SPORTS TOURISM BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER

Job Summary

SPORTS TOURISM BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER - ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AGENCY

CITY OF GALLATIN

PURPOSE OF POSITION:

The purpose of this position is to perform technical and professional administrative work to promote the City of Gallatin as a sports tourism destination. This position is primarily responsible for identifying locations and cultivating private business partnerships with a goal of securing a comprehensive indoor/outdoor multi-sport complex, including a sports health component. This position is also responsible for creating the sports tourism business development strategy, securing new business partnerships, managing existing business relationships, and advancing the department’s strategic goals of elevating the economic impact and destination experience in sports event group travel.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

The following duties are normal for this position. These are not to be construed as exclusive or all-inclusive. Other duties may be required and assigned.

1. Develop and maintain effective working relationships with event organizers, facility managers, sports organizations, and key local, regional, and national sports partners.
2. Lead and manage the full sports tourism process from identifying new opportunities and strengthening existing events, to guiding proposals, contracts, and client relationships, ensuring smooth transitions from initial contact through event execution.
3. Build and strengthen relationships with Gallatin’s school systems, youth sports leagues, and the City of Gallatin Parks and Recreation department.
4. Collaborate with local businesses and community partners to create sponsorship and business-to-business (B2B) opportunities through sports and event initiatives.
5. Represent the City of Gallatin in a professional manner at local, regional, and national conferences, trade shows, meetings, and events, including occasional overnight travel.
6. Identify and recruit sporting events and tournaments that have the potential to drive visitor spending and increase economic impact within Gallatin and Sumner County.
7. Support Gallatin’s sports tourism efforts through grant coordination, local organizing committee work, marketing, communications, and other activities that ensure successful events.
8. Utilize data, sales tools, and strategic metrics to attract new events, measure performance, and evaluate return on investment.
9. Maintain in-depth knowledge of Gallatin’s sports venues, event facilities, hotels, and recreational assets, serving as a resource for community groups and stakeholders.
10. Work closely with the Gallatin Tourism and Communications staff to manage sports-related content and editorial planning for Destination Gallatin and other promotional platforms. Provide insight, story ideas, and trends for publication, social media, and promotional material.
11. Collaborate with city leadership to identify new opportunities, partnerships, and strategic initiatives that grow Gallatin’s presence in sports and recreation.
12. Meet or exceed annual goals related to even recruitment, bids, sponsorship development, and long-term sports tourism sustainability.
13. Regular and predictable attendance.
14. Ability to work in a cooperative manner with others.
15. Performs other duties and special projects as assigned.


MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• A Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college/university in Sports/Tourism/Hospitality/Recreation Management, Marketing, or Business Administration; AND
• Three (3) years or more of relevant experience in destination, sporting event, and/or sports asset marketing or business development; OR
• An equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Experience using the Tourism Economics Event Impact Calculator (EIC) and interpreting/communicating EIC data is a bonus.
• Must have a valid driver’s license.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

• Excellent project management and time management skills.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and objectives simultaneously.
• Knowledge of media and public relations policies, practices and procedures.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective and professional working relationships with colleagues, department heads, governmental officials, and external stakeholders.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and discretion regarding business-related files, reports and conversations, within the provision of open records law and other applicable State and Federal Statutes and Regulations.
• Ability to prepare and maintain accurate and concise records and reports.
• Ability to communicate effectively with internal and external stakeholders in both written and verbal form.
• Ability to define problems, analyze alternate courses of action, and realign goals and objectives as necessary.
• Must have ability to work accurately with attention to detail.
• Ability to work the allocated hours of the position including some nights and weekends during special events.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

This is light work requiring the exertion of up to 20 pounds of force occasionally, up to 10 pounds of force frequently and a negligible amount of force constantly to move objects; work requires reaching, standing, fingering, grasping and repetitive motions. Communication is required for expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word; hearing is required to perceive information at normal spoken word levels; visual acuity is required for preparing and analyzing written or computer data, determining the accuracy and thoroughness of work, and observing general surroundings and activities.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

Works in an office setting, in generally comfortable conditions. Travel is required as assigned by the Executive Director, including flying.

The City of Gallatin is a drug-free equal opportunity employer, with policies of non-discrimination on the basis of race, sex, religion, color, national or ethnic origin, age, disability, military service, or political affiliation.

In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the City will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer.

MINIMUM SALARY: $73,266.56