Executive Director

Position Overview:

The Middletown Main Street Executive Director will coordinate, facilitate, promote and advance the revitalization of a vibrant, economically viable downtown district. The ED will serve as a visionary, listener and collaborator who works with various civic and professional constituents in the community, particularly downtown business owners. The ED must adapt to the ever‐changing needs of Middletown’s historic downtown, implement historic preservation ethics and encourage cooperative efforts between individuals and groups to accomplish project goals.

The ED is the face of MMS and works to develop relationships between MMS and community partners as it represents the community locally, regionally and nationally.

The ED will be accountable to the MMS Board of Directors. He or she also serves as program liaison to Downtown Delaware, the State Main Street Coordinating program.

Objectives:

The ED coordinates activities within the downtown district that utilizes historic preservation as an integral foundation for downtown economic development. He/she is responsible for the development, conduct, execution and documentation of the Middletown Main Street program and its annual action plan. The director is the principal staff person responsible for coordinating all activities and volunteers, as well as representing the community regionally and nationally as appropriate. The program director guides the organization as its objectives evolve.

The program director supervises all employees as well as professional consultants. He/she participates in personnel and project evaluations.

The ED will maintain Middletown Main Street’s records and reports, establish technical resource files and libraries, and prepare regular reports for the Delaware Main Street program and the National Main Street Center when required. The ED monitors the annual program budget, maintains financial records and submits tax filings.

General Duties:

Ensures that activities of the program support and promote the downtown district

Creates and manages the annual budget

Manages administrative duties

Develops and oversees an active volunteer base

Coordinates an annual work plan

Works closely with town officials to align goals and objectives

Works with the Board of Directors to meet fundraising and program goals

Coordinates events, projects and beautification initiatives

Coordinates Middletown Main Street program committees

Manages all administrative aspects of the Main Street program, including purchasing, record-keeping, budget development, accounting and preparing reports required by the state and national programs

Develop, in conjunction with Middletown Main Street’s board of directors, downtown economic development strategies and utilize the community’s human and economic resources

Become familiar and mindful of all people and groups directly and indirectly involved in downtown Middletown and various associated interest groups

Develop and conduct on-going public awareness and education programs designed to enhance appreciation of downtown Middletown’s assets and to foster an understanding of Middletown Main Street’s goals and objectives

Serve as liaison with State Downtown Development District to promote awareness of state-funded improvement grants

Advise downtown merchants’ organizations and/or chamber of commerce retail committees on Middletown Main Street activities and goals and help coordinate joint promotional events, such as festivals or business promotions

Work with local media to ensure coverage of promotional activities and events

Utilize the Main Street program format, develop and maintain data systems to track the progress of Middletown Main Street’s program and development. These systems should include economic monitoring, individual building files, photographic documentation of physical changes, and statistics on job creation and business retention.

Represent the community to important constituencies at the local, state, and national levels

Develop and execute a plan to solicit and win grants and development funds that are available to development districts

Job Knowledge and Skills Required:

Education and/or experience in one or more of the following areas: commercial district management, economics, finance, public relations, planning, business administration, public administration, retailing, volunteer or non-profit administration, architecture, historic preservation, and/or small business development

Demonstrated experience in being entrepreneurial, energetic, imaginative, well- organized and capable of functioning independently

Project management experience

Excellent written and verbal communication

Excellent public speaking, writing and relationship‐building skills

Proficiency with processing and spreadsheet applications

Moderate physical demands are required. Work is performed primarily in an office though some outdoor work is typical. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Reasonable accommodations will be made to enable an individual with disabilities to perform the essential functions

Must have valid driver’s license and regular access to a vehicle

Knowledge and Skills Desired:

An understanding of/curiosity about design and preservation

An empathy-grounded approach toward understanding the issues confronting business owners, property owners, residents, public agencies and community organizations

Experience in reviewing and submitting corporate/non-profit tax filings and government applications

Grant writing knowledge and/or experience

Large-scale event-planning experience

A commitment to inclusivity

A ‘Feet on the Street’ mentality, in which you pride yourself on being a presence around town

A resident of greater Middletown, Delaware and/or the Downtown Development District

Basic website-management experience

Social media, marketing and advertising skills