Tourism NI is responsible for the development of tourism product and experiences across Northern Ireland as well as marketing to visitors within Northern Ireland and from the Republic of Ireland. Tourism is an industry that makes a real difference to the economy and job creation, accounting for 70,000 jobs, 9% of all jobs in Northern Ireland. In 2023 overnight visitors to Northern Ireland spent £1.2 billion, demonstrating tourisms importance to the Northern Ireland economy. Tourism NIs consumer brand Embrace a Giant Spirit has been widely adopted and is playing an important role in creating stand out for Northern Ireland as a destination. The brand encapsulates the spirit of the people, warmth of the welcome and the authenticity of the visitor experience in Northern Ireland. Brand campaigns are encouraging more visitors from key markets to experience a trip to Northern Ireland with particular success in attracting more visitors across the border. In 2023 there was an unprecedented number of visitors from the Republic to Northern Ireland, with over 1.3 million trips accounting for almost one quarter of all trips made in Northern Ireland. Overseas visitor accounted for over one third of all trips in Northern Ireland in 2023, while increasingly more Northern Ireland product is being added to tour operators itineraries from international markets. Tourism NI works closely with Tourism Ireland to win a bigger share of visitors to the island of Ireland. In 2024, Tourism Ireland set the target to grow regional, off-peak overseas tourism revenue by an average 6.5% year on year to 2030. Current investment includes a multi-million-pound refurbishment programme at Titanic Belfast, new hotels in Belfast, DerryLondonderry, and the North Coast and an expanding screen tourism product. Tourism NI is currently part of the bidding process to attract a number of major international events to Northern Ireland over the next five years, while planning is already underway to make the most of the opportunities in 2025 when The Open will return to Royal Portrush. Tourism NI is also closely involved in the tourism elements of the City and Growth Deal Programmes which will be crucial in helping to secure more spend from international visitors to the island. The Belfast Stories attraction, a maritime visitor attraction for Derry, the extension to The Gobbins, the Mourne Gateway Project and the regeneration of Hillsborough will add to our portfolio and complement the better known attractions. With a significant investment by both Tourism NI and the Department for the Economy in supporting the industry through recent challenges, the focus is now firmly on full recovery and a return to growth. BUSINESS SOULTIONS OFFICER GENERAL RESPONSIBILITY This role contributes to the overall strategic direction of Tourism Northern Ireland (Tourism NI). The Business Solutions team leads on Tourism Northern Irelands Travel Trade activity, delivering engaging platforms where Northern Ireland tourism industry can meet with qualified international buyers, with the overall objective being to deliver increased tourism value to the local economy. The Job Holders remit will include supporting Northern Irelands local tourism and hospitality industry to engage with international Travel Trade and increase the value of overseas visitors through the development, implementation, promotion, and management of Tourism NIs work programme. The role will work closely with industry partners, stakeholders and international tour operators to deliver and promote Northern Ireland as an attractive and competitive destination to the Travel Trade Main Duties Working alongside the Business Solutions Manager and the team, the Job Holder will be responsible for the following areas and activities: Travel Trade Develop, package, and promote Northern Ireland as an attractive and competitive destination to the Travel Trade. Develop relationships with Tour Operators based within the Island of Ireland to develop and co-ordinate a tailored support programme to key accounts. Represent, promote, and present Northern Ireland to a wide range of local and international partners and stakeholders through global trade platforms, events, and shows. Recruit appropriate members of the Northern Ireland tourism industry to showcase the Northern Ireland tourism product at national and international trade platforms, events, and sales opportunities. Develop and deliver tactical sales activity with key operators and local trade to increase the number of operators programming the Northern Ireland experience. Working alongside the Corporate Events team, develop and deliver promotional events and platforms to showcase the Northern Ireland tourism product to key buyers. Provide support to Tourism NI and Tourism Irelands Travel Trade Programme through the development and hosting of a programme of familiarisation visits and workshops, to include Northern Ireland industry and (ROI overseas) Tour Operators. Develop an understanding of international travel trade as well as the wider tourism industries. Communicate this knowledge internally and externally through marketing communications to a wide audience with the aim of improving competitiveness for Northern Ireland within the industry. Develop an understanding of the latest sales and marketing trends, providing innovative and creative thinking in the delivery of marketing communications and activities. Recruit Northern Ireland industry promotional offers. Work with key industry partners to develop group and travel trade products that will contribute to the achievement of Tourism NIs business objectives. Stakeholder Engagement Work closely with Tourism Ireland to identify and develop key marketing opportunities for Northern Ireland's product portfolio. Co-ordinate the supply of information, digital assets, and promotional collateral as appropriate to Tourism Ireland and Visit Britain for inclusion within their marketing platforms, ensuring profile for Northern Ireland. Support the Business Solutions Manager to: Undertake competitor and market analysis. Undertake product and business audits in relation to travel trade. Define product/market fit for priority segments and provide specialist advice to Tourism NI and the industry. Provide input to the market planning process, which will involve the identification and communication of new market and development opportunities, including co-operative opportunities for packages and campaigns. Provide information and advice on tourism products to the industry. Co-ordinate with stakeholders for specialist print and website development. Liaise with stakeholders, industry partners, and key client relationship management. People Management Support with managing, motivating and developing