Indigenous Tourism Development Specialist

**About Us**:
Foundational to our organization, Explore Edmonton prioritizes relationships and work together. We are Edmonton's Destination Management and Marketing Organization (DMMO). We also manager two of Edmonton's award-winning venues, the Edmonton Convention Centre, and the Edmonton EXPO Centre. We help tell Edmonton's story, elevate the Edmonton experience, and drive inbound visitation and economic impact in the visitor economy. Explore Edmonton's business units' market and sell Edmonton as a year-round destination to visit, work and play in, while also developing products and experiences that are uniquely Edmonton.

By incorporating the management of the city’s two award-winning venues into Explore Edmonton, we are uniquely positioned to attract major events, meetings, and conventions to our city, generating greater economic impact. This global stage enables our staff to create connections with visitors while also fostering a deeper understanding of the land and cultures in the region. We recognize that Edmonton’s boundaries go beyond the municipal city limits, and we aim to engage with those in the larger Edmonton metro area. While Explore Edmonton’s mandate is focused on generating inbound visitation, what we do and how we do it also enhances and amplifies the quality of life for Edmontonians; the people who live here are our greatest ambassadors.

**About the Position**:
The Destination Development & Marketing Group is focused on driving sustainable year-round visitation through programs and initiatives that positively impact Edmonton’s image and awareness in regional and international markets. More specifically on the destination development side, we help develop and showcase the amazing tourism experiences Edmonton has to offer visitors. Indigenous insight, culture, and knowledge are deeply important to the experiences that we have the opportunity to showcase.

The Destination Development team is looking for an Indigenous Tourism Development Specialist with a high degree of cultural knowledge, awareness, and sensitivity in working with Indigenous communities and cultures in Alberta.
- Building and strengthening relationships and partnerships with Indigenous communities and businesses in the region
- Supporting the creation and development of Indigenous experiences which authentically reflect the ongoing contributions of our Indigenous peoples, culture, and history, and showcase Edmonton’s Indigenous history and heritage
- Coaching Indigenous experience providers through the experience development and pilot process
- Working collaboratively with Indigenous Tourism Alberta (ITA) to support initiatives for the growth and promotion of Indigenous Tourism in the Edmonton region
- Connecting Indigenous communities and Indigenous tourism businesses to programs and resources that support the growth and development of their businesses and tourism in the region
- Maintaining current information in database software
- 2+ years of experience in engaging and working with Indigenous communities/businesses
- Experience leading projects with skills in planning, organizing, and managing resources
- Post-secondary diploma or degree in tourism, humanities, marketing, or business preferred
- Thorough understanding of Edmonton’s tourism industry an asset
- Ability to communicate and engage with mutual respect, reciprocity, relevance, and responsibility
- Ability to create and maintain relationships with Indigenous communities and entrepreneurs
- Strong skills in managing and prioritizing project deadlines, organization and taking initiative
- Familiarization with MS Office Suite of Applications (Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Word)
- Frequent travel in the Edmonton region - a valid driver’s license is required
- Potential for travel within Canada

Explore Edmonton encourages, supports, and celebrates a diverse and inclusive work environment. We strive to create a workplace that reflects the city we promote and where our employees feel safe and supported every day.