Victoria’s High Country is renowned for its world-class landscapes, vibrant villages, and exceptional visitor experiences. At Tourism North East (TNE), our mission is to elevate the region’s reputation as one of Australia’s premier regional destinations. We are seeking a proactive Industry and Product Development Manager to work within our Visitor Experience team on initiatives that look to improve the High Country’s product offering, drive visitor numbers, increase length of stay, boost regional expenditure, and elevate return visitation. In this role, you will work hand-in-hand with current and established tourism operators across our five key product pillars: Cycle, Snow, Nature-Based Tourism, Food & Wine/Beverages, and Arts & Cultural Heritage. If you are passionate about regional economic growth and championing innovative tourism experiences, we want to hear from you.

Key Responsibilities
Industry Development & Capacity Building
• Build trusted, long-term relationships with tourism operators and business owners across all product pillars.
• Mentor operators on best practice, commercial viability, and integrating forward-thinking, resilient operational models.
• Translate market research, consumer insights, and emerging travel trends into actionable business strategies for operators.
• Plan and deliver regional industry workshops, masterclasses, networking forums, and business development sessions.
• Foster an active culture of cross-business collaboration to build comprehensive visitor itineraries and regional package offerings.
• Champion business resilience planning to prepare operators for off-peak trading,



environmental events, and broader economic shifts. Product Innovation & Investment
• Identify strategic gaps in the regional visitor offering and work with existing operators or incoming entrepreneurs to develop viable solutions.
• Support existing businesses in diversifying their product range and elevating experiential quality.
• Conceptualise, scope, and deliver collaborative product development projects alongside industry and government stakeholders.
• Identify and pursue relevant public and private funding opportunities, including state and federal tourism grants, to expand regional infrastructure and experiences. Strategic Collaboration
• Serve as the bridge between regional operators and the TNE Marketing & PR team, feeding ground-level stories, new product launches, and seasonal offerings into broader campaigns.
• Help operators leverage regional marketing campaigns and strategic partnerships.
• Collaborate with marketing colleagues to package campaign-specific offers and consumer-facing packages. Stakeholder Engagement
• Maintain transparent, cooperative relationships with local councils, alpine resort management, regional tourism associations, and state tourism bodies.




• Proactively support the managements of the annual Industry & Product Development budget with strong commercial governance.
• In collaboration with the Content Producer, produce regular industry newsletters, briefings, and updates to keep all stakeholders aligned with regional strategic goals. What You Bring
• Demonstrated

Experience:
Proven background in tourism management, destination development, regional economic development, or a related commercial sector.
• Relationship & Mentoring Acumen: Exceptional interpersonal and coaching skills, with an ability to build credibility and influence diverse small-to-medium business owners.
• Strategic & Analytical Mindset: Demonstrated ability to translate macro trends and data into practical commercial initiatives.
• Project & Budget Management: Solid experience delivering cross-stakeholder projects on time and managing allocated departmental budgets.
• Grant & Investment Acumen: Familiarity with government grant processes, funding applications, and business case development is highly regarded. The Details This is a permanent, part-time hybrid role working four days per week (Monday to Thursday). Remuneration details are available upon request.

How to Apply
Please submit your resume along with a cover letter (maximum 2 pages) detailing your relevant experience and how your background aligns with the demand of the position. Applications close: Friday 27th November 2026 All applications are to be addressed to: Dean Cleave-Smith Head of Visitor Experience Dean.
[email protected]

📌 Industry and Product Development Manager (Australia)
🏢 Tourism North East
📍 Australia