Director of Digital Content

DESTINATION DC, There is Only One DC--There is Only One You.

Bring your uniqueness to our team!

POSITION SUMMARY

Reports to: Chief Marketing Officer

Destination DC (DDC) is seeking a leader to manage its digital content strategy and the team responsible for the organization's owned digital channels, including washington.org, email and organic social media. The role translates brand, business and audience priorities into editorial, messaging, digital and social media strategies that inspire travel, support members and partners and strengthen Washington, DC's position as a premier global destination.

A member of the Marketing and Communications Leadership Team, the director leads a team of manager-level experts, sets priorities and success metrics, and drives marketing technology strategy across its platforms with agencies and cross-functional teams. The role provides senior‑level direction on storytelling, digital experience, audience engagement, analytics, search discoverability and emerging AI‑powered content experiences.

The most appealing candidate has a genuine affinity for Washington, DC and understands the nation's capital is more than a Federal city and can expertly promote the neighborhoods, arts and culture, sports, dining, hotels and other hospitality partners that make the District an appealing, creative place to live, work and thrive.

Your typical day as our Director, Digital Content may include:

• Reviewing web, search, email and social performance with team leads and adjusting priorities based on audience behavior and business needs.
• Coaching managers, advising on cross‑team needs and ensuring the organization is poised to achieve positive outcomes for its high‑impact work.
• Partnering with Marketing & Communications leaders, internal departments, agencies and vendors on campaigns, digital experiences and emerging opportunities.
• Pulling data, preparing and giving presentations internally and to stakeholders and highlighting the trackable impact of digital content on consumers for various needs.

About the Team

The Marketing & Communications team at DDC develops marketing strategy across a variety of B2B and B2C audiences for the brand we represent: Washington, DC. The department consists of teams overseeing advertising, communications, social media, content marketing and creative development and execution.

Your Essential Duties and Responsibilities (include, but are not limited to)

Content Strategy and Team Leadership

• Sets and evolves DDC's integrated content marketing strategy across web, email, organic social and emerging digital channels, aligning priorities with organizational goals, paid media campaigns, audience needs and the traveler journey.
• Leads, coaches and develops the content marketing team; establishes clear ownership, goals, workflows and performance expectations while supporting professional development.
• Serves as a strategic advisor to the Chief Marketing Officer, Marketing & Communications leadership and Senior Staff on content opportunities, risks, resources and changing audience behavior.

Editorial and Campaign Leadership

• Works closely with the content team to set editorial and messaging direction for major campaigns, landing pages, email, social content, publications and high‑visibility organizational initiatives.
• Ensures storytelling is audience‑focused, on brand and tailored to leisure travelers, meeting planners, members, partners and industry audiences; oversees content voice and quality standards.

Digital Experience, Discoverability and AI

• Provides strategic oversight for washington.org and related digital experiences, partnering with staff, IT, agencies and vendors on content governance, user experience, accessibility, site improvements and marketing technology initiatives.
• Owns the content strategy for organic discoverability across traditional and AI‑driven search, using analytics and search intelligence to guide SEO, content authority and editorial priorities.
• Evaluates AI‑powered visitor experiences and emerging technologies, guiding content governance in line with DDC's approved AI Policy, quality assurance and measurement.

Email, Social and Audience Engagement

• Provides strategic oversight for consumer and stakeholder email programs, including audience strategy, editorial planning, testing, governance and performance improvement.
• Guides organic social strategy through the social team, connecting platform plans with campaigns, web content, creator amplification opportunities, member visibility and broader Marketing & Communications priorities.

Analytics, Operations and Cross‑Functional Leadership

• Defines meaningful content marketing KPIs amid an evolving ecosystem, interprets performance and audience data, and communicates insights and recommendations to leadership and internal stakeholders.
• Leads the content function in weekly meetings, assists in cross‑department planning and creative services, and translates business needs into priorities while balancing audience impact, brand standards, team capacity and deadlines.
• Manages relevant agency and vendor relationships and contributes to annual planning, goal setting, resource allocation and budget recommendations.

What You Bring: Knowledge, Competencies & Skills

Required

• Minimum of 10 years of progressive experience in content marketing, digital marketing, editorial, communications or related work, including demonstrated people‑management experience.
• Minimum of 5 years of management experience with proven leadership and coaching skills, with the ability to set clear performance expectations and establish efficient team workflows.
• Strong cross‑functional leadership, prioritization and decision‑making skills, with the ability to move complex work forward.
• Exceptional writing, copy editing, presentation and executive communication skills, with strong judgment in brand voice, audience needs and stakeholder management.
• Ability to analyze performance data, identify trends and translate insights into clear strategic decisions.
• Strong strategic understanding of websites, CMS platforms, CRM platforms, digital analytics, SEO and AI‑driven discoverability, email marketing and social media.
• Demonstrated ability to lead integrated content strategy across web, email, social media and campaigns and translate organizational goals into priorities and measurable outcomes.
• Experience managing agencies, vendors or technology partners.

Preferred

• Bachelor's degree in digital marketing, communications, journalism, or a related field.
• Experience in destination marketing, travel, tourism, hospitality or a membership‑based organization.
• Experience with platforms such as Drupal, Google Analytics, Google Search Console, Moz, BrightEdge, Act-On, Wrike and social media management tools.
• Knowledge of AP Style, digital accessibility and content governance best practices.

ACCOUNTABILITIES & MEASURES

Weekly status reports are required of all team members. Formal performance reviews are conducted twice per year and as needed gauging qualitative performance against identified goals.

DESTINATION DC IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

We welcome all to apply and are committed to retaining, hiring, developing, and promoting diverse talent. We recognize and celebrate cultural differences within our organization by establishing opportunities for education and allyship.

Please reach out to us if you need accommodations with an application.

About Destination DC

Destination DC, the lead destination marketing organization for the nation's capital, is a private, non‑profit membership organization of nearly 1,000 businesses committed to marketing the area as a premier global convention, tourism, and special events destination with a special emphasis on the arts, cultural and historic communities.