ABOUT DISCOVER NEWPORT

As the region's official destination marketing organization (DMO), Discover Newport is committed to the promotion of Newport and its eight adjacent coastal municipalities across Newport and Bristol Counties, Rhode Island. Our reach encompasses Barrington, Bristol, Jamestown, Little Compton, Middletown, Newport, Portsmouth, Tiverton, and Warren. By partnering with hospitality stakeholders, Discover Newport positions the region as a world-class choice for both professional and recreational travel. In 2025, tourism activity drove $339.7 million in lodging revenue, $163.1 million in dining expenditures, and $52.3 million in retail commerce.

For more information visit https:

//www.discovernewport.org/.

POSITION SUMMARY

Discover Newport is seeking a strategic Chief Community Engagement Officer. Reporting to the President & CEO, this pivotal role will serve as Discover Newport's primary liaison to elected officials, a champion for sustainable and accessible travel, and a partner to the community. This position will ensure that regional tourism growth directly aligns with the cultural heritage, environmental sustainability, and quality of life of residents.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Community Engagement Champion the DMO's community engagement strategy, ensuring community sentiment actively shapes destination marketing initiatives. Establish, monitor, and report on benchmark key performance indicators (KPIs) to track community perception, transforming data into actionable insights for the team. Government Affairs Serve as the primary DMO representative and point of contact to local, regional, and state elected officials. Represent the organization at public hearings, city council meetings, and neighborhood associations to address community interests and mitigate conflicts. Specialty Initiatives Lead niche programming (ie. Tourism Cares, Wheel The World, etc.) Strategic Philanthropy and Cooperative Marketing Manage the lifecycle of Discover Newport's Sponsorship Program, including application cycle, promotional partnerships, contracting, and post-event ROI reporting. Drive the vision and execution of the Cooperative Marketing Program to maximize shared value for hospitality partners. Industry Education Establish, curate, and host ongoing industry education programs and hospitality conferences. Monitor broader travel industry trends to bring cutting-edge insights and educational curriculum to the local community.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

10+ years in community relations, public relations, public policy, or municipal communication, ideally within a DMO or public agency. Bachelor's degree in communications, Public Relations, Marketing, or a related field. Strong track record of regular, ongoing engagement with community stakeholders and measurable results from those interactions. Demonstrated experience interpreting data, sentiment polling, and economic impact reports to drive strategic planning. Tourism, destination marketing, or hospitality experience are highly preferred. Experience leading the coordination of educational events and programs. Advanced working knowledge of core Office 365 applications, Adobe Creative Suite, Google Suite, and Customer Relations Management platforms.

ADDITIONAL ELIGIBILITY QUALIFICATIONS

Must possess a valid driver's license.

KEY SKILLS & ATTRIBUTES

Deep appreciation for Newport and Bristol Counties. Strong interpersonal skills, with an ability to effectively represent organizational interests in local, regional, and state settings. Foresight to monitor broader travel trends and policy shifts to keep the local tourism ecosystem educated and proactive. A commitment to destination stewardship, ensuring destination marketing actively serves and respects the local resident community.

WORK ENVIRONMENT & EXPECTATIONS

Supervisory Responsibilities:

This position has no supervisory responsibility.

Work Environment:

This job operates in a professional office environment.

Physical Demands:

Standard desk environment. Requires prolonged periods of screen time, sitting, and computer usage.

Position Type and Expected Hours of Work:

This is a full-time position and the employee must work at least 35 hours each week to maintain full-time status. Normal operating hours are Monday-Friday, 9AM- 5PM. In-office presence is required.

Travel:

Occasional evening/weekend commitments and some travel may be required. There may be occasional local day travel. Discover Newport is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. All employment decisions are based on business needs, job requirements, and individual qualifications, without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, genetic information, or any other status protected by federal, state, or local laws.

Benefits:

Dental insurance Flexible spending account Health insurance Life insurance Paid time off Retirement plan Vision insurance

Experience:

Community Relations:

10 years (Preferred)

Work Location:

In person