Chief Sales Officer
Salary
$74,308.35 - $86,000.00 Annually
Location
25 - HINDS COUNTY, MS
Job Type
Full-Time
Job Number
9322-0411-20261007HDS
Department
0411 - MDA-MISSISSIPPI DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
Opening Date
10/09/2026
Closing Date
10/13/2026 11:59 PM Central
Agency Minimum Salary
$74,308.35
Agency Maximum Salary
$86,000.00
About the Agency
The Mississippi Development Authority (MDA) is the states lead economic and community development agency. MDA recruits new companies to Mississippi, helps existing companies expand and provides support to foster growth and new opportunities in a variety of areas, including energy, small and minority business, trade, film, retiree recruitment, and more. Additionally, MDA attracts millions of visitors to the state each year through Visit Mississippi, the tourism division of the agency. MDA also supports pass-through funding and provides support for a variety of grant programs and non-profits, such as Innovate Mississippi and Mississippi Main Street Association.
About the Position
Visit Mississippi seeks a dynamic, strategic, and results-driven Chief Sales Officer (CSO) to lead and oversee all sales initiatives that drive visitation, economic impact, and brand growth for the state of Mississippi. The CSO will manage domestic and international sales, sports and outdoor adventure, and cultural tourism initiatives, which include the Blues, Country Music, and Freedom Trails. This executive role requires strong leadership, relationship-building skills, and a deep understanding of tourism sales strategies across diverse markets. - Duties and Responsibilities include, but are not limited to: Leadership & Strategy • Develop and execute a comprehensive sales strategy targeting leisure travelers, business groups, meetings, conventions, and consumers to increase visitation, overnight stays, and economic impact across Mississippi. • Lead and mentor sales teams, fostering collaboration, accountability, and innovation. • Collaborate with the Director of Tourism and senior leaders to align sales initiatives with tourism marketing and development strategies. Domestic & International Sales • Oversee development of domestic group, leisure, and meetings/conventions markets. • Direct international tourism sales efforts, including partnerships with travel trade, tour operators, and global tourism organizations. Sports & Outdoor Adventure Tourism • Lead sales efforts to attract sporting events, tournaments, and outdoor adventure travelers. • Build partnerships with sporting organizations, outdoor recreation groups, and event rights-holders to increase Mississippi's share of the sports tourism market. Cultural Tourism Development • Promote and expand Mississippi's cultural tourism assets, including the Blues Trail, Country Music Trail, and Freedom Trail. • Build partnerships with cultural institutions, attractions, and local communities to elevate authentic experiences that drive visitor interest. • Leverage music, history, and cultural assets to grow heritage and cultural tourism markets. Partnerships & Stakeholder Engagement • Cultivate relationships with industry stakeholders, destination marketing organizations, attractions, hotels, and event organizers to maximize tourism growth and shared success. • Proactively cultivate relationships with travel agents, tour operators, meeting planners, and other decision-makers to generate leads and sales opportunities. • Collaborate with regional and national tourism partners to strengthen Mississippi's position as a top-tier destination. Performance and Reporting • Manage daily operations of the Domestic Sales Office, including supervising, training, performance management, productivity, and staff support. • Analyze market trends and sales data, adjust strategies, and report progress regularly to the Director of Tourism. • Manage departmental budgets and allocate resources efficiently. • Stay informed on industry trends, competitor activities, and emerging opportunities. • Work with the marketing team to develop sales materials and messaging aligned with sales initiatives. (This is a Non-State, X-16 position.)
What youll need to be Successful
To be successful, a candidate must possess and maintain a valid Mississippi Driver's License, be a strategic thinker with the ability to innovate and adapt to a changing tourism landscape, have a passion for Mississippi's culture, music, history, and natural assets, be a collaborative leader who inspires teams and builds strong partnerships, must be results-oriented with a focus on driving measurable impact, and must be able to travel.
Preferred Qualifications
Typically requires a Bachelors Degree and 3-5 years of experience. - Hiring Agency Note: Experience demonstrating the candidate's ability to perform all essential functions of the position is beneficial.
Characteristics of Work
See MSPB Careers for information regarding this classifications
Health/Prescription Insurance
Eligible employees have the opportunity to participate in the state's health and prescription insurance program. Employees may select either single or family coverage with affordable co-payments. More detail can be found at Know Your Benefits.
Wellness Benefits
Employees are eligible for a wellness and health promotion program. This plan provides annual benefits for certain services with first-dollar coverage with no deductible.
Life Insurance
All eligible employees receive an actual term life insurance policy upon employment. The policy coverage is two times the employee's annual salary to a maximum of $100,000. More detail can be found at Life Insurance Choices.
Optional Insurances
Many agencies offer discounted premiums for dental, vision, and cancer insurance.
Flexible Spending Accounts
Many state agencies provide opportunity for employees to participate in pre-tax spending accounts. These accounts allow employees to withhold childcare expenses and unreimbursed medical expenses prior to application of state and federal taxes.
Paid Personal Leave and Sick Leave
Full-time employees receive paid time off for personal needs and for sick leave. Leave begins accruing after one month of employment and may be used as it is accrued. Employees earn approximately 18 days of personal leave annually and 12 days of sick leave annually.
Military Leave
In accordance with federal law, all employees serving in the armed forces or the military reserves are entitled to 15 days per year for military training.
Holidays
Employees receive up to 10 paid holidays to enjoy many of our nation's celebrations with family and friends.
Retirement Programs
The State of Mississippi provides all its employees a Defined Benefit/Defined Contribution Retirement Program. Employees become vested in the State's retirement system after 8 years of employment. Both you and your employing agency contribute toward your retirement. More detailed information regarding the State's retirement program can be found at http://www.pers.state.ms.us
Deferred Compensation
State agencies offer several opportunities for their employees to participate in a deferred compensation voluntary retirement savings plan. More information can be found at Deferred Compensation.
State Credit Union
All state employees are eligible to participate in the Mississippi Public Employees' Credit Union. This organization offers state employees special savings and borrowing plans. For more information about this program, call 601.948.8191.
Tuition Reimbursement
Many state agencies provide opportunities for their employees to achieve higher education through tuition reimbursement. Common programs include medical and nursing fields, accounting, and business/administrative fields.
Career Development and Training
The Mississippi State Personnel Board offers several management and administrative certification programs, as well as professional development courses to enhance employee value to the agency. Individual agencies also offer technical training and allow membership in professional organizations to employees in their specific fields of employment.
Promotional Opportunities
Employees who have completed 6 or more months of service are eligible for promotional opportunities within state government employment. Minimum qualifications must be met.
Career Ladders
Many job classifications provide career-ladder opportunities based upon attainment of competencies. These career ladders can increase an individual's salary, provided funds are available within the agency.
01
What is the highest level of education (or semester hours of college) you have completed from an accredited four-year college or university?
02
How many years of experience do you have?
Required Question
Employer State of Mississippi
Address 210 East Capitol Street
Suite 800
Jackson, Mississippi, 39201
Phone 601-359-1406
601-359-1406
| Location | Jackson, MS |
| Salary | $74,308.35–$86,000 Per Year |
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