Downtown Development Director

Overview

The Downtown Development Manager (DDM) supports downtown revitalization efforts within Fuquay-Varina's designated downtown districts (DC-1 and DC-2). This key role oversees the successful implementation of the Town's nationally accredited Main Street program, encompassing all related activities and initiatives. This position drives economic growth, enhances businesses, residents, and visitors' downtown experience, and ensures program adherence to national accreditation standards. As a Town of Fuquay-Varina employee, the position reports directly to the Economic Development Director (ED). The DDM fosters and maintains collaborative partnerships with stakeholders and leads the Fuquay-Varina Downtown Association - a local 501(c)(3) nonprofit focused on program facilitation.

• Spearheads Fuquay-Varina's downtown revitalization efforts and serves as the Executive Director of the Fuquay-Varina Downtown Association (FVDA). Fosters committee collaboration, supports work plan execution, and supervises part-time FVDA personnel to drive the Town's nationally accredited Main Street program and advance economic development goals. This position requires occasional nights and weekends.
• Builds and maintains strong collaborative working relationships with property owners, businesses, and community partners.
• Promotes downtown programs and business activities using media and promotional materials.
• Provides market research, data, and technical assistance to developers, businesses, and entities seeking to initiate economic development in Downtown Fuquay-Varina.
• Works collaboratively with internal Town staff, including but not limited to Fuquay-Varina Communications, Parks and Recreation, Police and Fire, and other external partners to coordinate community events.
• Manages all administrative aspects of the Main Street program, preparing required reports for the State Main Street Program and the National Main Street Center.
  1. Facilitates, in collaboration with the FVDA's board of directors and FVDA committees, the development of the Main Street program's annual action plan for implementing a downtown revitalization program focused on four areas: design, promotion, organization, and economic vitality.
  2. Advises and educates downtown businesses, property owners, and stakeholders on Main Street program activities and goals.
  3. Utilizes the Main Street program format and develops and maintains data systems to track the process and progress of the local Main Street program. These systems should include economic monitoring, individual building files, thorough photographic documentation of all physical changes, and job creation and business retention information.
• Leads the collaborative development of strategic initiatives for downtown economic growth alongside the FVDA Board of Directors.
• Actively engage with diverse downtown interest groups and stakeholders to deeply understand their roles and perspectives.
• Manages the Town’s Façade Grant program, providing funding to downtown businesses/property owners on rehabilitation projects.
• Addresses streetscape issues with downtown property/business owners and Town officials.
• Leads the coordination of joint promotional events, like seasonal festivals and cooperative retail promotions, to attract visitors downtown.
• Identifies and pursues grant opportunities that subsidize Town and FVDA funding.
• Advances the action items and projects identified in the Town of Fuquay-Varina Downtown Generational Master Plan; performs other downtown development-related duties as assigned by the Economic Development Director and Town Management.
• Develops and manages effective communications for the Downtown Development Department and FVDA, including designing and producing marketing and image campaigns.
• Markets downtown’s unique characteristics to residents, investors, business owners, and visitors through speaking engagements, social media, and community visibility.
• Performs other duties as required.

Qualifications

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills are essential. Supervisory skills are desirable.
• The manager must understand the issues confronting downtown businesses, property owners, public agencies, and community organizations.
• Considerable knowledge of the Main Street program, related regulations, and grants.
• The manager must be entrepreneurial, energetic, imaginative, well-organized, and capable of functioning effectively in a very independent situation.
• Must be a self-starter with the ability to work effectively without close supervision.
• Offer flexibility and adaptability during times of change.
• Ability to plan and organize work, time, and resources.
• Skilled in computer systems and all Microsoft applications (Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint).
• Knowledge of political, social, and economic implications of economic development.
• Knowledge of public and private financing options, grant accounting, and related business issues.
• Ability to make effective presentations and public speaking events, media interviews, and represent the Downtown District in public relations matters.
• Ability to analyze situations accurately and make correct recommendations for each business contact.
• Ability to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with Town officials, employees, business owners, residents, boards, commissions, and the general public.

Education and experience

• Graduation from a four-year college or university with a major in Business, Planning, or Public Administration or an equivalent combination of education or experience.
• Experience in historic preservation, nonprofit management, entrepreneurial and small business development, or downtown revitalization.
• The DDM must be sensitive to design and preservation issues.
• Ability to manage a budget and staff.

Physical requirements

• Must be able to physically perform the essential life operation functions, including stooping, kneeling, crouching, reaching, standing, walking, lifting, fingering, grasping, talking, and hearing.
• Must be able to perform sedentary work, exerting up to 20 pounds.
• Must possess the visual acuity to prepare and analyze data, examine and work with maps, charts, and detailed materials, operate a computer, inspect sites, use measuring devices, figure out computations, and read extensively.

Additional information

• The DDM position is 100% paid by the Town. The Downtown Development Department is a subsidiary department within the Town's Economic Development Department. The DDM is an exempt employee and is not subject to overtime.
• Possession of a valid North Carolina Driver’s License is required.
• Certification from the National Main Street Program is preferred.
• This role requires a flexible schedule, including evenings and weekends, to support event needs.
• The starting salary will be determined based on the selected candidate's skills and qualifications.

Application and status information

If you have technical issues submitting your application, please call the NEOGOV Help Line at . If there are any questions about this posting, other than your application status, please contact the Human Resources Office. If multiple applications are submitted to an individual posting, only the most recent application received before the closing date will be accepted. To check the status of your application, log on to your NEOGOV account and click “Application Status”. It is not necessary to contact the Human Resources Office to check the status of an application. Normal processing time for applications is ~20-30 days from the closing date of the posting. When a salary range is posted, the actual salary will be based on relevant competencies, knowledge, skills & abilities, internal equity, and budgetary considerations pertinent to the advertised position. The Town of Fuquay-Varina is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The hiring salary will not exceed the hiring pay range unless approved by the Town Manager.

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