Senior Director, Group Strategy & Project Management

Description

WHO WE ARE

The mission of the Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board (Los Angeles Tourism) is to improve the quality of life for all Angelenos through the economic and community benefits of tourism. Representing over 1,000 local tourism-related businesses, Los Angeles Tourism is a non-profit organization responsible for promoting the City of Angels as one of the world’s premier travel destinations through its global brand marketing and sales efforts. Tourism is a cornerstone of Los Angeles County’s economy, ranking among its top five employers. The city welcomed an astonishing 50 million visitors fueling over 543,000 tourism-related jobs and driving more than $45 billion in business sales in 2024. Los Angeles Tourism proudly leads initiatives that celebrate and sustain this vibrant industry, including the renowned Dine LA program designed to showcase LA’s world-class culinary scene while supporting local restaurants and hospitality professionals. Dine LA has become one of the largest restaurant weeks in the nation—featuring nearly 450 restaurants across 88 neighborhoods and 33 global cuisines. As of June 2025, LA County is home to more than 180 Michelin-recognized restaurants, with 32 participating in Dine LA Restaurant Week. As one of the world’s premier sports capitals, Los Angeles is excited to host eight FIFA World Cup 26 matches – including the U.S. Men’s National Team opening match – and welcome back the Super Bowl for the ninth time. With headquarters in Los Angeles and offices spanning London, Mumbai, Chengdu, Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou, and Sydney, Los Angeles Tourism operates on a truly global stage, sharing the city’s dynamic spirit with the world.

THE OPPORTUNITY

The Senior Director, Group Strategy and Project Management will lead strategic efforts to optimize group business across Los Angeles, with a focus on aligning citywide convention sales, Los Angeles Convention Center (LACC) utilization, and hotel group sales. This role serves as a bridge between current destination needs and future opportunities, ensuring seamless coordination across internal teams, hospitality partners, and civic stakeholders. The ideal candidate brings deep expertise in group optimization, hotel revenue strategy, and cross-functional project leadership within the meetings and conventions ecosystem. This is a remote position; however, candidates must be based in the Los Angeles area.

What You Will Do

• Group Optimization & Strategic Alignment (40%)
• Develop and lead strategies that align citywide convention sales with LACC availability and hotel room block optimization.
• Analyze booking pace, compression models, and demand forecasts to identify opportunities for improved performance and economic impact.
• Collaborate with Convention Center leadership and hotel topline teams to synchronize booking windows, LACC space optimization strategies, and availability.
• Project & Portfolio Management (25%)
• Lead coordination and execution planning for definite citywide events impacted by the LACC expansion and modernization project.
• Serve as the central point of collaboration between clients, the LACC, and construction project managers to ensure continuity, transparency, and successful event delivery.
• Oversee strategic initiatives that support group sales performance, convention servicing, and destination readiness.
• Implement project management frameworks to ensure timely execution, stakeholder alignment, and measurable outcomes.
• Opportunity Development & Vertical Strategy (15%)
• Identify and cultivate group business opportunities across existing and emerging verticals.
• Partner with Destination Sales Directors (DSDs) to develop tailored prospecting strategies for each region.
• Support strategic targeting efforts to drive qualified leads and long-term group business growth.
• Stakeholder Engagement & Coordination (10%)
• Serve as a strategic liaison between Los Angeles Tourism, the LACC, hotel leadership, and civic partners.
• Facilitate cross-sector collaboration to support shared goals around booking pace, strategic planning, and destination optimization.
• Lead working groups and strategy sessions focused on group optimization and convention coordination.
• Collaborative Leadership (5%)
• Foster strong alignment and collaboration between Citywide Sales, the LACC, and Hotel Sales teams.
• Influence and support cross-functional teams without direct reporting lines, ensuring strategic priorities are understood and executed consistently.
• Act as a connector and facilitator, driving consensus and shared accountability across departments and external partners.
• Perform other duties as assigned (5%)
  
  

