Director, Designation Strategy and Operations

Position Summary

Position Summary The Director of Designation Strategy and Operations provides strategic and operational leadership for Destinations International’s designation and accreditation programs, with primary responsibility for the Destination Marketing Accreditation Program (DMAP). This role ensures DMAP remains the global standard of excellence for destination organizations while continuing to evolve to serve a diverse and growing international membership.

In addition, the Director supports strong alignment between DMAP and DI’s professional certification programs, including CDME, helping strengthen the connection between organizational accreditation and individual professional development. As DI’s designation portfolio evolves, this position will contribute to the thoughtful development and support of additional designation and accreditation programs over time.

Serving as the internal steward and subject matter expert for DMAP, the Director works cross-functionally with Strategic Learning Experiences, Content, Communications, Marketing, and Technology and Program Platforms to integrate the program into events, learning experiences, digital platforms, and global outreach efforts. The role also represents Destinations International publicly through presentations, webinars, and industry engagement, elevating the visibility, credibility, and impact of its designation programs worldwide.

Program Strategy & Global Growth

• Lead the long-term strategy and evolution of the Destination Marketing Accreditation Program (DMAP), ensuring it remains relevant, credible, and impactful across a growing global membership.
• Develop and guide multi-year program growth strategies that reflect the needs of destination organizations operating in diverse geographies, political environments, and tourism ecosystems.
• Identify opportunities and challenges related to global adoption, including language translation, cultural applicability, legal and regulatory considerations, and variations in organizational structure and infrastructure.
• Design and refine scalable pathways into accreditation, such as readiness cohorts, tiered or phased accreditation models, and regionally tailored education and support tracks.
• Stay informed on international accreditation standards, destination governance practices, and global trends in organizational excellence to ensure DMAP remains forward-looking and industry-leading.
• Collaborate with internal business data professionals to analyze program performance and trends, identify growth opportunities, understand member needs, and integrate data-driven insights into DMAP strategy and planning.

Brand Stewardship, Marketing & Industry Positioning

• Serve as the internal and external champion of the Destination Marketing Accreditation Program (DMAP), positioning it as the global standard of excellence within the destination industry.
• Ensure DMAP is consistently, accurately, and compellingly represented across organizational communications, member messaging, and global outreach efforts.
• Partner with the Marketing and Communications team to develop and execute a comprehensive marketing strategy that elevates program visibility, drives participation, and celebrates accredited destinations.
• Act as a public-facing spokesperson for DMAP, delivering presentations, keynotes, webinars, interviews, podcasts, and other thought-leadership engagements.
• Oversee DMAP’s brand identity, messaging, and presence across digital platforms, events, and international markets to ensure strong recognition and credibility worldwide.
• Ensure DMAP’s brand and positioning remain aligned with Destinations International’s mission, values, and global voice.

Integration with Learning, Technology, and Certification Programs

• Collaborate with the CDME team to build meaningful and integrated pathways that connect organizational accreditation through DMAP with individual professional certification.
• Partner with the Director of Strategic Learning Experiences to embed DMAP concepts, standards, and success stories into in-person, virtual, and hybrid event programming.
• Work with the Director of Content to incorporate…