CLASS TITLE:  COMMUNITY PROGRAMS MANAGER

ACCOUNTABLE TO: Community Development Director (CDD)

FLSA STATUS: Exempt

PRIMARY OBJECTIVE OF POSITION:  This position leads the City’s Main Street (MS) district efforts, coordinates identified city and community events, and assists businesses in the Lamar Redevelopment Authority district.

As Lamar’s MS Manager, the position serves as support and point of contact between the City of Lamar, Main Street Lamar (MSL), and the business community. The Manager leads MS efforts in Lamar: administering the program; working closely with Colorado DOLA MS staff; leading local initiatives; maintaining one or more annual fundraisers; completing periodic reports; and attending monthly Colorado MS trainings, annual MS Managers Summits, and National MS conferences.

As a Graduate MS community, Lamar’s commercial revitalization effort aims to develop and implement a strategy for economic development and historic preservation in the designated downtown business district. This process will be carried out under the Colorado Main Street program and Main Street America framework. Four general work elements guide this approach to downtown revitalization. They are:

ORGANIZATION: The organization of downtown and small business interests is unified to work towards common objectives.

DESIGN: Approaching historic preservation and design issues to create or preserve historical assets in the community using proper preservation techniques.

PROMOTION: Assist with planning and coordinating promotional activities and events to attract new economic life and develop new vigor in the community.

ECONOMIC VITALITY: Structuring economic opportunities through the reuse of existing buildings and underutilized space, attracting new business opportunities, and developing a viable marketplace.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily.  Reasonable accommodations may be made for individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.  The below list is intended to illustrate the position's responsibilities and is not all encompassing.  The City may alter or change these duties at any time.

Main Street Manager:

• Working with Colorado Main Street and the Main Street Lamar Board, develop and maintain a three to five year strategic plan and submit an annual work plan.
• Manage MSL activities and board - conduct monthly meetings, establish timelines, implement and accomplish MS activities.
• Promote the Main Street program: manage MS social media accounts, website, and printed material.
• Build strong and productive working relationships with the Lamar Chamber of Commerce, Prowers Economic Prosperity, and appropriate agencies at the local and state levels. Attend annual Colorado Main Street Managers Summit and National Main Street Conference.
• Maintain MSL program records and reports, establishing technical resource files and libraries, and preparing regular reports for the Board of Directors, Lamar City Council, Colorado Main Street program, and Main Street America.
• Monitor and report progress on all MS improvements/businesses. Submit timely Colorado Main Street quarterly reports and statistics on reinvestment in the community.
• Lead fundraising efforts and coordinate board efforts for the MSL Corporate Cup and/or other selected events.
• Lead MSL recycling program - Work with Lamar’s Public Works on transportation, storage, and customer service efforts.  Coordinate volunteer assistance when appropriate.
• Coordinate program volunteer activities, ensuring that communication between volunteers is well established and assisting volunteers with implementing annual work plan items.
• Present, at least annually to the City of Lamar, progress made on work plans and the impact of MSL on the community. Coordinate joint work sessions with Council and MSL Board when appropriate.

Events Planner:

• Maximize the City's involvement and integration in community initiatives and major events with the Lamar Chamber of Commerce, Prowers Co Lodging Tax Panel, and other groups to promote commerce and tourism.
• Promote Lamar as a hub for regional tourism.
• Assist in coordinating City, MSL, and community joint projects and promotional events, such as seasonal festivals or cooperative retail promotional events, to improve the quality and success of events to attract people downtown. Lead or assist event organizers that host special events within the City of Lamar. This may include:
• Coordinating special event permitting processes,
• Ensuring submission of proper paperwork/documentation by organizers to responsible departments including all necessary fees and proof of insurance, and
• Working with other departments and agencies to manage coordination and logistics.

Lamar Redevelopment Authority Administrator:

• Promote LRA funding opportunities to district businesses.
• Recruit and assist property owners to apply for funded improvements, act as a liaison between businesses and City.
  • Maintain accurate paperwork, create grant agreements and establish completion timelines, bringing to the LRA Board for approval. Track year-to-year funding and projects.
  • Work with the City’s Treasurer for project reimbursements from verified receipts.
  • Work with CDD for business assistance and refer businesses to additional resources.
  • Assist in researching/identifying prospective business leads.

Assistance to Community Development Director:

Community Development Department staff responsibilities are designed to overlap to complete core functions, including but not limited to

• marketing/emergency communications,
• event planning/support,
• business/economic development assistance,
• historic preservation, and
• special projects

The Community Programs Manager works with the Director and Marketing Coordinator to make sure that the department successfully completes responsibilities assigned to the department.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:  Position requires sufficient eyesight and manual dexterity to operate a computer for extended periods of time with various commercial software packages.

• Must be able to hear clearly, speak clearly.
• ·Ability to read, understand and interpret written material and reports.
• Communicate with community groups and interested citizens (in writing, on the telephone and in meetings).
• Work involves sitting or standing 60% of the time and walking and standing while performing various tasks 20% of the time.  Occasionally stoops, kneels, crouches, bends, and climbs, including reaching overhead
• Complete recycle pick-ups as necessary.  For larger jobs, coordinate pick-ups with the Public Works department.
• Pick up and deliver items to event locations including food, money, equipment and coordinates event set-up and tear-down activities.
• Must be able to set up, inspect, and troubleshoot audio visual equipment including sound and light controls; determines if event is set up properly.

SUPERVISION – RESPONSIBILITY FOR WORK OF OTHERS:  May exercise supervision over volunteers, consultants and administrative support staff as required.

EDUCATION, TRAINING, AND EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS:

• At least five years of business/economic development experience or other closely-related background such as public administration, finance, or marketing. 
• Associate degree or Business credential, and
• Must pass a pre-employment drug test and background screening.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s Degree or higher in Business or Public Administration.
• Grant writing and administrative experience.
• Good understanding of rural/regional economic development issues is highly desirable.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Must possess strong oral and written communication skills including the ability to speak and write effectively and persuasively to businesses, residents, and other stakeholders as necessary. Abilities to:
  • Establish and maintain effective working relationships with citizens, fellow employees, administration and the general public
  • Work with the public, some of whom may be irate, upset or disturbed.
  • Ability to maintain confidentiality and handle confidential issues with tact and discretion.
  • Research, produce, or obtain reports, graphs, charts, photographs or evidentiary information.
  • Maintain proficiency in all areas of Microsoft Office to include Outlook, Word, Excel and PowerPoint.
• Ability to analyze complex situations, problems, and data, and use sound judgment in drawing conclusions and making decisions.
• Complete work with frequent interruptions, recurring deadlines, and occasional travel within city limits and in Colorado/US. Roles require occasional attendance at City Council meetings and/or other meetings and events after normal work hours.
• Maintain knowledge in specific areas
  • Economic analysis techniques related to market, feasibility and impact studies;
  • Core economic development principles including business recruitment, attraction and retention.
  • Urban renewal authorities (URA) and tax increment financing (TIF).
  • Grant research and writing
• Ability to work successfully in a team-oriented atmosphere that provides business, citizens and employees with accurate information, providing superior customer service.

Core Competencies:  Every City staff member must possess or work to attain the following five core competencies:  Communication, Interpersonal Relations, Customer Service, Accountability and Dependability, Job Knowledge and Supervision and Performance Management (only if applicable to the position).