Sustainable Tourism Development Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Salary : $84,149.52 - $134,638.66 Annually
Location : Economic Development, 117 Church Avenue, SW, Roanoke, VA 24011, VA
Job Type: Full-Time
Job Number: 03357
Department: Economic Development
Division: Economic Development
Opening Date: 06/29/2026
Closing Date: 7/28/2026 11:59 PM Eastern
Description
The City of Roanoke is seeking a Tourism Specialist to serve in the Department of Economic Development. The City of Roanoke Tourism Specialist will play a key role in advancing the economic growth and development of the City of Roanoke by promoting its tourism industry. This position involves creating, implementing, and managing tourism strategies to increase visitor traffic, enhance the local tourism experience, and support sustainable tourism practices. The ideal candidate will build rapport and collaborate with local businesses, regional tourism partners, government agencies, and other stakeholders to promote events, programs, and initiatives to attract visitors, drive economic growth, and elevate the community's profile as a premier destination.
The City of Roanoke is an Equal Employment Opportunity/AA/M/F/Disability Employer. To elevate the performance of the organization, we are committed to respecting, celebrating, and embracing the collective mixture of differences and similarities between our employees as a rich tapestry. Our behaviors will demonstrate open communication, and we will seek opportunities to learn, recognizing and rewarding actions that promote acceptance while suspending judgment. By doing this, we will foster an inclusive, open work environment that delivers excellent service and creates a more vibrant and inviting community.
This is an exempt position.
Examples of Duties
Key Responsibilities include:

• Tourism Strategy Development:
  • Develop and implement comprehensive tourism strategies aligned with the goals of the Economic Development Office and the City of Roanoke.
  • Identify target markets for marketing and promotional initiatives.
  • Conduct market research to understand tourism trends, customer preferences, and emerging opportunities.
• Partnership Building:
  • Foster strong relationships with local businesses, attractions, tourism agencies, and community organizations.
  • Work closely with hotels, restaurants, cultural institutions, event organizers, and transport providers to promote a cohesive and attractive tourism product.
  • Collaborate with regional and national tourism organizations to expand the area's reach.
  • Engage with Virginia Tourism Corporation for professional education opportunities and statewide tourism initiatives.
  • Engage with Virginia Association of Destination Marketing Organization (VADMO) to strengthen tourism effort and economic impact, professional development, advocacy and networking.
• Marketing and Promotion:
  • Manage tourism marketing campaigns, including digital marketing, social media outreach, and content creation.
  • Develop promotional materials, such as brochures, websites, videos, and advertisements to highlight the City of Roanoke's tourism offerings.
  • Collaborate with like organizations to execute tourism events, festivals, and experiences that draw visitors and increase brand recognition.
• Visitor Experience and Services:
  • Enhance the visitor experience by identifying gaps in services and creating solutions to improve visitor satisfaction.
  • Develop and maintain visitor information resources to include tourism guides and other informational materials.
• Economic Impact Analysis:
  • Monitor and evaluate the economic impact of tourism on the local economy, including visitor spending, job creation, and overall economic contributions.
  • Prepare reports and presentations on tourism's contribution to the City of Roanoke's economy for stakeholders and government officials.
  • Utilize data to adjust strategies and improve performance metrics.
• Sustainable Tourism Development:
  • Advocate for sustainable tourism practices that minimize environmental impact and support local communities.
  • Promote eco-friendly initiatives, responsible tourism, and initiatives to preserve local culture and heritage.

Typical Qualifications

• Education and Experience:
  • Bachelor's degree in Tourism Management, Business Administration, Marketing, or a related field. Master's degree preferred.
  • Minimum of 3-5 years of experience in tourism, economic development, or a related field.
  • Strong understanding of tourism trends, economic development principles, and community/stakeholder engagement strategies.
• Skills and Abilities:
  • Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to build relationships and work collaboratively.
  • Strong project management skills, with the ability to lead initiatives from inception to completion.
  • Proficiency in digital marketing, social media, and content creation.
  • Knowledge of economic impact measurement tools and data analysis.
  • Ability to think creatively and innovatively in promoting the destination.
  • Familiarity with sustainable tourism practices and community development principles.
• Other Requirements:
  • Ability to work flexible hours, including weekends and evenings, when necessary.
  • Ability to travel locally and regionally for business purposes.
  • Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and tourism-related software.
  • A passion for travel, tourism, and community development.

