Hiawassee Downtown Development Authority

Program Manager

Job Description

Work Objectives

The DDA program manager coordinates activity exclusively within the City of Hiawassee. All downtown revitalization programs will utilize historic preservation and appropriate business needs as an integral foundation for downtown economic development

He/she is responsible for the development, conduct, execution, and documentation of the Downtown Development Program. The program manager is the principal on-site staff person responsible for coordinating all program activities locally as well as for representing the Community regionally and nationally as appropriate.

Full Range  of Duties to be Performed

• Coordinate activities of the Downtown Development program committees, ensuring that communication between committees is well-established; assist committees with the implementation of the work plan 

• Manage administrative aspects of the Downtown Development Town program, including purchasing, recordkeeping, budget development, and accounting, preparing all reports required by the State and National Better Home Town Programs. Assist with the preparation of reports to funding agencies and supervising part-time employees or consultants, if and when 
• Develop, in conjunction with the DDA’s board of directors, strategies for downtown economic development through historic preservation utilizing the Community's human and economic resources. Become familiar with all persons and groups directly or indirectly involved in the downtown commercial district. Mindful of the roles of various downtown interest groups, assist the DDA’s 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, organization/management and economic restructuring/development.
• Develop and conduct the ongoing public awareness and education program designed to enhance appreciation of the downtown's architecture and other assets and to foster an understanding of the program's goals and  Through speaking engagements, media interviews, appearances, keep the State highly visible in the community.

• 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 local contractors and materials; if needed, participate in construction supervision; provide advice and guidance on necessary financial mechanisms for physical  Oversee and manage programs rolled out through DDA, i.e. Façade program.
• Assess the management capacity of major downtown organization and encourage improvements in the downtown community's ability to undertake Joint ventures such as promotional events, advertising, appropriate uniform store hours, special events, business recruitment as identified in Strategic and Comprehensive Plan, parking management, and so on. Provide advice and information to successful downtown management. Encourage a cooperative climate between downtown interests and local public o
• Advise local Community Organizations and/or Chamber of Commerce retail committees on DDA program activities and goals and assist in the coordination of joint promotional events, such as seasonal festivals (First Fridays)or cooperative retail promotional events, in order to improve the quality and success of events to attract people downtown; work closely with local media to ensure maximum event coverage; encourage design excellence in all aspects of promotion in order to advance an image of quality for the downtown.
• Help build strong and productive working relationships with appropriate public agencies at the local and state levels.
• Develop and maintain data systems to track the process and progress of the local DDA program. These systems should include economic monitoring, individual building files, thorough photographic documentation of all physical changes, and information on job creation and business retention.
• Represent the Community at the local, state, and national levels to important constituencies. Speak effectively on the program's directions and findings, always mindful of the need to improve state and national economic development policies as they relate to smaller communities.
• Manage Fund Raising efforts for DDA Projects, prepares Grants as needed

Resource Management Responsibilities

The program manager supervises any necessary temporary event employees, interns, etc. as well as professional consultants. He/she participates in personnel and project evaluations. The program manager maintains local The DDA Street program records and reports, establishes technical resource files and libraries, and prepares regular reports for the state DDA Program. The program manager monitors the annual program budget and maintains local financial records. This position will report directly to the mayor. 

Job Knowledge and Skills Required

The program manager should have education and or experience in several of the following areas: architecture, historic preservation, economics, finance, public relations, design, journalism planning, business administration, public administration, retailing, volunteer or non-profit administration, and/or small business development. The program manager must be sensitive to design and preservation issues. The manager must understand the issues confronting downtown business people, property owners, public agencies, and community organizations. The manager must be entrepreneurial, energetic, visionary, well-organized, and capable of functioning effectively in a very independent situation. Excellent verbal and written communication skills are essential.

Preferred Education/Qualifications 

• Main Street Program Credentials 
• DDA training, and experience in programs of that sort
• Bachelors Degree