the team to ensure that key activities are undertaken professionally in an efficient and effective manner. Support management to ensure that unit activities are managed in line with the unit operating plan and overall Tourism NI corporate strategy, policies, procedures, values, and behaviours. Ensure strategic objectives are communicated and understood. Provide effective Line Management responsibilities within the unit. Ensure that learning and development plans are in place and performance reviews undertaken for direct reports. Financial Management Assist the Business Solutions Manager with the management and maintenance of the budget portfolio, taking account of value for money, and ensuring that resources are used effectively and in accordance with Tourism NIs financial governance, policy, and procedure. Provide feedback to the Business Solutions Manager on economic appraisals and impact studies in relation to the Business Solutions work programme. Ensure that all payments and expenses (if applicable) are made in accordance with financial governance, policy, and procedure. Provide regular budget reports to the Business Solutions Manager and Director of Marketing when required. Ensure that financial administration is undertaken by the Business Solutions Team, including tracking and reporting as part of budget reviews and departmental returns. Additional Duties Ensure that key activities are undertaken professionally in an efficient and effective manner. Accompany groups and meet buyers as and when required. Assist in the management of internal databases and trackers for the Business Solutions Team. Keep the Business Solutions product knowledge updated through product visits, liaising with key tourism stakeholders and maintaining Tourism NI inter-departmental relationships. Provide support on the business tourism programme within the Business Solutions Team as required by the Business Solutions Manager. Assist in the delivery of project work within the Team and across Tourism NI including representation at working groups and meetings. Contribute to the development of the Annual Operating Plan, the achievement of tourism targets, and promote the corporate values and behaviours within the team and across the organisation. Provide cover for management within your Division to include decision making and attending meetings in the absence of others. Attend training as and when required and keep abreast of current developments in your area of work. Provide briefing material and draft correspondence as required by Tourism NIs Executive Leadership Team, the Board, the Minister/Department for the Economy, the NI Assembly, members of the industry, and the general public within specified timeframes and in an appropriate format. Maintain, store and dispose of Unit records in accordance with Tourism NIs policy and using the appropriate record management systems. Any other duties commensurate with the grade as required by Tourism NI management. This Job Description has been written at a time of significant organisational change and it will be subject to review and amendment as the demands of the role and the organisation evolve. Therefore, the Job Holder will be required to be flexible, adaptable and aware that they may be asked to perform tasks, duties and responsibilities which are not specifically detailed in the Job Description, but which are commensurate with the role. PERSON SPECIFICATION ESSENTIAL CRITERIA EDUCATION/QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE Option 1 A relevant sixth-level qualification (undergraduate degree) as detailed in the qualification framework overleaf. AND A minimum of 2 years recent and relevant experience in Business to Business (B2B) and/or Business to Consumer (B2C), ideally within the tourism industry. OR Option 2 A minimum of 4 years business development experience with recent and relevant experience in Business to Business (B2B) and/or Business to Consumer (B2C), ideally within the tourism industry. Essential Criteria Personal Effectiveness: The post holder will possess a strong standard of: Project and budget management skills including the ability to plan and organise and manage tasks and people to ensure that tight deadlines and customer expectations are met using proven key account management, commercial and business development skills. Excellent negotiation, influencing, interpersonal and communication skills (both oral and written) managing the needs and expectations of a range of stakeholders and partners A proven ability to interpret and deliver marketing strategies and plans to improve business performance. Excellent presentation skills (preparation and delivery) across a range of formats, with demonstrable experience of consumer promotions and presentations. IT and computer literacy skills including practical skills in the used of them. Ability to work on own initiative and take the lead where necessary within a team environment. Desirable Criteria Knowledge of Northern Ireland as a tourism destination Ability to speak 1 or more European languages such as French/Spanish/German/Italian ADDITIONAL INFORMATION This is not an exhaustive list of duties and requirements. The nature of the organisation is such that it must respond to the dynamic environment in which it operates and the nature of duties, tasks, knowledge and skills required for this post will evolve and change in time. The Job Holder is expected to adapt to these changes and develop the role as a result. Applicants must also possess a current driving licence and use of a car for business purposes or have access to a form of transport which will permit the applicant to meet the requirements of the post in full. EQUALITY STATMENT Tourism NI is committed to equality and will comply with the Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act (1998) statutory duties which requires designated public authorities to have due regard to the need to promote equality of opportunity in relation to the nine equality categories and to have regard to the desirability of promoting good relations between persons of different religious belief; political opinion; and racial group. Dsability Discrimination Act (1995) Section 49A requires designated public authorities to have due regard to the need to promote positive attitudes towards disabled persons, and to the need to encourage participation by disabled persons in public life. FOR FULL APPLICATION PACK PLEASE VISIT GETGOT JOBS COMPLETING APPLICATIONS Those wishing to apply should submit an completed application via GetGot no later than Monday 3rd February 2025 date at 12 noon. CVs will not be accepted as a substitute/supplement to the application form. TOURISM NI IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES EMPLOYER