Position: Executive Director- Gulfport Main Street Program

Organization: City Of Gulfport

Salary range: $45,000 - $55,000, plus benefits, based on experience.

Open period: October 6, 2014- October 17, 2014

Location:Gulfport, MS (Isrelocation and travel for interviews reimbursed? Up to how much?)

Requirements: Bachelor’s degree required. Applicant must provide three professional references. (And, any requirements the City of Gulfport might have i.e. applicant must be proficient with Microsoft applications utilizing Word, Excel and presentation applications, etc.)

Preferred: Applicant should have experience in and a successful track record with the Main Street Four Point Approach to downtown revitalization.

Job Summary:

The Executive Director acts as the Managing Officer of Gulfport Main Street, subject to the direction of the Gulfport Main Street Board of Directors and the Economic Development Director for the City of Gulfport. The Main Street Executive Director will supervise, direct and administer the day to day business and management of Gulfport Main Street, including the implementation of policies and procedures, program development, financial management, marketing, and downtown business/property owner and community relations.

Job Scope:

The Executive Director coordinates activities, within the downtown revitalization program, that utilize the Main Street Four Point Approach as an integral foundation for downtown economic development. The Executive Director is responsible for the development, conduct, execution and documentation of the Main Street program. The Executive Director is the principal on-site staff person responsible for coordinating all program activities and volunteers, as well as representing the community regionally and nationally, as appropriate. In addition, the Executive Director should provide guidance as the organization’s objectives evolve.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Provide leadership in the implementation of the Main Street Four Point Approach to Downtown Revitalization and coordination of Gulfport Main Street.
Coordinate the activities of the Main Street program’s committees and task forces, ensuring that communication among committees and volunteers are well established; assist committee volunteers with implementation of work plan items. Oversee the coordination of Board and committee agenda, meetings, minutes and correspondence.

Facilitate consistent, informative communication and effective outreach to the Board of Directors, City of Gulfport, committees, volunteers, property and business owners, government agencies and other partners. Create awareness and build consensus for the organization’s programs and services.
Manage all administrative aspects of the Main Street program, including purchasing, record keeping, budget development, accounting, 501(c)(3) compliance, grant writing, grant administration, fundraising, strategic planning, preparing all reports required by the state Main Street program, the City of Gulfport and by the National Main Street Center, assisting with the preparation of reports to funding agencies, and supervising employees, interns or consultants.
Develop additional funding sources to augment Gulfport Main Street’s existing revenues, including utilization of grant programs, sponsorships and a membership program.
Develop, in conjunction with the Board of Directors, downtown economic revitalization strategies and utilize the community’s human and economic resources. Become familiar with all persons and groups directly and indirectly involved in the downtown. Be mindful of the roles of various downtown interest groups, assist the Board of Directors and committees in developing an annual action plan for implementing a downtown revitalization program focused on four areas: design/historic preservation; promotion and marketing; organization/management; and economic/business development. Develop programs to recruit and retain downtown merchant membership.
Develop and conduct on-going public awareness and education programs designed to enhance appreciation of the downtown’s unique character and assets. Use speaking engagements, media interviews, and personal appearances to keep the program in the public eye.
Develop and maintain data systems to track the progress of the revitalization effort including documentation of job creation, business recruitment and retention, vacancy rate, reinvestment statistics, economic monitoring, individual building files, and photographic documentation of physical changes.
Assess the management capacity of Gulfport’s downtown district and encourage improvements in the downtown community’s ability to carry out joint activities such as cooperative advertising, marketing, appropriate store hours, special events, business assistance, business recruitment, and parking management.
Coordinate joint promotional events, such as festivals or business promotions, to improve the quality and success of events and attract people to downtown; work closely with local media to ensure maximum coverage of all downtown activities; encourage design excellence in all aspects of promotion in order to advance an image of quality for the downtown.
Help build strong, collaborative, and productive relationships with staff and appropriate public agencies at the local and state levels.
Represent the organization to important constituencies at the local, state, and national levels. Attend State and National Conferences as required for State and National accreditation.
May be required to attend a variety of meetings and committees in addition to the Gulfport Main Street Board of Director’s meetings, including City governing bodies and community focused organizations.
Performs all other duties as assigned.

Application questions:

Before hearing about this position, were you aware of the Main Street approach to commercial revitalization? Are you familiar with historic preservation issues?
The executive director must deal with a wide variety of people from government officials, to media and merchants. Can you give examples that demonstrate your ability to work productively with others?
Describe in 200 words or less your greatest strategic accomplishment in your professional career involving merchant relationships, politics, and/or volunteers as your criteria.
If you are selected as the new Executive Director, what are your top three priorities?
If you are selected as the new Executive Director, how will you go about transitioning yourself into the position?

How applicant will be evaluated: Applicants meeting the minimum requirements listed above will be evaluated against factors listed in the job description, resume/curriculum vitae, and responses to the application questions. Applicants will be evaluated for technical competence, oral communication, written communication, and interpersonal skills.

The best qualified applicants will be selected for interviews with the Selection Committee.

How to apply:

Please send the following:

o Resume
o Written responses to the application questions
o In your cover letter please also provide the names, titles, relationship to you, and telephone numbers of three professional references

Sample Interview Questions:

Why do you want to be an executive director for this revitalization program, and what special qualities do you feel you bring to the position?
How would you organize and strengthen the revitalization program?
What is the most innovative project in which you have been involved?
How would you convince merchants, property owners, or municipal leaders to participate in the Main Street program?
What type of relationship would you help forge among district business and property owners, the city governments, and other communities?
What experience do you have in public speaking and working in a position with high visibility?
How do you prioritize projects? On how many projects do you feel comfortable working at any given time?
Of the four points of the Main Street approach, with which are you most comfortable?