Executive Director Job Description

Work Objectives

The Historic Dupont Circle Main Street (HDCMS) executive director coordinates activities within a neighborhood business district revitalization program that utilizes a combination of new and enhanced development with historic preservation as an integral foundation for commercial 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 locally, regionally, and nationally as appropriate. In addition, the executive director should help guide the organization as its objectives evolve.

Full Range of Duties to be Performed

The executive director should carry out the following tasks:

• Coordinate the activities of the Main Street committees, ensuring that communication among committees is well established; assist committee volunteers with implementation of work plan items.
• Manage all administrative aspects of the Main Street program, including purchasing, record keeping, budget development, accounting, preparing all reports required by the DC Main Streets coordinating program and by the National Main Street Center; assisting with the preparation of reports to investors; and supervising employees or consultants.
• Develop, in conjunction with the Main Street program’s board of directors, economic and development strategies for the neighborhood business district that are based on both new and enhanced development and historic preservation and that utilize the community’s human and economic resources.
• Communicate regularly with all persons and groups directly and indirectly involved in the neighborhood economic area and business district.
• Being mindful of the roles of various neighborhood business district interest groups, assist the Main Street program’s board of directors and committees in developing an annual action plan for implementing a neighborhood business district revitalization program focused on four areas: design/historic preservation; promotion and marketing; organization/management; and economic restructuring/development.
• Develop and conduct on-going public awareness and education programs designed to enhance appreciation of the neighborhood economic area and business district’s assets and to foster an understanding of the Main Street program’s goals and objectives. Use speaking engagements, media interviews, and personal appearances to keep the program in the public eye.
• Assist individual tenants or property owners with physical improvement projects through personal consultation or by obtaining and supervising professional design consultants; assist in locating appropriate contractors and materials; when possible, fostering sign and building permitting; provide advice and guidance on necessary financial mechanisms for physical improvements.
• Assess the management capacity of major neighborhood business district organizations and encourage improvements in the downtown community’s ability to carry out joint activities such as promotional events, advertising, appropriate store hours, special events, business assistance, business recruitment, parking management, and so on. Provide advice and information on successful neighborhood business district management. Encourage a cooperative climate among neighborhood business district interests and local public officials.
• Help coordinate joint promotional events, such as festivals, pop-up events, or business promotions, to improve the quality and success of events and attract people to the neighborhood business district; work closely with local media to ensure maximum coverage of promotional activities; encourage design excellence in all aspects of promotion in order to advance an image of quality for the neighborhood business district.
• Help build strong and productive relationships with appropriate public officials and agencies at the local and national levels.
• Utilizing the Main Street program format, develop and maintain data systems to track the progress of the local Main Street program. 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 constituencies at the local and national levels. Speak effectively on the program’s directions and work, mindful of the need to improve local and national economic development policies as they relate to commercial districts.
• Coordinate fundraising activities with the board and committees: grants, sponsorships, ticket sales, etc.

Resource Management Responsibilities

The executive director supervises any necessary temporary or permanent employees, as well as professional consultants. He/she participates in personnel and project evaluations. The executive director maintains local Main Street program records and reports, establishes technical resource files and libraries, and prepares regular reports for the DC Main Streets program and the National Main Street Center. The executive director monitors the annual program budget and maintains financial records.

Job Knowledge and Skills Required

The executive director should have education and/or experience in one or more of the following areas: fundraising, urban development, 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. The executive director must be sensitive to design and historic preservation issues and must understand the issues confronting downtown or neighborhood business people, property owners, public agencies, and community organizations. The director must be entrepreneurial, energetic, imaginative, well organized and capable of functioning effectively in an independent environment and be capable of intergovernmental coordination. Excellent written and verbal communication skills and supervisory skills are essential.

Salary and Benefits

The salary is commensurate with experience, plus benefits, and central location. To apply, submit your resume and cover letter specifying skills, fundraising experience, and reason for interest in the position to Historic Dupont Circle Main Streets, 9 Dupont Circle NW, Washington DC 20036. No phone calls or emails please.

Deadline to apply is January 10, 2023.