Convention & Visitors Bureau Director – City of Joplin, MO

Job Description

Historic routes, vibrant culture, and new opportunities converge in Joplin, Missouri (pop. 54,000). The City seeks a dynamic, collaborative Convention & Visitors Bureau Director to lead Visit Joplin, capitalize on the visibility of the Route 66 Centennial, and translate the community’s tourism assets into lasting economic impact. This opportunity calls for a creative destination marketer, engaging community ambassador, and skilled public-sector leader.

The Opportunity

As a member of the City’s senior management team, the Director leads the Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB), publicly branded as Visit Joplin. The Director oversees destination marketing, tourism development, visitor services, departmental operations, and destination sales, while advising City leadership and the CVB Advisory Board on tourism priorities and resources.

The next Director will build on established partnerships to attract overnight visitors, meetings, group travel, sporting events, and repeat visitation. Priorities include sustaining Route 66 Centennial momentum, expanding sports and outdoor recreation tourism, elevating downtown arts and culture, and strengthening regional collaboration across southwest Missouri, southeast Kansas, and northeast Oklahoma.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and execute destination marketing, promotional, and tourism-development strategies that increase visitation, room demand, and economic impact.
• Lead, coach, and support CVB employees; set priorities, strengthen coordination, and foster an accountable, service-oriented team.
• Prepare and manage the departmental budget, oversee expenditures and procedures, and ensure compliance with applicable City requirements.
• Build partnerships with hotels, attractions, businesses, cultural institutions, event organizers, tour operators, and neighboring destinations.
• Advance sports tourism, meetings, group travel, festivals, and outdoor recreation opportunities, including MOmentum Bike Park and future athletic facilities.
• Use visitor trends, marketing performance, stakeholder feedback, and return-on-investment measures to evaluate programs and improve results.

The Ideal Candidate

Joplin seeks a personable, energetic leader who combines strategic thinking with practical execution and can achieve results with a lean team. The successful candidate will bring creativity in destination storytelling, strong public presentation skills, financial judgment, and the ability to earn trust across diverse public and private partners. Experience in destination marketing, hospitality, tourism, economic development, arts or nonprofit leadership, and event management is valued. Familiarity with Route 66 and the tri-state region is an asset, as is an understanding of business, leisure, group, and international travelers.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in business administration, marketing, hotel/restaurant management, or a related discipline; relevant master’s degree preferred.
• Five years of full-time hospitality-industry experience, including supervisory and/or managerial experience.
• Demonstrated skills in destination promotion, presentations, partnerships, marketing, personnel leadership, budgeting, and program management.

License and Other Requirements

Valid state-issued driver’s license required; CDME or CTIS certification preferred. The position requires travel, including overnight travel; residency within 12 miles of Joplin City Hall; and successful completion of a background check, physical examination, and drug test.

About Visit Joplin and the Community

Visit Joplin has four employees, including the Director, and a proposed FY 2027 budget of approximately $1.8 million, funded by a 4% lodging tax rather than City General Revenue. Joplin’s hotel tax base includes 22 properties and approximately 1,840 available rooms daily. In 2025, international visitors represented 130 countries and generated approximately $5.75 million in reported purchases.

Located where Interstates 44 and 49 meet historic Route 66, Joplin is a regional center for commerce, healthcare, education, culture, and recreation. The Sunshine Lamp District, Cornell Complex, Spiva Center for the Arts, museums, trails, and growing sports-tourism investments give the Director compelling experiences to promote. Planned Prospect Village athletic facilities offer further opportunities to draw tournaments and visitors.

Compensation and Benefits

The salary range is $83,755 to $127,443 annually, depending on qualifications and experience. The City offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes medical, dental, vision, and life insurance; a defined-benefit retirement program through LAGERS; voluntary deferred compensation plans; paid vacation and sick leave; holidays and floating holidays; paid parental leave; educational assistance; wellness-related programs; and other benefits subject to City plan terms.

Application Process

The position will remain open until filled; however, first review of applications will occur on December 11, 2026. Interested candidates should submit a résumé and cover letter through www.GovHRjobs.com. For additional information, contact Yolanda Howze, Director of Executive Recruitment, MGT, at 224-245-5630.

For more information about Joplin and the destination, visit www.joplinmo.org and www.VisitJoplinMO.com.

All applicants and employees have equal opportunity in the application and employment process, including promotion, demotion, transfer, dismissal, performance measurement and pay increases without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender, gender identity, pregnancy, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or status as a special disabled veteran.

All employment by the City of Joplin will be on the basis of qualifications for vacant jobs, including education and experience as well as other job-related factors.