Director of Marketing & Communications

Benefits:

• Health insurance
• Opportunity for advancement
• Paid time off
• Training & development
• Vision insurance
• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Competitive salary
• Dental insurance
• Flexible schedule

Job Title: Director of Marketing and Communications FLSA Classification: Exempt
Department: Marketing & Communications
Reports To: Vice President of Marketing & Communications


Summary


Visit Shreveport-Bossier (VSB) seeks an experienced, strategic, and highly organized Director of Marketing & Communications to lead the day-to-day execution of the organization's integrated marketing initiatives. This position transforms strategic vision into actionable marketing plans by overseeing departmental operations, project management, agency partnerships, advertising initiatives, team leadership, and campaign execution.


Working closely with the Vice President of Marketing & Communications, the Director ensures marketing initiatives are delivered on time, within budget, and aligned with Visit Shreveport-Bossier's mission of increasing visitation, overnight stays, and economic impact throughout Caddo and Bossier Parishes.


The ideal candidate is an experienced marketing leader who combines strategic thinking with exceptional organizational skills. They are a collaborative communicator, an effective project manager, and an emotionally intelligent leader who builds trust, develops people, and creates systems that keep complex marketing initiatives moving forward successfully. This leader should thrive handling multiple responsibilities and be inspired to positively contribute to the overall team culture at Visit Shreveport-Bossier.


Essential Functions & Accountabilities

Strategic Marketing Leadership

• Assist the Vice President of Marketing and Communications in developing and implementing Visit Shreveport-Bossier's annual Strategic Marketing Plan.
• Translate organizational priorities into comprehensive marketing campaigns supporting destination tourism, sports tourism, public relations, community initiatives, and special projects.
• Lead brand awareness initiatives through integrated, results-driven marketing and advertising campaigns across local, regional, national, and international markets.
• Ensure all marketing initiatives align with Visit Shreveport-Bossier's brand standards, messaging, and strategic objectives.
• Utilize research, visitor data, market trends, and analytics to support marketing decisions and campaign development.
• Stay current on tourism, marketing, communications, and advertising trends and recommend innovative strategies that improve organizational performance.

Marketing Operations & Project Management

• Establish, manage, and monitor annual marketing calendars, campaign timelines, and departmental workflows.
• Lead the execution of multiple concurrent marketing initiatives while ensuring projects remain on schedule and within budget.
• Develop project timelines, assign responsibilities, establish milestones, and proactively address challenges before they impact deadlines.
• Provide regular project status updates to the Vice President and ensure leadership has visibility into departmental priorities and progress.
• Oversee departmental workflow to ensure marketing assets are completed accurately, efficiently, and on schedule.
• Continuously evaluate and improve internal marketing processes to increase efficiency, collaboration, and accountability.

Agency, Vendor & Advertising Management

• Serve as Visit Shreveport-Bossier's primary liaison with the Agency of Record and other contracted marketing partners.
• Manage agency deliverables, creative reviews, advertising schedules, media placements, reporting, and campaign execution.
• Build and maintain productive relationships with advertising partners, publishers, media representatives, printers, and vendors.
• Negotiate contracts and ensure agency and vendor performance meets organizational expectations.
• Oversee advertising schedules and ensure deadlines, budgets, and deliverables are successfully managed.
• Collaborate with designers, photographers, videographers, writers, printers, and other creative partners to produce high-quality marketing assets.

Tourism Sales Marketing

• Collaborate with the Convention and Meetings department and the Shreveport Bossier Sports Commission to enhance their sales tactics and support tourism growth through event bookings
• Collaborate with the Sports Commission to develop integrated marketing plans supporting sports sponsorship efforts, sales initiatives and hosted events.
• Coordinate promotional strategies that increase overnight visitation and enhance the visitor experience for meetings and sporting events.
• Ensure meetings and sports marketing initiatives align with Visit Shreveport-Bossier's overall destination marketing strategy.

