The Tempe Tourism Office, a 501(c) 6 organization, is seeking candidates for the position of Chief Operating Officer. The organization’s mission is to promote the City of Tempe, AZ as a desirable meeting and leisure destination. Currently, there are 12 staff members and 19 board members. The organization is funded primarily through City and County hotel tax revenue providing an annual budget of $4.1M. The Tempe Tourism Office is committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace. Our organization is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, protected veteran status, disability, age, or other legally protected status.

To apply:        Submit resume to Michael Martin, President & CEO – michael@tempetourism.com Deadline:   Friday, August 14, 2026

Job Title:         Chief Operating Officer (COO) Reports to:       President & CEO

Supervises:     Director of Sales, Director of Communications, Director of Marketing FLSA Status:      Exempt

Position Overview

The Chief Operating Officer reports directly to the President & CEO and serves as the senior operational leader responsible for translating strategic vision into operational excellence. With direct oversight of the Sales, Marketing, and Communications departments, the COO drives performance accountability, fosters cross-functional collaboration, and ensures day-to-day organizational effectiveness.

The COO supervises three department directors, manages operational budgets totaling approximately $2.4M, and serves as a key member of the executive leadership team. This role requires a leader who can build high-performing teams, drive results through partnership and transparent communication, and thrive in a dynamic environment that values both individual excellence and collective achievement.

Job Responsibilities

Successful job applicants will be able to perform the following functions with minimal supervision:

Executive Leadership & Team Management

• Directly supervise the Directors of Group Sales, Marketing, and Communications
• Conduct regular one-on-one performance meetings and provide ongoing coaching
• Lead departmental director meetings to ensure alignment and collaboration
• Make hiring, compensation, and performance management decisions for direct reports in consultation with President & CEO
• Foster a collaborative culture and resolve cross-functional issues
• Conduct annual performance reviews and establish professional development plans
• Serve on executive leadership team and contribute to organizational strategy

Strategic Planning & Execution

• Translate the organizational strategic plan into operational plans with clear milestones and deliverables
• Lead quarterly strategic planning reviews with department directors
• Ensure departmental activities align with organizational priorities and mission
• Identify barriers to execution and implement solutions
• Coordinate cross-departmental initiatives and special projects
• Report quarterly to President & CEO and Board on operational performance and strategic progress

Group and Sports Sales Operations

• Direct the Group and Sports Sales team in developing and executing strategies to drive hotel bookings, venue revenue, and sports tourism
• Develop quarterly SMART goals and measure results to determine sales incentive results
• Set annual sales targets aligned with organizational revenue goals and market opportunities
• Monitor sales pipeline, conversion rates, and booking performance through regular KPI review
• Oversee development of strategic programs for new sports events and protection of legacy event properties
• Ensure sales team has tools, data, and market intelligence needed to compete effectively
• Partner with our industry stakeholders (hotels, venues, attractions) to optimize group business opportunities

Marketing Strategy & Performance

• Support marketing strategy development ensuring campaigns deliver measurable results and support sales objectives
• Develop annual SMART goals and measure results to determine incentive results
• Allocate marketing resources and assign budgets for campaigns, production, promotional items, and vendor contracts
• Assist in development of the strategic direction for advertising campaigns across all channels (digital, print, social, broadcast)
• Monitor and evaluate marketing performance metrics including reach, engagement and conversion
• Work with marketing team to evaluate the effectiveness of third-party media buying and creative agency relationships
• Ensure brand consistency and messaging alignment across all organizational touchpoints

Communications

• Support the Communications team in developing an integrated content strategy across all owned social media channels
• Develop quarterly SMART goals and measure results to determine incentive results
• Assist the communications team in the development of a social media strategy, social influencer partnerships, and community engagement
• Assist the communications team in the development of a media relations strategy to generate earned media coverage and manage press inquiries
• Ensure the Communications team have the tools needed to manage the development and maintenance of visual asset library (photography, video, b-roll)