What You’ll Need To Succeed

• 10+ years of experience in hotel group sales, convention strategy, or hospitality project management.
• Must be willing to partake in a comprehensive background check, including a drug test, in accordance with applicable laws.
• Proven success in optimizing group business performance.
• Deep understanding of citywide convention dynamics and hotel compression strategies.
• Strong analytical skills with experience in data modeling and performance reporting.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building abilities across internal and external stakeholders.
• Experience working with large-scale conventions and urban hotel markets.
• Ability to translate complex data into actionable strategy.
• Strategic thinker with a hands-on approach to execution and stakeholder management.
• Must be proficient in MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
• Excellent verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Dependable, great attitude, highly motivated and a team player.
• Possess strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to multi-task and meet multiple deadlines.
• Ability to communicate effectively across various departments.
• Ability to work in a changing environment.
  
  

NICE TO HAVES

• Bachelor’s Degree preferred.
  
  

Compensation Range

Exact compensation may vary based on skills and experience.

$125,000 - $165,000 annually

Eligible for Sales Incentive Plan

What’s In It For You

At Los Angeles Tourism, we believe your best work happens when you have the tools to stay healthy, enjoy the present moment, save for your future, and look forward to coming into work. That’s why we’re committed to providing a competitive and comprehensive benefits program.

• Hybrid work environment
• Remote Monday and Friday
• DTLA Tuesday through Thursday
• Company paid parking in DTLA
• Early Friday’s – our office closes every Friday at 2:30 pm
• Holiday Office Closure (December 24th – January 1st)
• 15 Paid Company Holidays
• Paid Vacation Time
• Paid Sick Time
• Paid Floating Holidays
• Paid Family Leave
• Comprehensive health insurance (both PPO and HMO plans available)
• Dental and vision plans (100% employer paid for some elections)
• Pet insurance
• Employer-paid life insurance, AD&D, short-term disability, and long-term disability, Aflac
• Employee Assistance Program
• Flexible Spending Account (Healthcare & Dependent Care)
• 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan with up to 6% match that vests immediately
• 401(k) match for qualified student loan payments
• Monthly internet and phone stipend
  
  

Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board reserves the right to modify the benefit plans and employee services at any time, with or without notice.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS – ESSENTIAL PHYSICAL TASKS The physical demands are representative of those that must be met by a team member to successfully perform the essential functions of the job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to stand, walk, move. The employee must occasionally lift, carry, pull, push, transport and/or move up to 40 pounds. Ascends and/or descends stairs. Specific vision abilities required by this job include color vision. Requires prolonged sitting, driving, some bending, some twisting neck and body, some stooping and stretching/reaching (up, down, out), requires grasping, feeling, and detecting, requires eye-hand coordination and manual dexterity sufficient to operate a keyboard, mouse, photocopier, fax machine, telephone, calculator, projector, screen for presentations, and other office equipment on a repetitive basis. Requires normal range of hearing, talking, and eyesight to record, prepare and communicate appropriate reports and information.

• Fly on an airplane and sit for prolonged periods of time.
• Able to get in and out of a vehicle on a regular basis while traveling for work.
• Able to carry, lift, roll luggage or equipment for work-related travel.
• Reliable transportation.
  
  

Mandatory Vaccine Requirement: Los Angeles Tourism continues to prioritize the health and safety of our workforce. Consistent with that commitment, in light of the substantial and growing body of evidence that vaccinations remain the most effective protection against the spread the COVID-19, we require that members of our team be fully vaccinated as a condition of employment. For individuals with medical conditions or sincerely held religious beliefs that prevent vaccination, the Company will consider requests for reasonable accommodation consistent with our policy and applicable law.

EEO & DIVERSITY

Los Angeles Tourism and Convention Board is an equal employment opportunity employer. We pride ourselves on welcoming applicants from all backgrounds regardless of race, color, sex, religion, national origin, ancestry, sexual orientation, age, physical or mental disability, medical condition, pregnancy, gender identity, marital status, military or veteran status or any other basis protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws.

We’re determined to build a workplace based on inclusive behaviors and equitable systems, where all employees can bring their authentic selves, feel engaged, and share their perspectives as a valued member of Los Angeles Tourism.