Downtown Revitalization & Economic Growth Leader

City of Fayetteville; Fayetteville (NC); On-site; USD 77,000 - 98,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of Fayetteville seeks a Downtown & Urban Development Manager to lead downtown revitalization, drive economic vitality, and manage coordination across public and private partners for a vibrant city center.

Responsibilities include developing long-range strategies, securing grants, fostering placemaking, preserving historic assets, and ensuring a safe, attractive urban core that supports residents, businesses, and visitors.

Qualifications

• Five years of progressively responsible professional experience in downtown management, economic development, redevelopment, planning, public administration, commercial real estate, community development, Main Street management, business improvement district management, or closely related fields.
• Experience leading complex projects and working collaboratively with diverse stakeholders.
• A Master's degree is preferred but not required.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate activity of downtown by facilitating engagement and activity between the City and downtown entities, ensuring that communication between stakeholders is well established.
• Serve as the City's primary coordinator for downtown revitalization, redevelopment, placemaking, and economic competitiveness.
• Develop and implement long-range strategic initiatives that increase downtown investment, business activity, residential development, tourism, and economic vitality.
• Recruit, retain, and assist restaurants, retailers, office users, entertainment venues, hospitality businesses, and other commercial enterprises.
• Manage all administrative aspects of the downtown program, including purchasing, record-keeping, budget development and accounting, preparing all reports required for approved grants, assisting with the preparation of reports to funding agencies and supervising part-time employees or consultants.
• Identify redevelopment opportunities and work proactively with developers, investors, brokers, property owners, and City departments to facilitate public and private investment.
• Coordinate implementation of downtown capital improvement projects including streetscapes, public spaces, lighting, gateways, public art, pedestrian amenities, parking improvements, and beautification projects.
• Develop and/or support strategies for downtown economic development while maintaining historic preservation.
• Develop and maintain productive working relationships with downtown property owners, business owners, developers, neighborhood organizations, educational institutions, Fort Bragg, regional partners, state agencies, and nonprofit organizations.
• Coordinate closely with Cool Spring Downtown District, Downtown Alliance, Chamber of Commerce, Convention and Visitors Bureau, Arts Council, Fayetteville Public Works Commission, Cumberland County, NCDOT, and other strategic partners.
• Coordinate with Police, Fire, the Office of Community Safety, homeless outreach providers, behavioral health organizations, and community partners to improve both actual and perceived public safety while supporting coordinated, compassionate responses to quality-of-life issues affecting downtown.
• Represent the City before elected officials, advisory boards, business organizations, neighborhood groups, developers, investors, state agencies, media representatives, and the public.
• Develop and implement marketing, branding, and destination development initiatives that strengthen Downtown Fayetteville's identity and regional competitiveness.
• Pursue, prepare, administer, and manage local, state, federal, and private grant opportunities that advance downtown revitalization objectives.
• Develop and maintain data systems to track the process and progress of the downtown program. These systems should include economic monitoring, individual building files, and information on growth, activity, job creation, and business retention.
• Constantly review the physical appearance of the downtown infrastructure (streets, lights, sidewalks, parking lots, etc.) and coordinate with existing City departments to ensure that a high level of maintenance is adhered to at all times.

Skills

Downtown management

Economic development

Stakeholder collaboration

Education

Public Administration

Urban Planning

Community Development

Economic Development

Master's degree preferred

Job description

The City of Fayetteville seeks a Downtown & Urban Development Manager to lead downtown revitalization, drive economic vitality, and manage coordination across public and private partners for a vibrant city center.

Responsibilities include developing long-range strategies, securing grants, fostering placemaking, preserving historic assets, and ensuring a safe, attractive urban core that supports residents, businesses, and visitors.