Director of Policy Job Ashburn area,Virginia USA,Government

Position: Director of Destination Policy

Overview

Position Summary
The Director of Destination Policy is a senior-level position within the Advocacy and Research department and is responsible for strengthening Destinations International's role as a global leader in policy analysis, advocacy readiness, and public-sector intelligence for destination organizations. This individual will guide the organization’s efforts to monitor, interpret and communicate policy developments that affect destination organizations, while also supporting coordinated responses during periods of legislative, regulatory or political pressure.

The Director will frequently represent Destinations International in public settings. This includes speaking at conferences, presenting policy insights to members, facilitating discussions with destination organization leaders and communicating with elected officials, government agencies and other tourism stakeholders. The individual must be comfortable delivering information clearly and confidently to both large and small audiences.

This position plays a critical role in ensuring that members have timely information, strategic guidance and research-based insights that protect the visitor economy and the essential work of destination organizations.

This role focuses on policy monitoring, analysis, and member guidance. It does not include lobbying activities or direct legislative advocacy on behalf of Destinations International or its members. Instead, the position supports destinations by providing intelligence, resources, and strategic insights that enable informed local advocacy and decision-making.

Responsibilities

Policy Leadership and Issue Response:
Serve as the primary point of contact for destination organizations seeking support on urgent policy or governance related issues and communicate guidance clearly through written and verbal channels.

Present policy findings and recommended actions to member groups, board committees, partner associations and other stakeholders where appropriate.

Develop written issue briefings, policy summaries and guidance documents that support destinations in responding to funding threats, structural changes and public accountability challenges.

Facilitate coordinated information sharing and strategic dialogue between Destinations International and relevant partners when multiple jurisdictions are affected by similar policy concerns.

Global Policy Monitoring and Intelligence:
Monitor legislative and regulatory activity across the United States, Canada and other international markets and communicate key developments through presentations, webinars and policy briefings.

Prepare written and verbal reports that summarize implications of policy trends and support informed decision making among members and stakeholders.

Identify policy signals that may influence destination funding, governance or operations and present findings in a clear and accessible format.

Stakeholder Coordination and Advocacy Alignment:
Engage with industry associations such as the United States Travel Association (USTA), Tourism Industry Association of Canada (TIAC) and international associations/partners to communicate shared policy priorities and align messaging.

Lead or support presentations during coordinated advocacy or policy response efforts to ensure that groups operate with consistent information.

International Policy Support and Relationship Development:
Represent Destinations International in public forums, international meetings and member facing sessions focused on policy, governance or advocacy.

Share policy insights and global examples with members through presentations, facilitated discussions and conference sessions.

Research and Resource Development:
Create policy resources such as briefing papers, model frameworks and talking points and present these resources in workshops, webinars and educational programs.

Develop and deliver educational content focused on improving member understanding of policy and advocacy through conferences, learning modules and public sessions.

Internal Collaboration & Cross-Functional Alignment:
Collaborate with Membership, Professional Development, Communications, and Global Development…


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