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability, national origin, medical condition, U.S. veteran/military status, pregnancy, or reasonable accommodation.

eXplore Lawrence offers an exciting opportunity for qualified, career-motivated professionals and provides competitive compensation and the chance to work with talented people in a successful and pleasant environment.

Please send a cover letter and resume to Kim Anspach: [e-mail]

Applications will be accepted through 9/5/25

Seniority level

• Director

Employment type

• Full-time

Job function

• Sales and Business Development

Industries

• Hospitality