Director of Marketing

Visit Annapolis & Anne Arundel County (VAAAC) is seeking an experienced marketing professional to lead strategy, execution, and performance analysis for consumer and business-to-business marketing initiatives. The Director of Marketing oversees a small, high-performing team; maintains relationships with vendors and collaborates across departments and with external partners to advance organizational goals.

Key Responsibilities (Meetings/Sport/Tour and Travel/Partnership)

Leadership

• Manage, coach, and retain a professional marketing team.
• Build strong relationships with colleagues, business partners, and the community
• Support major initiatives and organizational priorities acting as the marketing and brand voice for the organization
• Serve as a confident and professional ambassador for VAAAC and the industry
• Manage creative and advertising traffic needs through contractors

Marketing Strategy & Execution

• Lead the organization’s integrated marketing strategy to strengthen destination awareness, drive visitation and travel demand, and influence traveler decision making across priority audience segments
• Serve as a strategic thought partner in identifying emerging audience opportunities, traveler motivations, market barriers, and external trends impacting leisure, lifestyle, meetings, and group travel
• Translate market insights into actionable campaign strategies that deliver measurable performance outcomes
• Serve as the primary point of contact for the Marketing Sponsorship Program, maximizing marketing value and partner/economic impact
• Direct development and consistent brand execution of storytelling across paid media, shared, and owned channels, content platforms, partnerships, promotions, and performance driven campaigns
• Elevate creative quality, relevance, and consistency to strengthen long term brand equity
• Ensure all campaigns, messaging, and sponsorships align with VAAAC’s brand, mission, and strategic priorities
• Develop and implement the annual marketing plan targeting leisure and business travelers, while measuring KPIs to adjust tactical plans accordingly
• Lead campaigns and promotions, coordinating with external partners and securing assets as needed

Financial Oversight

• Partner with internal colleagues and Finance on forecasting, long range planning and budget justification
• Monitor pacing, commitments, and variances throughout the fiscal year; recommend adjustments as needed to remain within approved financial targets
• Oversee the marketing program in collaboration with Finance to optimize the (MOTD) Marketing Grant Program, ensuring compliance while maximizing available grant funding

Data Insights & Performance

• Leverage audience research, visitor data, analytics, and performance reporting to continuously refine strategy, targeting, and media investment decisions
• Establish measurement frameworks that demonstrate return on investment and inform future planning
• Demonstrated ability and curiosity to adopt emerging technologies, including AI, to improve marketing strategy, operational efficiency, and performance measurement

Qualifications

• Minimum of 5 years of progressive marketing experience, preferably in tourism, destination management, hospitality, or related fields
• Experienced in managing teams and external agencies, vendors, or freelancers
• Proficient with marketing tools, software, and CRM systems
• Strong communicator and relationship builder
• A strong commitment to our core values of inclusivity, stewardship, and audacity

Benefits & Salary

• Competitive salary of $85,000-$95,000 depending on experience
• 20 PTO days + 13 floating holidays
• Employer-paid health, vision, and dental coverage (individual)
• 401(k) with 5% match (after 90 days)
• Short-term disability and life insurance (after 90 days)
• Employee Assistance Program, parking benefits, and professional development

Travel

Occasional travel within and outside the region may be required for industry training, tradeshows, and events.

Additional Information

Eligible applicants may be subject to a background investigation under federal or state laws and regulations. A conviction is not an automatic disqualification to employment. Erroneous, misleading, or fraudulent information on an application is sufficient grounds for rejection from the hiring process, removal from the list of eligibles, withdrawal of an offer for employment or immediate discharge.

About VAAAC

Visit Annapolis & Anne Arundel County is a nonprofit, partnership-focused Destination Marketing/Management Organization. Our mission is to foster a welcoming destination and promote tourism on behalf of visitors, partners, and the community. VAAAC is located in historic downtown Annapolis, Maryland at 26 West Street, and will open a Welcome Center at BWI Marshall Airport in 2026.