The Opportunity:

Position: Chief Executive Officer

Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Reporting Relationship: Philadelphia Visitor Center Corporation Board of Directors

Website: https://www.phlvisitorcenter.com/

Position Summary:

The Chief Executive Officer of the Philadelphia Visitor Center Corporation (“PVCC”) will provide direction and leadership to position the PVCC at the forefront of the tourism industry. In this context, and in coordination with the Board, the CEO will be tasked with developing and implementing a strategic plan to advance the company’s mission and objectives and to promote revenue, profitability, and growth as an organization. The CEO will oversee company operations to ensure quality, service, production efficiency, and cost-effective management of resources. The CEO is also charged with working cooperatively with the National Park Service on the management of the Independence Visitor Center (IVC).

The CEO reports directly to the PVCC Board of Directors and is charged with positioning the Philadelphia Visitor Center Corporation as the premier cheerleader and expert in creating an excellent visitor experience throughout the City. In coordination with and the Board, the CEO will be required to develop and implement a strategic plan to advance the mission and objectives to promote and increase revenue, profitability, and growth as an organization. The CEO will oversee all operations to ensure quality, service, production efficiency and cost-effective management of resources. They will also serve as ex-officio member of PVCC Board of Directors. As noted, the CEO is charged with working cooperatively with the National Park Service, which owns the Independence Visitor Center (IVC) building and land at 6th and Market Streets.

The year 2026 is of critical importance to the City of Philadelphia and Region. As we plan for 2026 and all related events, i.e., FIFA World Cup, MLB All Star Game, Fourth of July, etc. there is an opportunity for the PVCC and CEO to play a significant role within the City’s tourism industry to help orchestrate and coordinate the logistics and preparation involved in ensuring a safe and positive visitor experience, in partnership with peer tourism industry organizations. Working within a matrix environment will be a key skill in this area as PVCC positions itself with other key industry leaders, i.e., Visit Philadelphia, PHLCVB, Pennsylvania Convention Center, to be the key delivery arm for visitor services. PVCC needs to be an ‘advocate’ for visitors to Philadelphia, local, regional, and global. PVCC is the organization to ensure that once visitors are here, they have an incredible experience. Our next leader needs to ensure Philadelphia Visitor Center Corporation is successful and thriving in an increasingly online and mobile environment, maximizing the online visitor center experience, envisioning and activating on what our next phase and future looks like in 2026 and beyond.

Philadelphia Visitor Center Corporation - Organizational Snapshot:

• Current $4 million budget (approximate)
• 80% of funding is generated by gift shop, ticket sales, and event space rental. The center also gets up to $850,000 a year from the National Park Service / Department of the Interior through operating and cooperative agreements to manage the Independence Visitor Center

- 31 employees full- and part-time (as of Jan. 2023); 18-member Board of Directors

• The annual contribution of the Philadelphia Visitor Center Corporation to the regional economy is estimated to be $116 million to $233 million in economic impact, supporting 1,100 to 2,200 jobs with $35 million to $71 million in earnings, and $8 million to $16 million in state and local tax revenue. (Econsult Solutions, Inc. Economic Impact Report. May 2022)
• 2.3 million visitors in 2019 came through the Independence Visitor Center (IVC)
• At the IVC, visitors can purchase tickets for local tours, attractions, and museums, and souvenirs from the official gift shop of Philadelphia. They can also pick up free maps and brochures and utilize free services and amenities, including Wi-Fi and accessible public restrooms. Friendly Visitor Experience Associates are available to help turn any visitor's wish list into an unforgettable, customized itinerary.

To activate this personalized touch with as many people as possible, in addition to core operations at Independence Visitor Center (in cooperation with the National Park Service), the Philadelphia Visitor Center Corporation also manages a network of visitor services throughout the City:

• Satellite visitor center locations: the LOVE Park Visitor Center and City Hall Visitor Center;
• Visitor-friendly public transit service, Philly PHLASH® Downtown Loop;
• Private event space, The Liberty View Ballroom and Event Space, located on the mezzanine level of Independence Visitor Center.

The CEO will be charged with reimagining what a multi-location, possibly mobile, Visitor Center network would look like and how it would operate. TBD from PVCC Strategic Plan - possible other locations at Airport, FDR Park, Reading Terminal, Delaware Waterfront, etc.

Key Responsibilities and Desired Outcomes

Strategic Vision & Leadership

 Develop and implement a strategic plan to advance the mission and objectives to promote and increase revenue, profitability, and overall growth as an organization.

 Work within the tourism ecosystem to elevate PVCC’s profile, solidify a seat at the table and demonstrate the unique value-add of the visitor services provided.

 Focus on Diversity and Inclusion both internally and externally in all aspects of strategic planning and implementation - diversify the Board and staff to better represent the community and visitors.

 Plan, develop and implement strategies for generating resources and revenues that will enable the organization to move toward self-sufficiency.

 Promote PVCC as the premier visitor experience organization to local regional, national, and international constituencies.

 Provide project management and oversight as it relates to expansion strategy beyond the IVC and Historic District.

Administration, Finance & Development

 Steward the financial health of the organization, including developing short and long-range financial plans, monitoring the budget, and ensuring sound financial controls are in place; set financial priorities to ensure the organization is operating in a manner that supports continued growth and stability.

 Oversee operations to ensure quality of services to visitors, production efficiency and cost-effective management of resources.

 Manage financial and audit controls, interfacing with Chief Financial Officer, audit and accounting firms, Board of Directors, and Finance Committee.

 Approve operational procedures, policies, and standards.

 Oversee fundraising planning and implementation – demonstrated high-level fundraising success.

