Marketing Manager for Meetings and Conventions

Marketing Manager, Meetings and Conventions

Reports to: Marketing Director, Meetings and Conventions

Status: Full Time (40+ hours)

FSLA: Exempt

Location: Columbus (hybrid work from home and Short North Office)

Travel: Local event sites and venues within a 30 miles radius, regional and national travel as needed

Experience Columbus Overview

Experience Columbus is the destination marketing organization for the city of Columbus, which is the 15th largest city in the United States and one of the fastest growing cities in the Midwest. Our team is comprised of passionate, smart staff members who are proud to amplify the Columbus community and the amazing people, developments and businesses in our city. Just like the community we serve, Experience Columbus team members are open-minded, hard-working, and welcoming. Beyond our forward-thinking professional development and flexible policies, we’re proud to be a progressive, vibrant, and uplifting workplace.

Every day, the team strives to live out each of the organization’s core values: Value the Voices, Take It On, Live Your Passion, Create Moments, and Think Forward. We incorporate these into daily responsibilities and meetings, and they’re crucial to our organization’s interactions with partners and community members — we honor our past and are always looking to the future.

Job Overview:

The marketing manager implements and manages marketing strategies, channels, and activities in direct support of the convention and group sales, and destination services. This person is responsible for coordinating cross-functional teams, managing timelines, producing content, and ensuring projects are delivered on time to our internal and external clients.

Job Duties and Responsibilities:

Convention Sales Marketing Management

• Successfully manages Sales marketing projects through the pipeline by coordinating timelines, deliverables, approvals and stakeholders, in our project management system, to ensure projects are completed on time.

• Lead, produce, and project manage sales projects as assigned by Marketing Director, including sales newsletters, email campaigns and social content.

• Create, update, edit, and proof print electronic marketing materials to support convention sales' goals, including collateral, presentations, bid books, videos, etc.

• Write and edit copy for email campaigns, social media, and website content, ensuring messaging is on-brand and aligned with marketing and sales goals.

• Research the client/group prior to site visits and develop custom marketing presentations tailored to their needs, working with the Marketing Director and assigned sales team member.

• Support convention sales tradeshow and event planning and execution, including marketing tactics, collateral, and pre- and post-show communications.

• Manage website content updates and edits, working with the Marketing and Web Director to ensure pages remain current, accurate, and optimized.

• Manage marketing-related CRM functions (e.g., Simpleview), including list pulls, email segmentation, and campaign tracking in support of sales outreach.

• Attend trade shows and other client-facing meetings and events as needed, within and outside of business hours.

Services Marketing Management

• Successfully manages Destination Service marketing projects through the pipeline by coordinating timelines, deliverables, approvals and stakeholders, in our project management system, to ensure projects are completed on time.

• Research and present new ideas for attendance building materials, tools and communication methods for adoption for consideration by team.

• Manage group welcome program materials including window clings, micro-sites, group welcome graphics, banners, maps, calendar of events, Attendee Savings Pass, etc.

• Present marketing offerings to clients and execute marketing tactics to support attendance building, and other initiatives as needed.

• Coordinate with event planners or association marketing teams to facilitate collaboration with Experience Columbus’ marketing team in preparation for upcoming conventions or events.

• Attend client-facing meetings and events as needed, within and outside of business hours.

Job Specific Competencies

• Experienced in the following areas (5+ years of experience through education, work experience or a combination of both):

• Integrated marketing communications elements, such as social media and maintaining a brand identity that remains consistent across distinct media channels.

• Assisting with the execution and productivity of marketing plans and projects with metrics.

• Project management, coordinating cross-functional teams, managing timelines, and ensuring projects are delivered on time.

• Experience in digital marketing methods and tools, including social media and general digital communications.

• Experience supporting a sales team, a plus

• Experience working with landing pages or microsites, a plus

• Highly organized, with the ability to handle multiple priorities and demonstrate effective time management skills.

• Exceptionally attentive to the details.

• Flexibility and adaptability as company and departments priorities shift and change.

• Graphic design skills and working knowledge of Canva and Photoshop are a plus.

• Experience in the hospitality, tourism and/or event management is a plus

• Experience working with a Destination Marketing Organization (DMO) or hotel is a plus

Experience Columbus Competencies

• Demonstrates strong written and verbal communications skills. 

• Demonstrates flexibility and openness to new ideas, and different perspectives. 

• Demonstrates the ability to work independently but also can be a collaborative team member. 

• Demonstrates a strong commitment to fostering a culture of innovation and collaboration.

• Demonstrates a strong commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility.   

• Proficient in Microsoft Suite 365, Outlook, PowerPoint and Word, and related software.

• Ability to work flexible hours, including evenings, weekends, and holidays. 

• Familiar with and advocate for the Columbus region.

• Demonstrates a commitment to our company values: Value the Voices, Think Forward, Take it On, Create Moments and Live your Passion.

• The organization requires all employees to obtain and maintain the Experience Columbus Insider (ECI) accreditation. 

Physical Demands

The physical demands and work environment described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

• Viewing computer monitors 

• Frequent talking and/or listening 

• Regular Sitting  

• General “office load,” i.e.. laptop  

The duties of this position may change from time to time. Experience Columbus reserves the right to add or delete duties and responsibilities at the discretion of Experience Columbus or its managers. This job description is intended to describe the general level of work being performed. It is not intended to be all-inclusive.  

Equal Opportunity Employer:

Experience Columbus and the Greater Columbus Sports Commission provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment. We embrace diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.

Qualified applicants will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

Experience Columbus is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with physical and mental disabilities. If you are a qualified individual with a disability, or a disabled veteran, you have the right to request a reasonable accommodation if you are unable or limited in your ability to use or access the Experience Columbus Careers website because of your disability. We will make a determination on your request for reasonable accommodations on a case-by-case basis. If you need accommodation or assistance in using the Experience Columbus Careers website, please call 614-221-6623.