IN-PERSON - HOUSTON, TX.
Houston First recognizes and appreciates the importance of cultivating an environment that nurtures talent; that is equitable and values different perspectives and backgrounds; and, above all, is respectful to everyone. Our Mission is to create value and enhance economic prosperity by promoting the Houston region.
We are seeking a dynamic leader to serve as Director of Business Integration and Community Engagement. This role is responsible for building strategic partnerships with Houston’s business and academic sectors to drive sales and elevate client service initiatives. The Director will position Houston as a premier destination by leveraging the city’s core market strengths and community assets, ensuring our organization stands out among destination marketing leaders.
Key Responsibilities:
- Cultivate and manage partnerships with business and academic communities.
- Advance strategic Sales and Client Services initiatives.
- Promote Houston’s unique strengths to enhance its reputation as a top destination.
This position reports to the Senior Vice President, Sales and Client Services
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES
- ☒ This position has no supervisory responsibilities.
DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES/ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
- Develops and maintains strategic partnerships with Houston’s business and academic communities to support organizational goals.
- Drives initiatives that align with sales and client service strategies, ensuring measurable impact on revenue and engagement.
- Leverages Houston’s core vertical market strengths to create competitive advantages for destination marketing efforts.
- Represents the organization in community forums, industry events, and academic collaborations to strengthen brand presence.
- Identifies and cultivates opportunities for clients in areas such as thought leadership, potential sponsorships, and collaborative programs with local stakeholders.
- Collaborates with and supports sales and client services teams to integrate clients’ community engagement strategies into broader business development plans.
- Assists with the research and development of bid proposals and sales presentations, in particular by integrating Houston’s “business markets” into the organization's overall value proposition.
- Participates in sales site inspections, client services planning visits, and industry tradeshows.
- Monitors market trends and community needs to inform strategic decision-making.
- Researches business and academic clusters in the Texas Gulf Coast to assess their impact on target conventions and organizations considering Houston.Stays informed on Houston’s business community through engagement with groups like Greater Houston Partnership and affiliated business chambers, Texas Medical Center, Port of Houston, The Ion and other business incubators, and local universities.
- Provides education about Houston First Corporation and applicable resources to local institutions that create, plan, and execute their own curated events.
EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE
- Bachelor’s degree in Business, Marketing, Communications, or related field.
- Minimum 7–10 years in business development, community engagement, or strategic partnerships
- Proven ability to build and maintain relationships with corporate leaders and academic institutions
- Strong understanding of Houston’s business landscape and key vertical markets
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES
- Strong computer literacy with the ability to use programs such as MS Word and Excel
- Ability to think and act creatively
- Exceptional research, communication, and presentation skills
- Confidentiality; understanding of the ethical standards of the position
- Outstanding oral, written, and listening communication skills
- Ability to work collaboratively across departments and manage multiple projects simultaneously
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
- ☒ No major sources of discomfort; normal office environment
- ☒ Must be able to travel and occasionally work long or irregular hours as required
Top Skills
What We Do
Houston First Corporation (HFC) is the official Destination Management
Organization (DMO) for Houston, leading tourism and convention business for the city.
Houston First is responsible for the day-to-day maintenance, licensing, and operation of convention and performing arts facilities, parks, plazas, events, and parking.
Furthermore, the organization acts as the City of Houston’s agent for the
collection of hotel occupancy tax revenue. Through unified, collaborative efforts with our partners, HFC actively promotes Houston as one of the world’s greatest cities, enhancing the Houston experience for visitors as well as residents while generating economic benefits for the
region.
