Experience Oxfordshire is the official Destination Management Organisation (DMO) and Local Visitor Economy Partnership (LVEP) for Oxfordshire. It is the trading arm of the parent charity, Experience Oxfordshire Charitable Trust, and is a not-for-profit partnership organisation that is committed to the promotion, management, and development of Oxfordshire as a great destination to live, work, visit and do business. The DMO seeks to improve growth and productivity across Oxfordshire's visitor economy through the provision of essential business advice and support services to our partners.
Experience Oxfordshire was one of the first destinations in England to gain LVEP status from national tourist board, VisitEngland. As an LVEP, Experience Oxfordshire is recognised as a high-performing organisation, supporting collaborative working both locally, through its network of partners and those with interest in the visitor economy, and nationally on shared priorities.
Read our Impact report 2024/25 publication which showcases the impact and reach of the work that Experience Oxfordshire undertakes.
The Visitor Economy is vitally important to Oxfordshire. Each year we welcome nearly thirty million visitors a year to the County who spent £2.3 billion in the local economy and that supports 10% of all jobs across Oxfordshire.
The organisation is funded in part by its Partners who come from all sectors of the Oxfordshire economy including hotels, retail, events, transport, and restaurants and more. We work with our Partners to collectively promote their products and services and grow the visitor economy across Oxfordshire through a variety of B2B and B2C channels. The organisation derives the rest of their income from providing a variety of services such as travel trade, MICE referrals, commissioned services, and consultancy, as well as operating the award-winning Oxford Official Walking Tours.
For more information on Experience Oxfordshire go to;
The Role
This exciting and broad ranging role is ideal for an experienced manager aspiring to play a leading role in the visitor economy sector and manage multi-disciplinary activity across Experience Oxfordshire. We are looking for an ambitious person, aspiring to join a small team with big plans and be part of the organisation's growth and development. The person must be innovative and creative with experience at manager level, which can clearly recognise and respond to opportunities and drive revenue into the business, with excellent attention to detail.
The role will be a hands-on role in terms of management of staff and delivery of work across the visitor economy, partnership and stakeholder network promoting the tourism, cultural, and MICE offer of the County and the product of our partners. The role is responsible for promoting and supporting Experience Oxfordshire run services including marketing, campaigns, partnership, oxford official walking tours, venue finding service, e-commerce services and commissioned services. The role supports the team in managing partnership retention and increasing new partnership sales.
The role will work closely with the Head of Marketing and Partnership Services on generating revenue-based activity against set income targets and develop and execute effective marketing plans.
The ideal candidate will be someone that is looking to help support our partners, taking a proactive approach to lead this with the team and drive revenue growth to assist organisational sustainability.
Main Responsibilities
Management of key members of the marketing and partnership team.
Work with the Head of Marketing and Partnership Services to develop key objectives for the marketing and partnership team that focus on the organisations ambition statement and income targets.
Provide regular and timely reporting to the Head of Marketing and Partnership services and CEO as required.
Work across the team to meet and exceed income targets.
Work across the team to increase partner retention and generate new partner business.
To deliver an integrated marketing strategy across the business to include traditional and digital media for both B2B and B2C audiences with monitoring and evaluation.
Deliver effective marketing campaigns ensuring appropriate reporting available.
Ensure that there is accurate management information is available.
To develop the organisations online platforms and e-commerce channels.
Work with media to ensure high exposure for Oxfordshire in media and familiarisation visit and measure and monitor PR value.
Create and write content for B2B, B2C and media as required, including press releases and blogs.
Ensure effective use of the dynamics365 CRM system.
Managing the delivery the annual partnership events programme.
Attend partnership, MICE and travel trade events as required.
Manage the venues finding service to drive new enquiries, oversee MICE enquiries and respond in a timely manner to aid RFP conversions.
Work with our chosen agency to maximise SEO and PPC budgets as required.
Produce up to date countywide and national insights, research, and statistics.
Be actively involved in the development of new projects and grant applications across the business and regularly review existing systems and processes.
Ensure work delivered by the team is high quality and delivered on time.
Ensure that the activities of the business are safe and that they comply with applicable legislation and regulation.
To perform all duties in line with Equal Opportunities policies in operation.
To undertake any such duties commensurate with the post as may be required by the Head of Marketing and Partnership Services and the CEO.
Communications
Internally: CEO, Head of Marketing and Partnership Services, Oxford Official Walking Tours, and Finance departments.
Externally: Experience Oxfordshire partners, stakeholders, Local Authorities, and national agencies as appropriate.
Further Details
Responsible to: Head of Marketing and Partnership Services
Direct reports: 3 – Marketing and Partnerships Executive, Partnership Assistant, Marketing Assistant.
Location: Office Based Role at Langford Locks, Kidlington, Oxfordshire OX5 1HZ
Salary: DOE
Hours: Full Time – 38.5 hours per week
Company Benefits; Generous holiday allowance of 25 days annual leave (inclusive of Christmas office closure) plus bank holidays, statutory employee pension scheme, access to company 'Perks for Partners' discounts across Oxfordshire providing significant savings, regular team social events, free parking on-site, funded eye examinations and VDU/Computer Glasses contribution.
Office Hours: Monday – Thursday 8.30am – 5pm and Friday 8.30am – 3.30pm
For further information and to apply for the role please contact Strong Recruitment at or call
Applications will require your CV and covering letter outlining why you are interested and why you think you would be suitable for the role. Please note applications without a covering letter will not be considered.
Person Specification
Factors: Essential or Desirable
Education/Qualifications
Educated to at least degree level or relevant professional or management qualification. – Essential
Related professional qualification/membership of professional body (commercial, sales, marketing, tourism, or business) or equivalent experience. – Desirable
Experience
At least 5 years' experience managing individuals/teams. – Essential
Experience of providing multi-disciplinary team leadership and translating corporate direction and messages successfully to a diverse range of services. – Essential
Experience of income generation across marketing and membership services. – Essential
Experience in fundraising and successful grant applications. – Desirable
Experience of stakeholder management and development including the tourism, hospitality, retail, and cultural sectors. – Essential
Experience of delivery MICE and/or travel trade activity. – Desirable
Skills/Knowledge
Strong knowledge of working in or with a DMO/LVEP with a business development or sales bias. – Essential
Knowledge of working in the MICE sector. – Desirable
Well developed interpersonal sensitivity and skills in managing people and the ability to apply these to collaborating effectively with external stakeholders. – Essential
High personal expectations and tenacity and the ability to take tasks from conception to completion. – Essential
Excellent communication and presentation skills. – Essential
Knowledge of B2B and B2C social media and how to maximise impact. – Essential
Advanced influencing and engagement skills. – Essential
Project management skills including multi-stakeholder projects. – Essential
Excellent oral and written communication skills. – Essential
Knowledge of Local Visitor Economy Partnerships and Destination Management Organisations and awareness of the key issues facing organisations in these sectors. – Desirable
Experience of using AI tools to aid business improvement and efficiency. – Desirable
Personal Attributes
Able to develop effective working relationships with internal and external stakeholders. – Essential
Commercially astute with a flair for developing services and matching them to markets. – Essential
Personal organisation and prioritising skills. – Essential
Diligence and effective financial management. – Essential
Experienced team player. – Essential
Works well under pressure and to deadlines. – Essential
Ability to be resourceful and flexible in response to challenges. – Essential
Personal Circumstances
Flexibility and a willingness to work at evenings and weekends when necessary. – Essential
Must have driving licence and be able to access a vehicle for business use for which HMRC mileage rates will be paid. – Essential