Senior Director of Sales

Senior Director of Sales 

Summary: Responsible for strategic leadership for Visit Knoxville’s group convention sales efforts, driving meetings, and group business that generates overnight visitation and economic impact. This position leads the sales team, develops and executes destination sales strategies, manages key industry relationships, and serves as a senior member of the leadership team. The position also assists the President in managing long-term strategic partnerships with hotels, venues, community stakeholders, and tourism industry partners while overseeing venue-related initiatives that support Knoxville and Knox County’s visitor economy.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities include the following.

Other duties may be assigned:

Provide leadership, direction, coaching, and performance management for the convention sales team, including the Director of Sales and two Sales Directors.

Provide strategic leadership and direct supervision for the Director of Partnership Revenue, overseeing the development and execution of partnership sales initiatives, including Visitor Guide advertising, UT Visitor Guide advertising, printed collateral sponsorships, and year-round partnership revenue programs. Drive sales growth, strengthen partner relationships, and ensure revenue goals align with Visit Knoxville’s overall organizational objectives in partnership with the President.

Serve as Visit Knoxville’s lead staff liaison in managing venue operating agreements and management company relationships on behalf of Visit Knoxville and the City of Knoxville for all city-owned venues; such as Knoxville Convention Center (KCC), World’s Fair Exhibition Hall (The W), Knoxville Civic Auditorium & Coliseum (KCAC).

Develop and execute annual sales strategies, goals, and business development plans aligned with Visit Knoxville’s strategic plan.

Maintain responsibility for an assigned market segment and achieve established booking, room night, and economic impact goals.

Monitor sales performance, market trends, competitive destinations, and industry opportunities to maximize market share.

Oversee CRM utilization, reporting, forecasting, and sales analytics to support data-driven decision making.

Partner with the President to cultivate, strengthen, and manage long-term strategic relationships with hotels, meeting planners, convention and event organizers, attractions, venues, and other key tourism and hospitality stakeholders, advancing Visit Knoxville’s mission and supporting destination growth. Coordinate closely with venue management partners to maximize event bookings, economic impact, customer satisfaction, and community benefit.

Support contract negotiations, partnership agreements, and destination-wide initiatives that advance Visit Knoxville’s mission.

Lead citywide/countywide convention and major event sales efforts, including bid strategy, presentations, site visits, and stakeholder coordination.

Work collaboratively with Marketing, Destination Services, Sports Commission, Film Office, Finance, and Visitor Services teams to achieve organizational goals.

Develop and manage departmental budgets and ensure responsible stewardship of organizational resources.

Represent/Manage Visit Knoxville’s attendance at trade shows, industry conferences, sales missions, client events, and community meetings.

Prepare and present regular reports to the President, Board of Directors, hotel community, and other stakeholders.

Recruit, hire, train, mentor, and retain a high-performing sales team focused on results and customer service excellence.

Lead hotel partner engagement efforts, including regular communication with General Managers, Directors of Sales, and ownership groups.

Perform other duties as assigned by the President.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

The position will be responsible for hiring, training, and supervising all Convention Sales Staff including Director of Sales, and Sales Directors.

Minimum Qualifications Required:     

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education and/or Experience: Bachelor's Degree and related field work of ten+ years marketing/sales experience, preferably in the tourism industry but not required. Additional consideration for over 20 years’ experience and certifications like CMP (Certified Meeting Planner), etc.

Computer Skills: To perform this job successfully, an individual should have excellent computer skills to include, but not limited to, knowledge of Contact Management systems; Database software; Project Management software; Spreadsheet software and Word Processing software.  Experience with Microsoft Office preferred. Simpleview Preferred.

Language Skills: Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations.  Ability to write reports and business correspondence.  Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, customers, and the general public.

Mathematical Skills: Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals.  Ability to compute rate, ratio, and percentage and to draw and interpret bar graphs.

Reasoning Ability: Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions.

Physical Demands:   The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.  While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is regularly required to use hands, talk and hear. The employee is frequently required to stand, walk, sit, and reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to taste or smell. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.

Work Environment The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is occasionally exposed to outside weather conditions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

If you possess all of the requirements listed above and are interested in participation with our team, please send your resume with cover letter to: Kim Bumpas, President at Show email.