The Association for association professionals in Chicagoland

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.

Key Responsibilities

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 accreditation themes into webinars, online modules, and other digital learning offerings.
• Support alignment across curricula, resource development, and shared communications to ensure consistency and cohesion throughout all learning programs.
• Collaborate with technology and program platform teams to ensure systems, resources, platforms, and assessment tools are effectively integrated into DMAP, supporting destination readiness, evaluation processes, and ongoing performance improvement.

Program Operations & Accreditation Lifecycle

• Oversee the full accreditation lifecycle for DMAP, including application intake, readiness support, reviewer assignment, assessments, recommendations, and follow-up communications.
• Ensure program standards, processes, documentation, and evaluation practices are globally applicable, culturally relevant, and consistently applied.
• Manage program systems, data tracking, dashboards, and reporting to support transparency, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Recruit, train, and manage a diverse, global network of reviewers to ensure high-quality, fair, and consistent evaluations across all regions.

Accreditation Board & Governance Management

• Manage the composition, continuity, and overall effectiveness of the Accreditation Board, including maintaining a strong bench of qualified experts, supporting leadership transitions, and cultivating a pipeline of future board and reviewer leaders.
• Serve as the primary staff liaison to the Accreditation Board, fostering strong governance practices, clear communication, and informed, strategic decision-making.
• Lead planning and logistics for board meetings, including agendas, materials, policy recommendations, and follow-up actions.
• Prepare board materials that incorporate global trends, program performance insights, and proposed updates to standards or policies.
• Ensure adherence to governance protocols, confidentiality requirements, and conflict-of-interest policies.

Member Education, Training & Support

• Design and deliver education, training, readiness programming, and resource materials that guide destinations through the accreditation process and ongoing program expectations.
• Develop regionally adapted and multilingual resources to support global participation and accessibility.
• Provide individualized guidance to destinations navigating accreditation, including organizations in emerging markets or with complex or non-traditional governance structures.
• Lead cohort-based readiness programs and global learning sessions to build understanding, confidence, and long-term program success.

Relationship, Stakeholder & Public Engagement

• Build and maintain trusted relationships with destination leaders, regional associations, global tourism organizations, and allied partners.
• Represent DMAP and Destinations International at domestic and international conferences, events, webinars, panels, and partner convenings.
• Collaborate across internal teams—particularly Learning, Marketing, Membership, Advocacy, and Impact—to ensure DMAP is fully integrated into organization-wide strategies and initiatives.
• Support the growth and engagement of international reviewer networks and regional partners to expand program reach and credibility.

Professional Development Department Collaboration

• Serve as an active contributor to shared departmental workflows, planning processes, and operational priorities.
• Support cross-program initiatives such as event delivery, learner communications, reporting cycles, and continuous improvement efforts.
• Provide flexible administrative or operational support during peak periods to ensure the overall success of the Professional Development Department.

Education & Desired Experience

• Bachelor’s degree preferred, or an equivalent combination of education, professional experience, and demonstrated leadership capability.
• Progressive experience (5+ years) in accreditation, standards development, program design, association management, quality assurance, or related fields.
• Experience working in global or cross-cultural environments is strongly preferred.
• Experience supporting or working with governance bodies, advisory boards, or committees.
• Experience serving in a public-facing role, such as presenting, facilitating, training, or representing a program or organization externally.
• Familiarity with the tourism sector, destination organizations, or membership-based or nonprofit environments is a strong advantage.

Qualifications

• Proven strategic leadership skills, with the ability to envision, build, and evolve programs that support long-term growth and global relevance.
• Demonstrated ability to lead complex, multi-phase programs with strong operational excellence, maintaining high-quality systems, processes, and workflows.
• Global mindset, with the ability to navigate cultural, regional, and organizational differences with sensitivity, awareness, and professionalism.
• Strong understanding of program evaluation, standards-based assessment, organizational performance, or continuous improvement frameworks.
• Experience working with governance structures, including supporting sound decision-making, policy development, confidentiality, and accountability.
• Demonstrated ability to serve as a brand steward, positioning and protecting programs as credible, high-value standards of excellence.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with confidence as a public-facing spokesperson, facilitator, or educator across in-person and virtual environments.
• Strong relationship-building skills, with the ability to establish trust and credibility with global stakeholders, partners, and internal teams.
• Analytical thinking skills, with the ability to interpret data, trends, and insights to inform strategy, planning, and program decisions.
• Strong project management and organizational skills, including the ability to manage multiple priorities, balance competing demands, and operate effectively in a dynamic environment.
• High degree of adaptability, thriving in environments with evolving needs, shifting priorities, and emerging opportunities.

Culture Fit & Values
As a member of the DI team, you must thrive in a remote-first work environment and be open to travel as needed for business-related events. You understand your critical role in maintaining our welcoming atmosphere while remaining authentically yourself and valuing collaboration at every level of the organization. You must be committed to continuous cultural improvement, fostering positivity, respecting and trusting others, and demonstrating a strong drive for success.

Our Benefits
We take great pride in offering a benefits package that reflects how much we value our team. Our total investment package is thoughtfully designed to promote well-being, foster growth, and provide flexibility to balance professional and personal life. 

We offer:

• Employee Paid Health Coverage: Ensuring you and your loved ones are well cared for.
• Financial Wellness Programs: Including retirement plans with employer contributions to
  secure your future.
• Flexible Work Environment: Embracing a remote-first approach with the necessary tools
  and support.
• Generous Time Off: Recognizing the importance of rest and rejuvenation.
• Continuous Learning Opportunities: Encouraging professional development and growth.

We view our total investment package as more than just perks, it’s a reflection of our commitment to supporting our team as people, not just employees.