Director of Sales Lawrence, KS Position Title: Director of Sales Company: eXplore Lawrence Location: Lawrence, KS Functional Area: Group, Sports, and Event Sales Reports to: Exec. Director Employment type: Full-time Education Required: Bachelor's degree in business, marketing, hospitality, tourism, or related field, or equivalent professional experience. Experience Required: Minimum of 5 years of progressive experience in destination sales, hospitality, or a related industry. Experience managing incentive funds, cooperative sales programs, or bid funds with a clear understanding of ROI analysis is preferred. Salary Range: $61,000 - $69,000 / yr Position Description The Director of Sales is responsible for leading the strategic sales initiatives of eXplore Lawrence to attract meetings, sports, conventions, and group business to Lawrence. This position develops and executes comprehensive sales plans, deploys incentive strategies including the Bid Fund, and forges strong client and partner relationships to maximize overnight stays and economic impact. Reporting to the Executive Director, the Director of Sales ensures Lawrence is positioned competitively in the marketplace and delivers measurable results aligned with the organization's mission and community priorities. The Director of Sales also directly supervises the Sales and Service Manager, ensuring seamless client experiences and effective service coordination while fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, and innovation within the sales function. Essential Duties and Responsibilities · Develop and execute an annual sales plan with measurable goals, priorities, and performance metrics. · Lead proactive prospecting, lead generation, and relationship-building efforts across key markets (meetings, sports, conventions, travel trade). · Design and oversee the Bid Fund deployment strategy to ensure the effective and strategic use of incentive funds that yield the highest return on investment. · Build and maintain strong relationships with meeting planners, sports rights holders, event organizers, and industry professionals. · Directly manage the end-to-end sales process, from lead acquisition through proposal development, contract negotiation, and post-event evaluation. · Oversee the work of the Sales and Service Manager to ensure high-quality client support, efficient services delivery, and accurate event reporting. · Collaborate with local partners, including hotels, venues, attractions, and the University of Kansas, to package and promote Lawrence as a premier destination. · Maintain accurate and comprehensive CRM records to track leads, opportunities, event impact, and incentive fund usage. · Work closely with the marketing and community relations teams to align promotional efforts with sales strategies and develop compelling bid materials and collateral. · Represent eXplore Lawrence at tradeshows, marketplaces, conferences, and networking events to promote Lawrence to key audiences. · Analyze market trends, competitive destinations, and performance data to inform strategy and provide regular reports to leadership, the board, and stakeholders. · Collaborate with the Executive Director and leadership team on major organizational initiatives and citywide projects. Required Qualifications · Bachelor's degree in business, marketing, hospitality, tourism, or related field, or equivalent professional experience. · Minimum of 5 years of progressive experience in destination sales, hospitality, or a related industry. · Demonstrated success in developing and implementing sales strategies that produce measurable results. · Experience managing incentive funds, cooperative sales programs, or bid funds with a clear understanding of ROI analysis. · Strong relationship-building and negotiation skills with proven ability to close business. · Excellent written, verbal, and presentation skills. · Proficiency with CRM systems, Microsoft Office Suite, and virtual meeting platforms. · Ability to travel, work irregular hours as needed, and represent eXplore Lawrence at events and tradeshows. · Knowledge of the meetings, sports, and group travel industries and their economic impact on local communities. Supervisory Responsibility The Director of Sales directly supervises the Sales and Service Manager, ensuring that services align with sales initiatives and client expectations. Responsibilities include: · Coaching, mentoring, and supporting the Sales and Service Manager in professional development. · Establish clear performance expectations and conduct regular evaluations. · Ensuring services and logistics provided for groups and events enhance the visitor experience and contribute to repeat business. · Overseeing the accuracy and quality of event data collection and reporting. WORK ENVIRONMENT This is a full-time position, and typical hours of operation are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. A flex schedule and remote work options are available. The job operates in a professional, open-office environment in Downtown Lawrence. OTHER DUTIES Please note that this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities required of the employee for this job. eXplore Lawrence is an equal-opportunity employer with an organizational commitment to the principles of diversity and inclusion. In that spirit, we welcome all qualified individuals regardless of race, religion, color, sex, ancestry, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability, national origin, medical condition, U.S. veteran/military status, pregnancy, or reasonable accommodation. eXplore Lawrence offers an exciting opportunity for qualified, career-motivated professionals and provides competitive compensation and the chance to work with talented people in a successful and pleasant environment. Please send a cover letter and resume to Kim Anspach Applications will be accepted through 9/5/25 Job Type: Full-time Pay: $61, $69,000.00 per year Benefits: 401(k) 401(k) matching Dental insurance Flexible schedule Health insurance Life insurance Paid time off Work Location: In person