Job profile

Contract Type: Permanent

Hours: Full Time 37 hours per week

Location of post: Hybrid Working (Home/ The Quays/ Port Talbot Civic Centre)

This is an exciting time to work within the newly established Leisure, Tourism, Heritage and Culture department within Neath Port Talbot Council. As a result of the recent approval of the new Neath Port Talbot Culture Strategy,  Destination Management Plan and Heritage Strategy there is a renewed focus on investing in heritage, culture and tourism alongside our partners and stakeholders in the area.

We are currently looking for an experienced Visitor Economy Manager to join our team.  

This successful candidate should have at least 5 years’ experience of working in the visitor economy field, possess direct experience of strategic decision making in a tourism development or destination marketing context. Candidates should also have practical experience of producing and implementing marketing campaigns.

The post holder will be responsible for the delivery of the ambitious Neath Port Talbot Destination Management Plan and future high profile marketing campaigns which challenge perceptions of Neath Port Talbot whilst communicating the Dramatic Heart of Wales place brand to visitors.

The main duties of the post include;

• To act as the authority’s lead Officer in relation to the development of the visitor economy, resulting in the diversification of the local economy.
• Undertake research, monitor and evaluate tourism trends, working with the Destination and Development Co-ordinator to advise senior officers, local members, businesses and local community stakeholders on all aspects of tourism at local, regional and national level.
• Lead on the delivery and monitoring of the Neath Port Talbot Destination Management Plan, ensuring strategic linkages across other plans and policies within the authority.
• To lead, devise and deliver destination and pride of place marketing strategies and activities which raise the profile of Neath Port Talbot to new and existing day visitors, staying visitors, local residents and investors.
• Co-ordinate and advise tourism industry and community stakeholders from the public, private and voluntary sectors to deliver collaborative projects which meet regeneration and economic development objectives.    
• Co-ordinate the activities of the Neath Port Talbot Destination Management Steering Group and oversee the various Task and Finish Groups established to deliver actions at a local level.
• Influence the development and implementation of national, regional and local policy which impacts upon the visitor economy.
• To identify and secure funding for the delivery of tourism infrastructure and destination marketing activities for Neath Port Talbot to raise the quality and profile of the destination.
• To lead on the management, delivery and monitoring of capital infrastructure and revenue projects which achieve tourism development, including measuring outputs, monitoring and managing internal and externally funded budgets, managing contracts, submitting financial claims and preparing project reports as required.
• Assist in completing funding applications for large and small scale projects which deliver investment in the county borough and diversify the local economy towards tourism. This includes securing EU, UK Government, Welsh Government and private sector funding.
• To lead a small team of internal staff and external contractors to create and deliver major projects which deliver the sustainable growth of the visitor economy.
• Lead on the design and management of consultation and liaison with stakeholders, businesses, strategic partners and the local community to inform the creation of projects to meet local need.
• Management and supervision of the day to day duties of the Visitor Economy Officer and any further staff employed through externally funded tourism projects.
• To manage the provision of good quality destination websites and digital information, including social media content, to meet the needs of visitors to the County.
• To provide support to tourism businesses and new investors to help them access funding and develop product ideas.

You will have experience in/of;

• At least 5 years’ experience of working within the visitor economy.
• Experience of making and informing strategic decisions in a tourism development or destination marketing context.
• Practical experience of producing and implementing marketing campaigns
• Experience of dealing with the media and generating positive press releases
• Experience in programme and project management, securing major funding streams to support Tourism projects.
• Experience of devising policies and plans at a strategic level to guide tourism development and destination marketing initiatives.

The successful candidate must be educated to degree level in a tourism relevant discipline.

If you think that you have the necessary experience and qualifications for this role, we would love to hear from you.

For an informal discussion, please contact Karleigh Davies, Destination and Development Co-ordinator on

Phone: 07971719750

Email: k.davies16@npt.go.uk

DBS requirements:

• This post is not subject to a DBS check

Welsh Language Requirements:

Welsh Language skills are desirable.

Additional Information:

Applications may be submitted in Welsh, applications submitted in Welsh will not be treated less favourably than an application submitted in English.

We offer a guaranteed interview scheme for candidates who have a disability and armed forces veterans.

Also a guaranteed interview is to be offered to all employees of Tata Steel if;

• They are a current employee of Tata Steel who is at risk of redundancy; or
• they are a former employee of Tata Steel who was made redundant in 2024

Please note that the guaranteed interview is subject to the applicant meeting the essential criteria for the post being advertised

At Team NPT, we all work together to serve the people, communities and businesses of Neath Port Talbot.

We are committed to providing training opportunities and the professional development of all our employees.

We look forward to welcoming you to Team NPT.