[Hiring] Director of Destination Strategy @Karsh Hagan Madden

Role Description

As our Director of Destination Strategy, you'll play a key role in shaping the strategic direction of our destination partners while helping grow and strengthen our relationships within the tourism industry.

• Serve as a trusted advisor to senior-level clients, developing a deep understanding of their destinations, audiences, business goals, and challenges.
• Translate insights into smart, innovative marketing strategies.
• Lead strategic initiatives for key partners and collaborate closely with cross-functional teams.
• Identify opportunities to expand existing relationships and develop new ones.
• Represent KHM within the tourism community, building meaningful industry relationships.
• Stay closely connected to trends, traveler behaviors, and opportunities shaping destination marketing.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of experience in strategy, destination marketing, brand strategy, account planning, marketing, consulting, or a related field.
• Experience in tourism, destination marketing, travel, hospitality, or a related industry strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated experience leading strategic initiatives and serving as a trusted advisor to senior-level clients.
• Strong understanding of brand strategy, consumer behavior, audience insights, research, and integrated marketing.
• Proven ability to turn research, data, and complex business challenges into clear strategic recommendations.
• Strong presentation, storytelling, writing, facilitation, and relationship-building skills.
• Experience collaborating across disciplines and mentoring or leading strategists and cross-functional teams.
• Strong business acumen with the ability to identify opportunities for client, account, and business growth.
• Curious, collaborative, adaptable, and comfortable working in a fast-moving agency environment.
• Willingness and ability to travel approximately 1-2 weeks per month.
• Bachelor's degree in marketing, advertising, business, psychology, communications, or a related field preferred; equivalent relevant experience will also be considered.

Requirements

• Lead strategic direction for key destination clients, aligning brand, audience, marketing, and business objectives.
• Develop destination and brand strategies informed by consumer insights, traveler behavior, research, market intelligence, and industry trends.
• Serve as a trusted strategic partner to senior-level clients, translating complex challenges into clear, actionable recommendations.
• Lead strategic presentations, workshops, stakeholder conversations, creative briefs, proposals, and new business pitches.
• Build and strengthen long-term client relationships while identifying opportunities for renewals, account growth, and new partnerships.
• Collaborate with Account, Creative, Media, Data & Insights, and other agency teams to bring integrated strategies to life.
• Guide and mentor strategists and cross-functional teams, helping strengthen strategic thinking and the quality of work across the agency.
• Represent KHM at tourism industry events, conferences, client meetings, and business development opportunities.
• Travel approximately 1-2 weeks per month to meet with partners, attend industry events, and support business development.

Benefits

• Competitive compensation.
• Medical, dental, vision, and additional benefits to support you and your family.
• 401(k) with Traditional and Roth options, plus a company match.
• Flexible PTO and paid holidays.
• The tools and technology you need to do your best work.