Downtown Coordinator

City-of-Jacksonville,-N; Jacksonville (NC); On-site; USD 52,000 - 72,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of Jacksonville is seeking a Downtown Coordinator to advance the vitality and sustainability of the downtown district, overseeing business recruitment, retention, events, marketing, and stakeholder engagement under the City Manager’s Office.

The role requires budgeting, policy research, liaison work with boards, and collaboration with the Jacksonville Tourism Development Authority, Chamber of Commerce, and JOED to leverage regional resources.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in economic development, business administration, urban planning, or nonprofit management.
• At least one year of relevant experience preferred.
• Strong knowledge of downtown revitalization, small business support, and municipal operations.
• Excellent written and verbal communication, relationship-building, and stakeholder engagement.

Responsibilities

• Recruit new businesses and assist in retention and expansion of downtown establishments.
• Coordinate downtown events, including festivals, holiday celebrations, and retail promotions.
• Manage downtown-specific social media, websites, and promotional materials to attract visitors and investment.
• Develop and monitor the downtown program budget, prepare reports for City Council, and track economic data.
• Conduct regular visits to downtown merchants and property owners to identify challenges and gather feedback on City Council initiatives.
• Serve as the liaison for City advisory boards and committees to ensure board recommendations align with the Downtown Master Plan.
• Cultivate formal partnerships with organizations like the Jacksonville Tourism Development Authority, Chamber of Commerce and JOED to leverage regional resources for local business growth.
• Research and recommend policy changes regarding downtown specific issues like parking management, zoning overlays, or outdoor dining ordinances.
• Manage private contractors to provide consulting and planning services for downtown development initiatives.
• Performs related tasks as required.

Skills

Project management

Stakeholder engagement

Event planning

Marketing & communications

Policy research

Budgeting

Data analysis

Team collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree in economic development, business administration, urban planning, or nonprofit management

Tools

Microsoft Office

Social media platforms

GIS

Job description

About Us:The City of Jacksonville is the commercial hub of Onslow County and home to Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune and Marine Corps Air Station New River. The City has grown rapidly since 1941, when Camp Lejeune was established and possesses a rich history dating back to 1731.

Jacksonville has one of the youngest demographics in the US with a median age of 22.7 and an estimated population of 72,800. The City offers a great work/life balance. We are rich in history and deep in pride in our local military as demonstrated at Lejeune Memorial Gardens near Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune and New River Air Station.Jacksonville is a great place to work, live and play for you and your family. JacksonvilleNC.gov VisitJacksonvilleNC.com

This once quiet farming community has grown into the business, retail, medical, banking, and cultural center for Onslow County. Jacksonville is also designated as a “Tree City”, an honor bestowed by the National Arbor Day Association, because of the City’s dedication to nurturing its green spaces.

General Definition:

The City of Jacksonville is looking for an enthusiastic individual to serve as the City's Downtown Coordinator, who will perform intermediate technical and professional-level economic development and program management work to enhance the vitality and sustainability of the downtown district. Responsibilities include business recruitment and retention, event planning, marketing and communications, stakeholder engagement, and policy research. Work involves coordinating partnerships, advising leadership on downtown initiatives, and ensuring alignment with the City’s strategic goals and master plans. The position requires independent judgment, collaboration with internal and external stakeholders, and regular field engagement with the business community. Work is performed under the general supervision of the City Manager’s Office.

Plans and implements strategic initiatives to support the growth, vitality, and sustainability of the downtown district by driving business recruitment and retention, coordinating events and marketing efforts, and fostering partnerships with key stakeholders. Oversees program budgeting, economic tracking, and policy development while serving as a liaison to advisory boards and the business community. Provides hands‑on engagement with downtown merchants and manages external consultants to advance development goals aligned with the City’s vision and master plan.

(These are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work performed. The omission of specific duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to the position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.)

• Recruit new businesses and assist in the retention and expansion of existing downtown establishments.
• Coordinate downtown events, including festivals, holiday celebrations, and retail promotions with internal and external stakeholders.
• Manage downtown‑specific social media, websites, and promotional materials to attract visitors and investment.
• Develop and monitor the downtown program budget, prepare reports for City Council, and track economic data (e.g., job creation, property improvements).
• Conduct regular visits to downtown merchants and property owners to identify challenges and gather feedback on City Council initiatives.
• Serve as the liaison for City advisory boards and committees to ensure board recommendations align with the Downtown Master Plan.
• Cultivate formal partnerships with organizations like the Jacksonville Tourism Development Authority, Chamber of Commerce and Jacksonville Onslow Economic Development (JOED) to leverage regional resources for local business growth.
• Research and recommend policy changes regarding downtown specific issues like parking management, zoning overlays, or outdoor dining ordinances.
• Manage private contractors to provide consulting and planning services for downtown development initiatives.
• Performs related tasks as required.

Any combination of education and experience equivalent to graduation with a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in economic development, business administration, urban planning, or nonprofit management. At least one year of relevant experience preferred.General knowledge of principles and practices of economic development, downtown revitalization, and small business support; some knowledge of municipal government operations, including budgeting, policy development, and public administration; general knowledge of marketing, branding, and social media strategies for place‑making and community engagement; thorough knowledge of event planning and coordination, including logistics, permitting, and vendor management; thorough knowledge of data collection and analysis methods related to economic indicators (e.g., job growth, property investment); some knowledge of applicable local ordinances, zoning regulations, and development processes; some knowledge of grant writing and public/private partnership development; general skills in project management and organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple initiatives simultaneously; comprehensive skills in effective written and verbal communication, including report writing and presentations to boards or elected officials; comprehensive skills in relationship‑building and stakeholder engagement with business owners, community groups, and partner organizations; general skills in marketing and promotional skills, including digital content creation and campaign management; thorough skills with analytical and problem‑solving skills to assess downtown challenges and recommend solutions; general skills with budget development and financial tracking; thorough skills in standard office software and social media platforms; general ability to develop and implement strategic plans that support downtown growth and revitalization; general ability to work independently while also collaborating effectively with diverse stakeholders; ability to exercise sound judgment and make recommendations on complex or sensitive issues; general ability to coordinate and lead events and initiatives with multiple moving parts; general ability to interpret and apply policies, regulations, and economic data; general ability to engage with the public and business community in a professional and responsive manner; general ability to conduct field visits and maintain a visible, active presence in the downtown district.

Equal Employment Opportunity

The City of Jacksonville is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants are considered for employment without regard to race, color, sex, national origin, age, marital status, religion, or disabilities unrelated to the essential function of the position.