 Develop a strategic plan to advance the mission and objectives to promote and increase revenue, profitability, and overall growth as an organization.

Business & Partner Relations

 Develop and maintain strong relationships with industry partners, funders, venders, etc., specifically relationships with peer tourism organizations in Philadelphia. Seek out opportunities for partnership and coordination.

 Cultivate, establish, and maintain working relationships with cultural attraction partners in effort to add value and support the broader mission and objectives of the organization.

 Work with partners in the Historic District on joint strategy, programming and building efficiencies where possible.

Governance

 Strengthen public official relationships; Navigate politics within the tourism and public sectors; Explore and solidify public funding where applicable.

 Manage financial and audit controls, interfacing with Chief Financial Officer, audit and accounting firms, Board of Directors, and Finance Committee.

 Along with board leadership develop board governance strategy, including committee structure.

 Recruit, on-board and communicate with board members.

 Approve organization’s operational procedures, policies, and standards.

The Candidate: Experiences and Professional Qualifications

The successful candidate should possess a broad array of skills and experiences including:

 At least 10 years of professional experience to include advocacy, strategic planning, negotiating and implementation of large-scale program/project initiatives;

 Record of effective, innovative, and collaborative leadership in a complex environment;

 Proven history of strategically growing another non-profit or other civic enterprise of similar complexity;

 Knowledge of Philadelphia region, service/hospitality industry preferred;

 Commitment to inclusion, diversity, excellence and integrity, and a proven ability to inspire, motivate, and facilitate the success of others;

 Inspirational, enthusiastic and results-driven;

 Commitment to transparency in strategy, policy and fiscal management;

 Change management experience, re-engineering operations and procedures and the ability to help shape and reinforce a culture of excellence;

 Proven record of recruiting, developing and retaining high performing teams to accomplish common goals;

 Exceptional communication skills with the ability to represent the organization to internal and external audiences for the purpose of enhancing the reach of PVCC’s mission and values;

 Demonstrated fundraising success, both public and private, planning through implementation and retention;

 Experience dealing with City and State Public Officials on funding and other support

 Willingness to work a flexible schedule and travel, as necessary.

Education and Credentials

A bachelor’s degree is required.

Procedure for Candidacy

Confidential review of applications, nominations and expressions of interest will begin immediately and will continue until an appointment is made. To ensure full consideration, please email a letter of interest and resume to Korn Ferry at: PVCC-CEO@kornferry.com.

Philadelphia Visitor Center Corporation

The Philadelphia Visitor Center Corporation (PVCC) is a Pennsylvania nonprofit, 501(c)3 organization, which operates in cooperation with Visit Philadelphia®, the Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau, the City of Philadelphia, National Park Service, and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

The PVCC manages the Independence Visitor Center, the primary point of orientation for Independence National Historical Park and the official visitor center of the Philadelphia region, including Bucks, Chester, Delaware, and Montgomery Counties. PVCC operates the LOVE Park Visitor Center, City Hall Visitor Center, and Philly PHLASH Downtown Loop transit service, and the private event space, The Liberty View at Independence Visitor Center.

Recent Updates

After recently celebrating the organization's 20-year anniversary and reflecting how it has grown since its inception in November 2001, the Philadelphia Visitor Center Corporation (PVCC), formerly the Independence Visitor Center Corporation (IVCC), the organization completed a Strategic Plan with consulting agency Schultz & Williams and the PVCC Board. The plan serves to guide the organization's continued recovery from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and its continued growth over the next 3 - 5 years. The plan’s top recommendation included changing the organization’s name to better align itself with peer organizations, like Visit Philadelphia and the Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau, and more closely reflect its ever-expanding footprint. This upcoming period is a critical time in Philadelphia and the region, as the region prepares for several celebrations and events of epic proportions, like the FIFA World Cup and America250, and the PVCC aims to continue its mission and provide lasting memories for visitors.

Mission

The mission of the Philadelphia Visitor Center Corporation is to enhance the experience of visitors to Philadelphia by providing exceptional customer service and access to all that the city has to offer.

Vision

The Philadelphia Visitor Center Corporation will inspire visitors to create lasting memories through exploring the city and region, and to share their experiences with others. We envision Philadelphia Visitor Center Corporation as a nationally recognized leader in visitor service excellence and innovation.

For additional information about PVCC, please visit: https://www.phlvisitorcenter.com/.

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the sixth most populous in the United States. In the northeastern United States, at the confluence of the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers, Philadelphia is the economic and cultural anchor of the Delaware Valley; the metropolitan area is the eighth largest in the United States and home to 7.2 million people.

Philadelphia is the center of economic activity in Pennsylvania and is home to seven Fortune 1000 companies. The city is known for its arts, culture, and history, attracting more than 39 million domestic tourists in 2013. The 67 National Historic Landmarks in the city helped account for the $10 billion generated by tourism.

Philadelphia has a plethora of educational options with many private and public institutions. The School District of Philadelphia is the eighth largest school district in the United States with 198,645 students in 323 schools as of 2021. Philadelphia has the third-largest higher education student concentration on the East Coast, with more than 120,000 college and university students enrolled within the city and nearly 300,000 in the metropolitan area.

In the news:

Independence Visitor Center Corp. CEO James Cuorato to step down after 13-year tenure - Philadelphia Business Journal (bizjournals.com)

Independence Visitor Center generates $72M a year in additional spending on tickets and more across the region, new report says (inquirer.com)

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Korn Ferry shall provide equal employment opportunity to all qualified candidates, and will refer candidates without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, veteran status or any other legally protected basis.