Visit Herts Project Manager

Job Title: Visit Herts Project Manager
Starting Salary: £42,839 progressing to £47,181 per annum (pro rata for part time)
Hours: 37 per week. Part time hours or flexible working opportunities considered up to a minimum of 30 hours per week
Location: Based in Stevenage with hybrid working opportunities; expectation to work onsite at least once a week. Travel around the county will be required
Contract Type: Fixed Term Contract or Secondment opportunity for 6 months (March 2026)
Directorate: Growth & Environment

About the team

Hertfordshire Futures is a dynamic partnership between businesses and the public sector, driving sustainable economic growth across the county. It is the leading voice for Hertfordshire’s economy, setting the strategic direction to accelerate business growth, job creation, innovation and investment.

About the role

Leading on the delivery of the Visit Herts Destination Management Service, The Project Manager is responsible for driving the recruitment and retention of investor Partners and promoting Hertfordshire and attracting visitors to the county.

The role requires the development and maintenance of strong stakeholder relationships, effective customer relationship management, and an in-depth technical knowledge of the tourism sector to identify and act on emerging business opportunities that will continue to boost Hertfordshire’s Tourism sector and drive tourism and investment into the county.

The Visit Herts Project Manager (VHPM) will be responsible for managing existing relationships with attractions, venues and local authorities that will enhance Hertfordshire’s visitor economy.

• Meeting with Hertfordshire’s Tourism, Hospitality and Leisure sectors including venues and attractions – on site and remotely – on an ongoing basis to provide guidance.
• Meeting with local authorities to advise on how to promote place-based tourism opportunities.
• Work closely with other Hertfordshire Futures colleagues to understand and signpost supported businesses to other relevant programmes and development opportunities
• Convene groups of similar businesses (e.g. local hotelier groups) to work collaboratively and identify common challenges.
• Collate data and feedback to produce case studies and reports that will highlight progress and achievement towards KPI’s.
• Engage with senior stakeholders to create a steering/governance group.

The VHPM will provide guidance and expertise to Hertfordshire-based attractions, venues and local authorities while sitting within HF’s Inward Investment team and working closely with Hertfordshire Film Office and Business Support Services Managers to offer a strategic vision for the future progress of Hertfordshire’s Destination Management Service.

The role requires the development and maintenance of strong stakeholder relationships, effective customer relationship management, and an in-depth knowledge of the Visitor Economy, preferably in Hertfordshire, to identify and act on emerging business opportunities.

About you

The ideal candidate will have an extensive understanding of Hertfordshire’s tourism landscape and a proven track record of supporting attractions, venues and local authorities in regard to promoting tourism and business support.

Essential Skills

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills that will provide internal and external colleagues, management and partners with technical information and updates and may take the form of presentations.
• Extensive knowledge and understanding of Hertfordshire’s visitor economy and able to provide operational and strategic insights to a range of stakeholders including internal senior management boards and external steering group boards.
• Demonstrable track record of managing a budget with careful consideration of expenditure and monitoring invoices through invoice collation.
• Proven track record of delivering high quality support and events to support county-wide tourism development
• Ability to engage with senior stakeholders (including HCC Councillors, Local District Chief Executives and Councillors, Senior Directors from external venues, attractions and Local Districts)
• Computer/word processing skills
• Good organisation skills with strong time management, ability to meet deadlines and flexible approach
• Self-motivated and enjoys using initiative
• Ability to travel across independently a wide geographical area, including rural venues, in a timely and flexible manner at various times of the day (May also require occasional evening and weekend work) not served by public transport.

Qualifications & Experience

• Significant experience of the Visitor Economy preferably working with or alongside a Destination Management Service ideally within Hertfordshire.
• Experience supporting local authorities as well as venues and attractions

Desirable Skills

• A formal qualification (at Level 3 or higher) in a Business or related subject.
• Formal qualification in a Tourism and/or Hospitality subject

We welcome applications from candidates who currently reside in the UK with established proof of right to work documentation. We are not able to offer sponsorship at this time for this role.

This job role is within the Programme & Projects, level 11 job profile. Please locate this via:

Job profiles: Project & programme

To hear more about this opportunity please contact Gareth.Dace@hertfordshire.gov.uk for an informal discussion about the role.

Interview Date: Week commencing 13th October 2025

Benefits of working for us

How to apply

Secondment
This position is open to secondments. If you work for HCC or any other Local Authority and would like to be considered as a Secondment contract, please ensure you complete the Secondment Form as part of your application. If you do not, your application will be considered as a Fixed Term Contract only.

Additional information

Disability Confident
We are proud to be a Disability Confident employer and guarantee an interview to anyone disclosing a disability whose application meets the minimum criteria for the post.

Driving required
You’ll need to have the ability to drive and/or travel around Hertfordshire, either using your own mode of transport or a company car to travel to other locations.

English Fluency
The ability to converse at ease with members of the public and provide advice in accurate spoken English is essential for the post (for those whose language is a signed language the provision of a sign language interpreter who speaks English to the necessary standard of fluency will be required). Further information about the legal requirement can be found here.