Executive Director

Lead the Experience. Shape the Future. Make an Impact.

Waterloo is a community with a rich history, a vibrant culture, and an exciting future. We are looking for a leader who can help tell its story and shape what comes next.

Experience Waterloo is seeking a dynamic, visionary, and collaborative Executive Director to lead our organization into its next chapter.

This is more than a traditional executive leadership position. It’s an opportunity to influence how people experience Waterloo, strengthen the city’s tourism economy, champion community pride, and create experiences that bring residents and visitors together.

From the award-winning Lost Island Waterpark and exciting sporting events to festivals, conventions, cultural attractions, and beloved community traditions like My Waterloo Days, Waterloo has a story worth sharing.
We are looking for someone ready to help write its next chapter.

Experience Waterloo is the destination marketing and management organization serving Waterloo, Iowa. Our mission is to enhance and promote the Waterloo experience.

We work alongside local businesses, attractions, community organizations, government partners, and regional stakeholders to showcase Waterloo as a destination for visitors, events, meetings, recreation, and investment.

Our vision is to be Waterloo’s leading voice for destination enhancement, attraction development, and community pride through innovation, collaboration, and expertise.

We believe a strong visitor economy contributes to a stronger community by supporting businesses, creating opportunities, celebrating local culture, and connecting people to memorable experiences.

Reporting to the Board of Directors, the Executive Director serves as the chief executive officer of Experience Waterloo and provides strategic, operational, financial, and community leadership for the organization.

The next Executive Director will lead an organization with strong community relationships, recognizable signature events, and significant opportunities for growth.

We are seeking a leader who can balance big-picture thinking with practical execution, strengthen the organization’s foundation, and build momentum for the future.

Your leadership will help:

• Position Waterloo as a compelling destination for tourism, meetings, conventions, sporting events, and leisure travel.
• Strengthen and expand signature events, festivals, holiday programming, and year-round visitor experiences.
• Build strong, productive relationships with local businesses, community organizations, the City of Waterloo, and regional partners.
• Advance innovative destination marketing strategies that increase visibility, visitation, and community engagement.
• Identify new sponsor ships, partnerships, funding opportunities, and sustainable revenue streams.
• Strengthen organizational operations, financial accountability, and team performance.
• Champion Waterloo’s unique identity, cultural assets, and opportunities for continued growth.

• Strategic Leadership and Organizational Growth
  • Lead the development and implementation of organizational priorities, strategic initiatives, and annual work plans.
  • Work collaboratively with the Board of Directors to advance the organization’s mission and long‑term vision.
  • Oversee daily operations, staff leadership, organizational policies, and administrative systems.
  • Foster a high‑performing, collaborative, and accountable organizational culture.
  • Identify opportunities for innovation, organizational improvement, and sustainable growth.
• Tourism, Marketing, and Destination Development
  • Lead strategies that elevate Waterloo’s visibility as a destination for visitors, meetings, conventions, sporting events, and group travel.
  • Oversee marketing,…