Assistant Director - Illinois

ILLINOIS MAIN STREET OVERVIEW

Illinois Main Street works with communities across the state to foster local economic development and enhance overall quality of life.

Illinois Main Street does this by providing hands-on training, statewide workshops, networking opportunities, and access to resources of community organizations focused on revitalizing their older or historic commercial districts.

Illinois Main Street is a state coordinating program of Main Street America , a coast-to-coast network of organizations and individuals working to bring vitality and prosperity to downtowns across the country.

Main Street America programs operate at the local, city, and state-wide levels. They are united by a commitment to preserving and enhancing the built environment, celebrating local history and culture, and creating local economic opportunity through the framework of the Main Street Approach .

Areas of Responsibility

Welcome new communities ; Introduce potential new communities to the Main Street Approach with information, presentations and / or services to help them achieve Main Street Affiliate or Accredited designated status;

Serve on a committee during the competitive selection of local communities applying to the Illinois Main Street network.

• Support the Director of Illinois Main Street with services provided to Affiliate and Accredited Main Street Communities ;
• Deliver Illinois Main Street technical assistance services to communities by telephone, correspondence, written reports, presentations, and on-site visits;
• Provide on-site training in communities, working with local Main Street programs or business serving organization staff, board, and committee members (Transformation Strategy Visits, Main Street 101, Program Assessments, Technical Assistance Visits, Strategic Planning, and other trainings, as necessary);

Develop practical, engaging, educational content for Illinois Main Street network including but not limited to Main Street managers, boards members, small business owners, and civic leaders / elected officials.

Content can include PowerPoint presentations, written guides, templates, and recorded video; Provide continuous contact to communities through in-person visits, phone calls, and virtual technical assistance in order to meet the members and their stakeholders where they’re at.

• Coordinate the Illinois Main Street annual conference and quarterly workshops . Be responsible for arranging speakers, soliciting sponsors, selecting venues, and managing the event logistics.
• Collaborate with the Director of Illinois Main Street in public relations and educational projects, including independent research, authoring articles, technical bulletins, educational and promotional material for publication, and in making public presentations on downtown revitalization subjects.
• Assist with grant compliance and reporting for annual funding with Main Street America staff members.
• Lead special projects and manage other duties as assigned by the Director of Illinois Main Street.

Requirements

Qualified candidates for the position MUST HAVE the following attributes :

Relationship-building : Able to connect with individuals and build alliances among wide range of players in the state. Works well with diverse or marginalized populations;

can bring in allies across diverse communities

• Project management skills : stays on top of multiple projects, plans backwards, anticipates obstacles, identifies and involves stakeholders appropriately, uses resources wisely
• Issue familiarity : prior knowledge of or experience in downtown revitalization, Main Street management, economic development concepts.

Extraordinary candidates may have the following NICE TO HAVE attributes :

• Strategic thinking : Identifies opportunities and solutions that will support the state director in setting strategic direction
• Results-oriented : Has a track record of achievement and producing results (rather than getting immersed in process), perseveres despite obstacles
• Public speaking : Total comfort, ease and experience in advocacy, presentation and public speaking roles;
4 days ago