Position: Main Street Specialist
Location: Must live in Washington State
Salary Range: $50,000 – $60,000 DOE. Benefits provided including medical and dental, retirement program, and paid vacation time.
Travel Required: Yes – Up to 30% of the year
Position Type: Full-time exempt

Date posted: September 3, 2019
Application deadline: September 27, 2019

Please e-mail resume and cover letter to info@nullpreservewa.org with subject line: Main Street Specialist. Please provide your pronouns in either your resume or cover letter. References may be requested.

 

About the Washington Trust for Historic Preservation (WTHP):

WTHP is dedicated to saving the places that matter in Washington State and promoting sustainable and economically viable communities through historic preservation. WTHP helps make local preservation work by building a statewide ethic that preserves Washington’s historic places through advocacy, education, collaboration, and stewardship.

Washington Main Street, a program WTHP manages in partnership with the Department of Archaeology & Historic Preservation, helps communities revitalize the economy, appearance, and image of their downtown districts using the successful Main Street Approach®, a comprehensive revitalization strategy built around a community’s unique heritage and attributes.

Position Description:

The Main Street Specialist is responsible for assisting the Main Street Director with management, administration, and implementation of the statewide Main Street Program that utilizes historic preservation as an integral foundation for downtown revitalization and economic development. The Main Street Specialist will support the effort to maintain a consistent, quality program of services that will result in the transference of the Main Street Four Point Approach® to communities throughout the state and will increase the potential success in all downtown revitalization activities. The Main Street Specialist will primarily work with start-up communities beginning to implement downtown revitalization strategies.

The Main Street Specialist will join six other WTHP staff, including the Main Street Director, and work closely with each team member to accomplish responsibilities and execute various programs. The Main Street Specialist will attend staff meetings, support events, and perform other duties related to being a staff person at WTHP. The Main Street Specialist will report to the Main Street Director.

Primary Responsibilities:

Assist Main Street Director with communication, outreach, and special projects

  • Answer e-mail and telephone inquiries and respond to questions and requests for information materials.
  • Collect and compile quarterly statistics reports and annual organizational reports from Main Street Communities.
  • Provide support to Event Coordinator in planning and implementation of annual RevitalizeWA conference
  • Assist with public relations and educational projects, including website and online resource creation and maintenance.
  • Coordinate special projects and events, including the Excellence on Main Awards and the PreserveWA Fellowship.
  • Assist with new program and project development; building partnerships; and maintaining contact and relationships with current and prospective local Main Street programs, regional and statewide partners, funders, and Main Street America™.
  • Other duties as assigned by the Main Street Director.

Assist Main Street Director with field services

  • Assist with planning, scheduling and implementation of quarterly leadership meetings for Main Street Communities.
  • Working closely with the Main Street Director, develop presentations and educational materials for related downtown revitalization topics.
  • Share with the Main Street Director the responsibility of reviewing annual reports and providing feedback to Main Street Communities.
  • Participate in Main Street Community bi-annual progress visits as resources allow.
  • Provide technical assistance to local communities, if requested by Main Street Director, for specific solutions to local downtown revitalization issues within organization development, program implementation and sustainability, fundraising, board of director training, small business assistance, and volunteer development.

Manage the Main Street Tax Credit Incentive Program

  • Become familiar with the tax credit program and serve as primary contact for inquiries from Main Street Communities and their donors.
  • Manage the tax credit database, in coordination with the Department of Revenue, and keep accurate record of contributions received.
  • Communicate regularly with Main Street Communities about program deadlines, process, and updates.

Skills & Experience Required:

  • Must embrace the mission of the WTHP and have an interest in historic preservation and downtown revitalization.
  • A degree in a discipline related to downtown revitalization, such as planning, historic preservation, economics, community development, marketing, business administration, or public administration.
  • Demonstrated experience and leadership in the administration of a state Main Street program and/or local downtown revitalization program, with a full understanding and execution of the Main Street Approach®.
  • Must have the ability to communicate effectively with colleagues of all levels, be a team-builder as well as a dynamic self-starter, be able to proactively manage peaks and flows of workload, and complete multiple tasks on time.
  • Excellent oral and written communication skills, including experience with meeting facilitation and delivering engaging presentations to large groups.
  • Strong abilities to build and maintain positive relationships, solve problems quickly and effectively, and create positive energy in the face of challenges.
  • Willingness to accommodate evening or weekend assignments and overnight travel; possesses a reliable vehicle for statewide travel and valid driver’s license.