Integrated Marketing Communications

• Ensure tight alignment between sales priorities, marketing campaigns, and communications messaging
• Lead cross-functional planning for major initiatives, campaigns, and product launches
• Drive collaboration between departments to maximize impact
• Establish processes for efficient workflow and approval across Sales, Marketing, and Communications

Financial Management & Budget

• Develop and manage departmental operating budgets for Sales, Marketing, and Communications
• Approve the departmental expenditures within established authority limits
• Monitor monthly financial performance and conduct variance analysis with department directors
• Partner with Finance and Operations Manager on budget preparation, reporting, and audit support

Performance Management & Analytics

• Establish and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) for all supervised departments
• Conduct monthly business reviews analyzing performance against targets
• Transform tourism data into actionable insights for stakeholders and industry partners
• Partner with Finance & Operations Manager to review CoStar (STR) weekly and monthly data captures

Community Engagement

• Assist President & CEO with key stakeholder meetings
• Attend conferences and industry events that provide guidance for operational direction

Qualifications

Required Experience & Skills

• 7+ years progressive leadership experience
• 3+ years directly managing department directors or senior managers with demonstrated success in team development
• Proven track record managing P&L and operational budgets of $500K+
• Strong financial acumen including budget development, forecasting, variance analysis, and ROI evaluation
• Experience with data analytics, performance metrics, and dashboard reporting
• Demonstrated success in sales strategy, marketing operations, or integrated communications
• Excellent interpersonal communication (written and verbal), and presentation skills
• Proficiency with CRM systems, marketing automation platforms, and analytics tools

Preferred Background

• Cross-functional leadership experience managing sales, marketing, and communications teams in a coordinated manner
• Mission-driven organization experience such as nonprofits, economic development organizations, destination marketing organizations (DMOs), or public-private partnerships where resourcefulness and stakeholder collaboration are essential
• Performance management expertise including establishing KPIs, dashboard reporting, and data-driven decision making across multiple departments
• Understanding of relationship-driven business models (such as hospitality, tourism, membership organizations, or B2B sales) where success depends on building authentic partnerships
• Familiarity with Arizona market or willingness to immerse quickly in Tempe's tourism ecosystem and competitive landscape

Leadership Competencies

• Strategic thinking with focus on action and results
• People development and performance management
• Cross-functional collaboration and influence
• Data-driven decision making
• Change management and adaptability
• Relationship management with internal and external stakeholders

What Success Looks Like

First 90 Days

• Build authentic relationships with three direct reports and broader team
• Complete listening tour to understand current state and organizational culture
• Identify 2-3 operational improvements that can be implemented quickly
• Established transparent communication rhythms with President & CEO and team

First Year

• Achieve measurable performance improvements in sales, marketing, and communications KPIs
• Create a genuinely collaborative environment where departments work as a team
• Strengthening the team capabilities through meaningful professional development
• Contribute to strategic planning with both analytical rigor and creative thinking
• Demonstrate embodiment of organizational core values

Work Environment

This position operates in a professional office environment that values equity, diversity, and inclusion. The staff members routinely use equipment such as computers, phones, printers, and photocopiers. The candidate must be flexible with fluid work situations, including working remotely and attending after-hour events, as necessary. Working on weekends and during evenings is required on an as-needed basis. Out-of-town travel may be required. Use of a personal vehicle for business is required.

Physical Demands

This is largely a sedentary role. However, some lifting or moving boxes (up to 20 pounds) and bending or standing on a stool might be required.

About Tempe Tourism Office

The Tempe Tourism Office is committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace. Our organization is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate based on race, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, protected veteran status, disability, age, or other legally protected status.

Our mission: Fostering Tempe’s economic growth by inspiring travelers to visit and explore our city.

Our vision: To establish Tempe as a travel destination where every visitor feels inspired and welcomed.