City of Holland

Job Description

02/15/2013

JOB TITLE:Downtown Manager

PAY GRADE:CM-F

$26.87 – $32.22 ($55,890 – $67,018)

REPORTS TO:Director, Community and Neighborhood Services

JOB SUMMARY:Under direction of the Director/City Manager, and serving the Boards of the Downtown Development Authority and Principal Shopping District, responsible for administrative functions, project and program oversight and management, and budget management of the full scope of Downtown Services as a hands-on working leader/supervisor. This position shall be responsible for leading and assisting others in setting and implementing the strategic vision for taking Downtown Holland into the next generation of success.

PRIMARY DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

  1. Serves as the point person and as an enthusiastic, creative and unifying force in leading all aspects of Downtown activity. Understands, promotes and enhances the many strengths and prominent themes of Downtown as recognized within the Downtown Strategic Plan, while working to accomplish identified and new initiatives that continue to solidify Downtown Holland’s place as the “best small city downtown in America”. Maintains a positive, progressive and nurturing environment for business, entertainment and daily experience.
  2. Elevate effective communication and collaboration between all interested parties regarding Downtown issues.
  3. Directs and serves as primary staff support to the Principal Shopping District and its Committees, working with owners, tenants and other stakeholders to conceive and carry out strategies for marketing and promoting the Downtown.
  4. Directs and serves as primary staff support to the Downtown Development Authority and its Committees, working with owners, tenants and other stakeholders to conceive, construct and/or modify, and maintain the various components of the Downtown physical environment and infrastructure.
  5. Directs and facilitates long-range and strategic planning, economic development, and implementation of public and private development projects. Where appropriate, assists the private sector in areas of business retention, attraction, and transitions.
  6. Directs and administers the Downtown Parking Program.
  7. Works with local, state, and national individuals, agencies and organizations to secure funding and favorable policy decisions benefitting Downtown activities and well-being. Serves as a conduit for public and private knowledge about programs and resources available to the downtown community.
  8. Collaborates with and establishes/maintains effective relationships with key leaders of local organizations (i.e. the Chamber of Commerce, Convention and Visitors Bureau, Tulip Time, Lakeshore Advantage, Hope College, Riverview, the Historical Trust, and Holland Area Arts Council), property and business owners, residents, and other stakeholders to assure a common vision for Downtown is understood and pursued through collective action by the Downtown community.
  9. Establishes and maintains productive and respectful relationships with City Council and City administrative staff.
  10. Supervises full- and part-time employees, interns, volunteers, and consultants associated with Downtown work activities
  11. Provides administrative support for Downtown Boards and Committees, with duties including attending and facilitating meetings, providing preparatory research and reports, keeping minutes and records of committee discussions and activities, and preparing necessary correspondence in support of this work.
  12. Provides and directs administrative aspects of the Downtown Services office including such responsibilities as budget development, purchasing, recordkeeping and office management.
  13. Provides creative ideas and marketing/promotional/special event programming for the City’s Downtown Marketplace and other public venues in collaboration with other City staff.
  14. Provide coordinating advice to the City’s corridor, shopping center and neighborhood commercial district improvement programs to assist City staff in those efforts while assuring appropriate distinctions are maintained among all such areas and the Downtown.
  15. Performs other duties as assigned.

OTHER DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

  1. Performs other duties as assigned.

JOB QUALIFICATIONS:

  1. Overall High Level Perspectives:

-A strong interest and passion for downtowns, with specific interest in Holland and West Michigan.

-Demonstrated leadership abilities.

-A strong drive to make a difference in every day work.

-Proven track record of accomplishment in a variety of downtowns exhibiting creative and forward thinking and problem solving.

-Management/planning/marketing/economic development responsibilities, with at least 10 years experience in these areas.

-Bachelor’s degree in a related field. Master’s degree in related field preferred.

-High comfort level and effectiveness working with peer organizations on collaborative promotion, marketing, planning, and economic development.

  1. Marketing and Promotion

-Consumer-level marketing in all types of media: print, TV, radio, billboards, social media, etc.

