Job Description

Manager of Partnership and Experience Development

Location: St. John's, NL | Full-Time | Salary Commensurate with Experience

Destination St. John's (DSJ) is seeking a collaborative, community-minded, and tourism-savvy professional to join our team as Manager of Partnership and Experience Development. This is a vital position focused on strengthening stakeholder engagement, advancing destination development, and supporting the creation of innovative, market-ready visitor experiences that align with provincial and regional priorities -- including the Vision 2026 strategy and the Northeast Avalon Destination Development Plan.

This role will support DSJ's efforts to extend the tourism season, foster strategic collaboration, and enhance the quality of experiences available in the St. John's region.

About the Role

The Manager of Partnership and Experience Development will lead DSJ's partner engagement and experience development initiatives, contributing directly to key priorities such as the Exceptional Experiences Program, culinary tourism strategies, and season extension networks.

You'll work closely with tourism operators, industry partners, and community stakeholders to foster collaboration and build experiences that reflect the unique culture, creativity, and natural beauty of our destination.

Key Responsibilities

Partnership Engagement

- Serve as liaison to DSJ's network of partners and members.
- Coordinate the development of a refreshed partnership/membership model and fee structure.
- Lead recruitment and retention of partners and oversee regular communications, meetings, and events.
- Develop and implement a partner communication strategy in coordination with DSJ's marketing and content teams.
- Support partner participation in cooperative marketing, sales opportunities, and experience development initiatives.

- Coordinate the management of partner listings and advertising sales for the annual Visitors Guide and Map.
- Support and coordinate the DSJ Partnership Advisory Committee.

Experience Development

- Facilitate development of new tourism experiences aligned with DSJ's niche markets and the NEA Destination Development Plan.
- Work one-on-one with operators, attractions, DMCs, and service providers to identify and enhance experience offerings.
- Support and lead DSJ's efforts and initiatives for the Exceptional Experiences Program and Culinary Tourism Strategy.
- Organize networking sessions, sector-based roundtables, and regional collaboration opportunities.
- Promote quality assurance best practices.

Strategic Program Support

- Contribute to the implementation of provincial programs and strategic action plans, including Vision 2026.
- Facilitate season extension networks and action planning for off-peak experiences.
- Maintain active involvement in destination development committees and project teams.

Qualifications & Experience

- Post-secondary education in tourism, marketing, communications, business, or a related field.
- Minimum 3-5 years' experience in the tourism or hospitality sector (experience with attractions, experiences, events, or tourism operations is an asset).
- Demonstrated ability to lead projects, build partnerships, and deliver results collaboratively.
- Strong communication and relationship-building skills.
- Familiarity with Newfoundland and Labrador's tourism landscape, including Vision 2026.
- A passion for helping small business succeed -- and a love for St. John's!

Additional Details

- Travel within the region and occasional work outside regular hours may be required.
- Salary and benefits will be commensurate with education and experience.
- Must be legally eligible to work in Canada.

To Apply

Please send your resume and a brief cover letter in confidence to:
Paul Bugge, CEO
pbugge@destinationstjohns.com
Deadline to apply: June 6, 2025
We thank all applicants for their interest. Only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

Destination St. John's (DSJ) is committed to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion--through policy, action and education. Applications are encouraged by candidate's representative of diverse communities.

Job Type: Full-time

Schedule:

Monday to Friday
Work Location: In person

Application deadline: 2025-06-06