Job Requisition ID: 58365 Opening Date: 08/24/2026Closing Date: 09/08/2026Agency: Department of Commerce and Economic OpportunityClass Title: SENIOR PUBLIC SERVICE ADMIN (40070) Skill Option: General Administration/Business Marketing/Labor/Personnel Bilingual Option: NoneSalary: Anticipated Starting Salary Range is $11,550 - $12,500 per monthJob Type: SalariedCategory: Full TimeNumber of Vacancies: 1Bargaining Unit Code: NoneMerit Comp Code: Excluded - Subject to Paragraph (1), (2), (3), or (6) of Section 4d of the Personnel Code

***A RESUME IS REQUIRED***

Position Overview

Are you a strategic leader who knows how to turn big ideas into results? The Illinois Office of Tourism is seeking a dynamic Deputy Director to help lead statewide efforts to attract visitors, strengthen tourism communities, build strategic partnerships, and grow Illinois' tourism economy.

This role will help shape the Office's strategic direction, oversee statewide tourism programs and marketing initiatives, manage significant resources and partnerships, and represent DCEO with public and private-sector leaders. Our Deputy Director will have the opportunity to influence tourism policy, champion Illinois destinations and experiences, and develop innovative strategies that position Illinois to compete nationally and globally.If you're an experienced leader who brings vision, sound judgment, strong relationship-building skills, and a passion for showcasing all that Illinois has to offer, we want you on our team.

Bring your leadership. Build partnerships. Promote Illinois. Help drive the state's tourism economy forward.

Essential Functions

• Under administrative direction, serves as the Deputy Director of the Illinois Office of Tourism, providing leadership and direction for the statewide operations, programs, policies, strategic initiatives, and objectives of the Office of Tourism.
  • Develops and directs statewide tourism marketing strategies in Illinois involving community events, historic venues, hotel/motel and conventions and travel destinations, and other tourism assets to advance Illinois' tourism and economic development objectives.
  • Represents the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) and speaks on behalf of the agency Director before private and public groups on a state and local level concerning the mission, goals and program objectives of the Office of Tourism.
  • Identifies and cultivates strategic partnerships with public- and private-sector organizations, airlines, transportation providers, attractions, major events, sports organizations, cultural institutions, and corporate partners.
  • Formulates, evaluates, and implements policy and legislative initiatives in partnership with the Office of Legislative Affairs and other agency stakeholders to advance the strategic objectives of the Office of Tourism and maintain Illinois' competitiveness with other states.
  • Establishes strategic priorities and directs the development, implementation, and evaluation of statewide tourism initiatives consistent with the Governor's and DCEO's economic development priorities.
  • Directs clear and effective marketing of the Office's programs.
  • Evaluates the effectiveness of Office programs and operations and establishes performance expectations, measures, and accountability mechanisms to ensure achievement of strategic objectives and effective stewardship of state resources.
• Serves as a full-line supervisor.
  • Assigns and reviews work.
  • Provides guidance and training to assigned staff.
  • Counsels staff regarding work performance.
  • Reassigns staff to meet day-to-day operating needs.
  • Establishes annual goals and objectives.
  • Approves time off.
  • Adjusts first level grievances.
  • Effectively recommends and imposes discipline up to and including discharge.
  • Prepares and signs performance evaluations.
  • Determines and recommends staffing needs.

Essential Functions Cont.

• Directs the formulation, administration, and execution of the budget for the Illinois Office of Tourism with full authority to allocate and control expenditures.
  • Establishes annual spending priorities and directs the allocation of resources among programs and initiatives based on organizational priorities, projected needs, performance, and available funding.
  • Directs, reviews and coordinates Office budget formulation and submission.
  • Adheres to agency policy, mission, and budgetary regulations and procedures for budget proposals.
  • Develops annual spending plan.
  • Directs Office obligations, commitments, and expenditures.
• Administers, directs, reviews and coordinates operations in statewide advertising, public relations programs, tourism publications, and tour and travel program to ensure full utilization of state resources.
  • Establishes and monitors performance measures for tourism programs utilizing visitor data, economic-impact studies, market research, and other analytics to inform decisions and demonstrate return on investment.
  • Directs the cooperative advertising promotions and public relations tourism programs with air carriers, hoteliers, and private sectors.
• Administers, directs, reviews, and coordinates operations to facilitate statewide grants programs.
  • Directs and evaluates initiatives that strengthen the state's tourism infrastructure, visitor experiences, workforce, accessibility, and readiness for emerging markets and travel trends.
  • Integrates major tourism programs with short and long range goals and objectives.
• Advises the Agency Chief of Staff and Director on the status, performance, challenges, and strategic opportunities of the Office of Tourism and makes recommendations regarding policies, programs, resource allocation, and organizational priorities.
  • Prepares and presents executive-level reports, analyses, recommendations, and briefings concerning Office operations, tourism trends, program performance, economic impact, and strategic initiatives.
  • Leads special initiatives and projects of statewide significance within the scope of the Office's mission and delegated authority.
• Performs other duties as required or assigned which are reasonably within the scope of the duties enumerated above.

Minimum Qualifications

• Requires knowledge, skill and mental development equivalent to completion of four (4) years of college, with courses in business, public administration, tourism/hospitality management, communications, or marketing.
• Requires prior experience equivalent to four (4) years of progressively responsible administrative experience in a public or business organization.

Preferred Qualifications

• Prefers four (4) years of professional experience working in a leadership capacity for a statewide tourism organization, destination marketing organization, convention and visitors bureau, or tourism-related association.
• Prefers a minimum of four (4) years of professional experience managing public-sector contracts, contractors, and contractual deliverables.
• Prefers a minimum of four (4) years of professional supervisory experience.
• Prefers three (3) years of professional experience developing and implementing statewide or regional tourism strategies.
• Prefers two (2) years of professional experience representing an organization before government officials and external stakeholders.

Conditions of Employment

• Requires completion of a background check and self-disclosure of criminal history.
• Requires appropriate, valid driver's license.
• Requires ability to travel in the performance of duties, with overnight stays as appropriate.
• Overtime is a condition of employment, and you may be requested or required/mandated to work overtime including scheduled, unscheduled, or last-minute overtime. This may require the ability to work evenings and weekends.

The conditions of employment listed here are incorporated and related to any of the job duties as listed in the job description.

Work Hours: Monday-Friday; 8:30 a - 5:00 pHeadquarter Location: Chicago or SpringfieldWork County: Sangamon or CookAgency Contact: [email protected] (FOR INQUIRIES ONLY - INTERESTED APPLICANTS MUST APPLY ONLINE)
Posting Group: Leadership & Management; Arts, Design & Cultural

The main form of communication will be through email. Please check your "junk mail", "spam", or "other" folder for communication(s) regarding any submitted application(s). You may receive emails from the following addresses:

• [email protected]
• [email protected]