-Creation, management, oversight, and refinement of shopping, business, and other popular entertainment events with familiarity of such activities at a similar scale as Holland.

-Knowledge of and ability to draw from Michigan, national and international cities and their means of effective marketing and promotion of downtowns vis-à-vis shopping, entertainment, special events, and special character of the district.

-Comfortable creating, seeking out and exploring new and innovative ideas for promoting varying aspects of Downtown Holland.

  1. Streetscape/Infrastructure

-Familiarity and working knowledge of effective public/private partnerships in downtown settings.

-Familiarity with the physical infrastructure in downtown settings, including such things as street, sidewalk, and utility construction; streetscape design elements and features, etc.

-Ability to read and interpret GIS mapping, aerial photographs, and construction documents.

-Project management skills and demonstrated abilities to oversee improvements and modifications to downtown infrastructure.

  1. Planning and Economic Development

-Urban planning and/or urban design experience and demonstrated skills.

-Familiarity and comfort level with workshop and charrette processes for strategic planning and physical planning purposes.

-Familiarity and experience with real estate development issues, including the economic factors, incentives, and challenges therein..

-Familiarity and experience in business recruitment, business retention, and business support

-

  1. General Experience and Skills:

-Management: budgeting, personnel oversight/motivation/evaluation/training, fundraising.

-Effective oral and writing communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills for interactions with city councils, boards, media, downtown business and property owners, community groups, staff, and peer organizations.

-Graphic and design skills and/or management and oversight capabilities of same.

-High comfort level and experience working with volunteers and interns.

-Proficient in utilizing computers and social media, to include but not be limited to Microsoft products (Word, Excel, Powerpoint) and Adobe Creative Suite products (Acrobat Pro, Illustrator, InDesign, Photoshop, Bridge)in both a PC and MAC environment.

PERSONAL TRAITS, MANAGEMENT STYLE

-The candidate should be:
- a roll-up the sleeves self-starter with vision, positive outlook, high energy and commitment.
- a creative and charismatic leader who is customer-focused and can motivate organizations to accomplish substantial goals.
-experienced working with a diverse and wide array of audiences within the community.
-an excellent and persuasive oral and written communicator with diverse audiences.
-an individual who values and celebrates diversity.
-adept at selling to all levels, from rural visitor, shop clerk or Downtown student resident to senior executives, business owners, and the development community.
-an individual with unquestioned integrity and impeccable business and personal ethics.
-a team player who will work smoothly and efficiently within complex organizational structures.
-a sound executive with demonstrated success setting and managing priorities, managing and delegating, and assessing and motivating others.
-an intelligent, mature, poised, and self-confident individual who will fit with the culture of the Downtown organizations and community.
-a person who can handle multiple tasks working down several parallel paths at the same time.
-a collaborative leader.

EDUCATION

-A bachelor’s degree in Planning, Public Administration, Business Administration, Marketing or related field and at least three to five (3-5) years of progressively responsible experience in a public or quasi-public sector or non-profit organization or an equivalent combination of specifically related education, training or experience. Masters Degree preferred. An exception to educational requirements may be made for candidates with proven records of performance.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

-The salary for the position is negotiable within a range of $55,000 to $60,000 annually, based on qualifications and experience. It is expected that the position will be hired at the level of CM-F and report to the Director of Community and Neighborhood Services, as well as being responsible to the Principal Shopping District and Downtown Development Authority Boards. It is further anticipated that, within 6 – 18 months, this position will shift into a department head position (projected Department of Downtown Services) reporting to the City Manager and the two Boards. Benefits include but are not limited to participation in the Michigan Employees Retirement System (MERS) defined contribution plan, and through a flexible benefit package- generous paid time off, group life insurance, and medical and dental insurance.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

  1. Normal office environment with little discomfort due to noise, dirt, dust and the like.
  2. Occasionally requires lifting or carrying objects weighing up to 25 pounds.

APPLICATION AND SELECTION PROCESS

Qualified Applicants may e-mail their resume and cover letter to by Friday, March 22, 2013.

The City of Holland is an Equal Opportunity Employer

This job description is intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by a person assigned to this job. They are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all job duties that may be performed by a person so classified.