Community Tourism Development Specialist

About the Job

Title: Community Tourism Development Specialist

Job code: 9624CE Asst Ext Prof-Community Econ

Employee Group: Professional and Academic (P&A)

Full/Part Time (FTE): Full-time

Regular/Temporary: Regular

Office location: Coffey Hall, 1420 Eckles Ave., St. Paul, MN55108

Estimated salary range: $75,000 - $83,000

Apply by: September 16, 2026

The University of Minnesota (UMN) Tourism Center, housed in UMNExtension’s Department of Community Development, is hiring aCommunity Tourism Development (CTD) Specialist to lead the CTD workportfolio at the Tourism Center, in collaboration with colleagues across the Department, Extension, and the UMN system, as well as external partners. The position will report to the Tourism Centerdirector and will collaborate with colleagues to fulfill themissions of the Tourism Center, the Department of Community Development and the University of Minnesota Extension.

The CTD Specialist will join a high-impact and high-performance team passionate about communities and the tourism industry. The CTDSpecialist will be expected to enhance and expand an Extension Tourism program recognized nationally and in Minnesota for itsleadership in tourism programming, community coaching, and appliedtourism research.

The Specialist will design, develop, and deliver research-based CTDprograms and community coaching. This position will develop andlead an Area of Excellence (AoE) in CTD , a resource hub for Department staff that houses expertise and tools used to develop and support programs that serve communities. The CTD Specialist will develop, implement, and share applied research on CTD that informs program development and contributes to successful and sustainable CTD work in Minnesota.

The Specialist will also build strong relationships with communities, stakeholders, and industry experts across Minnesota.

The position will be located in Coffey Hall on the St Paul campusof the University of Minnesota. A flexible schedule is apossibility, with at least three days working in the office whennot programming in the communities.

Full time schedule with occasional evening and weekend work,depending on projects’ and communities’ needs. Driving and travelfor work is expected as needed. Overnight stays required 3-4 timesa year.

• Contribute to implementing the Tourism Center strategic plan by assuming leadership of the CTD work portfolio atthe Tourism Center.
  
  Responsibilities include:
• Revamping existing programs to offer greater flexibility and coaching opportunities to meet communities’ needs
• Creating and delivering research-based educational programs, in collaboration with colleagues, to support community tourismdevelopment in Minnesota
• Initiating, leading, and contributing to CTD programs and projects that meet the needs of Minnesota communities
• Develop and lead the Area of Excellence (AoE) in CTD in collaboration with department colleagues, with support from the Tourism Center Director. This AoE will ensure Educators in the department are more attuned to communities’ CTD needs and betterequipped to leverage CTD for community economic development,particularly in small rural communities.
• Contribute to other AoEs in Extension’s Department of Community Development as appropriate, e.g., placemaking, entrepreneurship,etc.
• Collaborate with supervisor to establish, evaluate, and reporton annual work goals, activities, impacts and outcomes that alignwith program-area priorities and demonstrate progress on requiredcriteria associated with promotion in academic rank.

• Assume leadership of applied research related to CTD, by responding to communities ’ inquiries, initiating, designing and implementing projects, and disseminating project results. .
• Given time, updating the Community Tourism Development Manual.
• Develop and secure funds and resources to support appliedscholarship on CTD, through grants, fee-for-service, third partyreimbursement and other means, in collaboration with faculties,Extension Educators, and partners.
• Collaborate with…