Overview of Benefits for Full-Time Employees:
Paid leave is time off from work available for use by an employee upon approval by supervisor. The first 24 consecutive leave hours for any illness must be charged to paid leave with additional time charged to extended illness leave. Paid leave for employees of the city shall accrue as follows:
Years of Service Hours Per Month Fire 24-hr shift Employees
0 - 4 12 19.75
5 - 9 14 22.75
10- 14 16 25.50
15 - 19 17 26.75
20 - 24 18 28.75
25 + 20 32
Extended Illness Leave: shall accrue at the rate of six (6) hours per month. Fire suppression employees shall accrue extended illness leave at nine (9) hours per month.
Funeral Leave: for family, up to three consecutive days.
Military Leave: Twenty-one work days per Federal fiscal year.
Holidays: The City provides 96 hours of annual paid holiday time.
Mental Health & Well-Being Leave: Employees receive 24 hours (Fire Suppression receives 34 hours) of Mental Health & Well-Being Leave upon hire. Certification of mental health diagnosis is not required and leave will not be paid out upon separation.
Shared Leave Bank (effective 1/1/2023): Voluntary membership for full-time Employees who will be out for an extended period of time and has exhausted all other forms of leave. Members are required to provide 8 hours of their Extended Illness per fiscal year and at least 8 hours per assessment. Assessments will be limimted to 4 times per fiscal year (max of 40 hours per fiscal year).
Health Insurance: Four coverage types are available: Employee only, Employee + 1 Child, Employee + Spouse and Family. Coverage is available through payroll deduction.
Additionally, the city offers the following three Aetna Health Plan Options:
PPO 750 - Provides 100% coverage for preventive care; lower deductible and out-of-pocket maximums than other medical plans; and has higher employee premiums. This is comparable to the current insurance program.
PPO/HRA 1500 - Provides 100% coverage for preventive care; has higher deductible and out-of-pocket maximum than the PPO 300 plan; has lower employee premiums than the PPO 300 plan; and the employer makes contributions to an account through a Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA). The City of Roanoke contributes $500 for employee only coverage and $1,000 for all other tiers. Contributions are pro-rated dependent upon enrollment date.
PPO/HDHP-HSA - Provides 100% coverage for preventive care; has higher deductible and out-of-pocket maximum than other medical plans; has lower employee premiums; and both the employer and the employee make contributions to a Health Savings Account (HSA) to pay for medical expenses which apply to the deductible. The City of Roanoke contributes towards the Health Savings Account (HSA), $1,600 for employee only coverage and $3,100 for all other tiers. Contributions are pro-rated dependent upon enrollment date.
Optum RX (Pharmaceutical Benefits Manager) - Manages pharmacy benefits, processes employee pharmacy claims and answers employee pharmacy benefit questions.
Aetna Health Plan 2026 Monthly Rates
PPO 750
Employee Only: $81.94
Employee + Child: $306.26
Employee + Spouse: $718.38
Family: $785.44
PPO/HRA 1500
Employee Only: $53.06
Employee + Child: $260.06
Employee + Spouse: $660.64
Family: $669.94
PPO/HDHP-HSA
Employee Only: $25.10
Employee + Child: $195.72
Employee + Spouse $547.88
Family: $550.56
Dental Insurance: Four coverage types are available: Family, Employee and Spouse, Employee and Child, and Employee only. Coverage is available through payroll deduction.
Delta Dental 2026 Monthly Rates
Employee: $2.80
Employee/Child: $18.88
Employee/Spouse: $18.88
Family: $49.36
Life Insurance: Paid by the City at no cost to employees. Coverage is equal to the annual salary rounded to the next highest thousand and then doubled. For an accidental death, the coverage would be twice this amount.
Optional Life Insurance: Paid by the employee. Various amounts of coverage, including family members, available through payroll deduction.
Long Term Disability Insurance: Designed to provide a monthly benefit to assist employees with bills and maintaining a standard of living when disabled as a result of a covered sickness or injury. Coverage is available through payroll deduction. Annual cost is your annual salary multiplied by .00255. This amount is half of the total premium and the City pays the other half.
Retirement: Employees contribute 5% of salary and choose between participating in a traditional defined benefit plan or a hybrid program. Employees vest in the employer component of either plan upon completing five (5) years of service.
Defined Benefit Pension Plan: Normal retirement after 55th birthday, and when combination of age and creditable service equals 85; or, 65th birthday if completed at least five years of creditable service. For sworn officers in Police and Fire/EMS, normal retirement after 50th birthday, and when combination of age and service equals 75; or, 65th birthday or older with 5 years of creditable service. An annual retirement benefit equals 2.0% of salary (based on an average of the highest five years) times the number of creditable years with a maximum of 63%. Early retirement options are available and reductions may apply based on age and service.
Hybrid Program: Provides the characteristics of the traditional pension plan with that of a deferred compensation plan. The pension plan provides an annual benefit equaling 1% of salary (based on an average of the highest five years) times the number of creditable years with a maximum of 63%. The deferred compensation component provides for the employee contribution to be deposited in an account directed by the member. The combination of the two components is structured to provide approximately the same actuarial benefit as the Defined Benefit Pension Plan. International City Management Association - Retirement Corporation (ICMA-RC) provides the third party administration of this deferred compensation plan for participating employees.
Sheriff's Department Employees are covered b the Virginia Retirement System (VRS). Previous service covered by VRS may be portable to the Roanoke Retirement System.
Retirement Health Savings Plan: All employees contribute 1% of salary to a 401(h) health savings account. Employees vest in the City match of 1% upon completing five (5) years of service. International City Management Association - Retirement Corporation (ICMA-RC) provides the third party administration of this plan for participating employees.
Deferred Compensation: Employees may voluntarily contribute salary deferred dollars into a City Sponsored 457 Plan. International City Management Association - Empower provides the third party administration of this deferred compensation plan for participating employees.
Flexible Spending Account: Allows employees to set aside pre-tax dollars from their pay checks to pay for child care and/or medical and dental expenses not covered by the City's health care or dental plans. You may also set aside pre-tax dollars to cover certain transit or parking expenses. Keep in mind only transit or parking expenses may be rolled over from year to year.
Virginia College Savings Plan: Two plans to choose from at a reduced application fee, Virginia Prepaid Education Program and the Virginia Education Savings Trust.
Employee Health Services: The City employee health services provides medical care for employees, retirees, and eligible spouses.
Employee Assistance Program (EAP): Support services available to assist employees facing life challenges.
Pay Days: Direct deposit is required for all new employees. Paid bi-weekly, 26 pay periods per year.
Vision Insurance: Paid by the Employee. Includes annual routine eye exam, discounts on eyeglass frames, eyeglass lenses and contact lenses.
CEC 2026 Monthly Rates
Employee: $6.68
Employee/Spouse: $12.69
Employee/Child(ren): $13.36
Family: $19.71
Voluntary Benefits: Critical Illness, Accident Insurance and Hospital Indemnity Insurance