Freelance Destination Consultant
Fee: £22,500
Contract type: 7 month contract (Sept 24 - Mar 25)
Reporting to: Chair of TLG Marketing Sub-Group
Department: Audiences and Media
Additional Information:Download Procurement Brief
We are looking for an experienced tourism consultant with a demonstrable track record of growing the visitor economy and building a destination from the ground up to a now renowned UK city break destination.
Working to the Dundee Tourism Leadership Group (TLG), the Consultant will refine the developing Dundee Tourism Strategy that has been developed collaboratively with key stakeholders and in line with local, regional and national strategies which encourage people to visit and explore the local area.
Our overarching mission within the 5-year strategy, is to become Europe’s best emerging city break destination, in readiness for the opening of Eden Project Dundee.
This role will provide the essential external perspective required to help us grow the visitor economy and ensure our approach aligns with inter/national best practice, ahead of the strategy being put before the Inclusive Economic Growth and Strategic Leadership Group for formal approval in November 2024.
Refine the developing Tourism Strategy, providing essential external perspective and specialist destination development knowledge, to ensure we are set up for success in achieving visitor growth targets
Based on agreed strategy, develop associated 5-year action plan including 5-year growth forecast to identify the unique role the city can play in Scotland’s tourism eco-system
Provide expert guidance in developing the city tourism offer in line with consumer demand, insights and trends, identifying gaps in provision
Provide a framework to ensure long-term financial sustainability for the sector and any developing destination team
Provide expert guidance on the critical balance of volume and value as a developing destination while aligning with national and regional tourism strategies
Ensure developing strategy is underpinned by a sustainable approach to tourism development and aligns with Scotland’s Destination Net Zero Action Plan
Essential
We are looking for demonstrable knowledge and experience of:
Track record of destination delivery from the ground up to a now renowned UK city break destination, with clear evidence of growing the visitor economy
Tourism market forecasting and business planning
Successful scalable integrated marketing campaigns that drive volume footfall
Consumer demand and trends in world-class European city break destinations, and innovative application of this insight
Scotland’s tourism eco-system and associated national strategies and frameworks including Scotland Outlook 2030
North East Scotland, its unique offer and potential
Sustainable approach to tourism development including Scotland’s Destination Net Zero Action Plan
Different models of best practice destination management governance in small but ambitious European cities
Investor and funding landscape to ensure future financial sustainability in a rapidly changing environment
Desirable
While a perfect match isn’t essential, experience of working with developing destinations linked to the following is desirable:
City of 150-200k residents
A Unesco-attributed destination, ideally from the Creative City Network
Culture-led regeneration in a post-industrial city
Waterfront location
This project is funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
Deadline for applications: no later than 17.00, 19 August 2024.
This is a freelance position, working circa 6 days per month.
We are an equal opportunity employer and encourage applications from everyone and do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability or any other protected characteristics.
V&A Dundee is aware that working more flexibly is a central element of attracting and retaining disabled people in the labour market. We encourage you to apply if you define yourself as disabled under the Equality Act 2010 (including deaf or neurodivergent).
We are happy to consider any reasonable adjustments that candidates may need during the recruitment process, if there are additional options you'd like to request, please contact the email below.
If you have any issues with your application, please email: tara.wainwright@vandadundee.org
Please ensure you have downloaded and read the Procurement Brief before applying