Publications & Content Oversight

• Oversee the development, production, and timely distribution of marketing publications including the Official Visitors Guide, seasonal visitor guides, outdoor guides, golf guides, holiday publications, and other promotional materials.
• Ensure content needs are met across print, digital, web, email, social media, and emerging marketing platforms.
• Maintain consistency of brand voice, messaging, and visual identity across all marketing materials.
• Collaborate with internal staff and external partners to produce compelling destination storytelling.

Leadership & Team Development

• Lead, mentor, and develop the Marketing & Communications team by establishing clear expectations, encouraging professional growth, and providing coaching and feedback when necessary.
• Delegate projects effectively while empowering team members to take ownership of their responsibilities.
• Foster a collaborative, respectful, and solutions-oriented work environment built on accountability and trust.
• Promote cross-departmental collaboration to ensure marketing initiatives support organizational goals.
• Assist in establishing departmental goals, key performance indicators (KPIs), and performance expectations.

Budget & Administrative Responsibilities

• Assist the Vice President with departmental budget planning, implementation, and monitoring.
• Oversee department invoices, contracts, purchase orders, and financial documentation for timely processing.
• Monitor project expenditures to ensure campaigns remain within approved budgets.
• Maintain organized records of vendor contracts, advertising agreements, and marketing expenditures with the Finance Department

Community & Industry Engagement

• Represent Visit Shreveport-Bossier through public speaking engagements, industry conferences, tourism events, and professional organizations.
• Develop collaborative relationships with community stakeholders, tourism partners, local businesses, and industry organizations.
• Participate in professional development opportunities that strengthen leadership and marketing expertise.
• Perform other duties as assigned to support the mission and strategic goals of Visit Shreveport-Bossier.

Desired Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Communications, Public Relations, Journalism, Advertising, Business Administration, or a related field.
• Minimum of seven (7) years of progressively responsible marketing, communications, advertising, or public relations experience.
• Minimum of three (3) years leading marketing teams, supervising staff, or managing cross-functional projects.
• An equivalent combination of education and relevant experience may be considered.
• Strong understanding of digital marketing, branding, advertising, content strategy, SEO, website analytics, CRM/CMS platforms, and marketing analytics.
• Experience managing multiple complex projects with competing deadlines.
• Tourism, destination marketing, hospitality, sports marketing, or economic development experience preferred but not required.
• Working knowledge of Adobe InDesign, Adobe Illustrator, and Adobe Express
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, project management tools, and marketing technology platforms.
• Experience managing advertising agencies, creative partners, media relationships, and vendor contracts.
• Experience developing and executing integrated marketing campaigns.

Travel & Work Requirements

• Ability to represent Visit Shreveport-Bossier professionally in public settings and industry events.
• Normal work hours for this role are Monday - Friday (8:00 am to 5:00 pm).
• Frequent local, regional and national travel as required.
• Ability to work mornings, evenings, weekends, and holidays when necessary.
• Valid driver's license and reliable transportation.
• Must be able to stand, sit and/or walk for extended periods.
• Occasional physical activity including event set up and lifting up to 40 lbs.
• Some days may require working in outdoor elements regardless of the weather.

We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Visit Shreveport-Bossier is the official destination marketing organization attracting meetings, leisure visitors, gaming visitors, and sporting events that result in economic growth through visitor expenditures and enhancing the quality of life in Louisiana's Caddo and Bossier parishes.

Visitors love all that there is to see and do in Shreveport-Bossier; a metropolitan area of about 350,000 people. The sister cities are ideally situated in northwest Louisiana about 15 minutes from the Texas border on the west and 30 minutes from the Arkansas border on the north.

The Red River connects the two cities and since Shreveport's early inception, the riverfront has served as the hub of the city's commercial life. What began life as a log-jammed river port has now become home to a splendid convention center, six riverboat casinos, year-round festivals and a riverfront shopping/dining/entertainment venue.

The people are charming and the dining is unparalleled mixing the wide-open Texas spirit with the spicy Louisiana Cajun attitude.

The area has a lively arts, craft brewery and music scene. The diverse museums tell the story of famous musicians, galaxies, cultures, and explorers. The festivals showcase Louisiana's traditions of good music, great food and all night entertainment.