Georgia Department of Economic Development is hiring: Marketing Manager in Atlan

Marketing nerd who loves to blow things up. There is no reward without [measured] risk.

The Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD) is the state’s sales and marketing arm. It is Georgia’s lead agency for attracting new business investment, encouraging the expansion of existing industry and small businesses, and locating new markets for Georgia products. As the state’s official destination marketing organization, it drives traveler visitation and promotes the state as a location for film and digital entertainment projects. GDEcD is responsible for planning and mobilizing state resources for economic development, fostering innovation and the arts to drive opportunity from the mountains to the coast.

The Marketing and Communications (MarCom) team serves as an in-house marketing agency at GDEcD. The team works with each division of GDEcD using data insights to understand customer needs and create, communicate, and deliver marketing and communications products and services for internal clients. MarCom’s cohesive, multi-channel work drives success by aligning teams across the Department, upholding brand standards, and managing GDEcD’s reputation. Through these efforts, the MarCom team enhances the visibility and impact of GDEcD’s diverse initiatives and reinforces why Georgia is the No. 1 State for Business. This position will service the Tourism division’s marketing efforts.

The Marketing Manager, Tourism supports the strategy, development, and execution of integrated marketing initiatives that inspire travel to and within Georgia. This position plays a key role in connecting research insights to creative storytelling—helping to grow visitation, spending, and engagement across Explore Georgia’s priority audiences.

Reporting to the Director of Marketing, this role leads projects that span paid, owned, and earned channels; manages agency and vendor relationships; and collaborates closely with internal teams to bring cohesive campaigns to life. The ideal candidate combines strategic thinking, creative curiosity, and sharp project management skills to deliver measurable results in a fast-paced environment.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

• Translate Tourism objectives into actionable marketing plans and campaigns, grounded in data and aligned with brand strategy.
• Stay current on travel and tourism trends, research, and innovations.
• Represent Explore Georgia at select conferences, trade shows, and events tied to tourism marketing.
• Serve as day-to-day contact with agencies of record, vendors, freelancers, and the internal Marketing and Communications team at GDEcD for the development and execution of marketing campaigns and initiatives, including internal comms, earned media, paid media, social media, email, website, content creation, and more.
• Build go-to-market calendars, aligning paid, owned, and earned channels.
• Open, manage, communicate, and track marketing projects in web-based project management tool.
• Develop, plan, and monitor marketing campaigns across advertising, content, promotions, photography, publications, sales materials, and visitor services.
• Develop strong relationships with internal GDEcD clients and key stakeholders, other MarCom team members, and agencies of record to ensure accurate communications and synergies exist, delivering consistent creative and messaging across paid media, social, email, website, and other channels.
• Ensure integrated creative and messaging consistency; brief and guide creative teams; review and route assets for feedback and approvals.
• Partner with the agency team to shape media strategy, audience targeting, placements, and optimizations; support trafficking of ad creative.
• Work with the Research team to apply analytic rigor in evaluating campaign performance and ROI.
• Conduct KPI reviews, prepare insights reports, and present data-driven recommendations for continuous improvement.
• Leverage audience, first-party, and traveler intent data to refine targeting and personalization while adhering to privacy and accessibility standards.
• Liaise with Tourism Regional Managers to understand partner needs and develop cooperative marketing opportunities that amplify reach and impact.
• Ensure clear communication, documentation, and alignment across internal and external stakeholders.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree in marketing, advertising, or a closely related field from an accredited college or university AND three (3) years of professional level related experience in marketing, advertising, or related industry; OR one (1) year of experience in a comparable position.
• Strong understanding of marketing strategies, with a proven success‑record developing and implementing successful campaigns for B2C brands.
• Experience managing and executing integrated marketing plans.
• Strong analytical, planning, and organizational skills.
• Excellent and demonstrated interpersonal, presentation, and written communication skills.
• Proficient level knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite.
• Cultural sensitivity and awareness.
• Self‑discipline, initiative, and professionalism.
• Team‑oriented work style with superior interpersonal skills.
• Works effectively independently as well as collaboratively with a team of colleagues and stakeholders.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Five (5)+ years of professional-level experience in marketing, advertising, or a related industry.
• Experience in an advertising, digital, or integrated marketing agency environment.
• Background in tourism marketing, experience with a CVB, DMO, attraction, lodging facility, or other tourism‑related organization.
• Experience planning and executing successful events, trade shows, or content shoots.
• Strong knowledge of Georgia’s destinations, attractions, and natural and cultural assets.Experience working with state procurement processes, creative vendors, or public‑sector marketing teams (a plus).

Occasional travel and nights, weekends required.

Seniority level

Mid‑Senior level

Employment type

Full‑time

Job function

Marketing and Sales

Industries: Government Administration