POSITION SUMMARY
The Executive Director serves as the primary economic driver, advocate, and visionary for Downtown Howell. This position functions as the Chief Executive Officer of the Howell DDA (a public authority) and provides strategic oversight of the Howell Main Street Inc. (a 501(c)(3). The Director is responsible for advancing the long-term economic strength, private investment, redevelopment, business growth, and strategic competitiveness of Downtown Howell.
The Director works collaboratively with the City of Howell, Howell Main Street Inc., business and property owners, financial institutions, regional and state economic development partners, and other community stakeholders.
CORE RESPONSIBILITIES
1. Economic Development & Business Attraction
- Actively recruit new businesses, developers, and investors to fill storefront vacancies and diversify the downtown retail/dining
- Maintain current inventories of storefront vacancies, available commercial properties, business openings and closures, and expansion
- Serve as the primary liaison and advocate for existing downtown business and property owners, connecting them to resources, grants, and city
- Utilize data-driven market analysis to identify economic gaps and develop targeted retention and expansion
- Collaborate with the City Manager, Planning Commission, and local economic groups to streamline development and zoning pipelines.
- Track business, property-owner, developer, and investor relationships through a professional contact management or CRM
2. Financial Management & DDA Governance
- Develop, monitor, and manage the annual DDA budget, ensuring compliant use of Tax Increment Financing (TIF) revenues under Michigan PA 57 of
- Prepare and present monthly financial, operational, and milestone reports to the DDA Board of
- Identify, write, and administer federal, state, and private grants to leverage TIF dollars for capital improvement
- Maintain comprehensive records and ensure compliance with all state-mandated DDA transparency reporting
- Provide long-range forecasting of TIF revenues, fund balance, capital commitments, and future investment
- Serve as the DDA's principal liaison to Howell Main Street Inc., including its measurable deliverables, performance indicators, and reporting
- Maintain the Howell Main Street’s master level accreditation, following the National Main Street "Four-Point Approach" (Organization, Promotion, Design, Economic Vitality).
3. Data, Market & Performance Measurements
- Develop and maintain a Downtown Economic Dashboard as a standing responsibility, presented regularly to the DDA
- Track measures such as storefront vacancy, business openings and closures, private investment, grants secured, TIF trends, residential units, property-owner outreach, and developer and investor
- Use measurable outcomes to identify trends, evaluate programs, recommend resource allocation, and communicate the DDA's impact to the
- Establish annual performance targets with the DDA Board and report progress against those targets on a regular
4. Administrative Collaboration
- Participate in regular municipal staff meetings to align downtown initiatives with City Public Services, Planning, and Police
- Maintain bi-weekly communication syncs with the City Manager to ensure operational transparency and collaborative problem-solving.
IDEAL CANDIDATE QUALIFICATIONS
Education & Experience Preferred:
- Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in Economic Development, Urban Planning, Public Administration, Business Administration, Marketing, or a closely related
- Minimum of 3–5 years of leadership experience in downtown management, economic development, Main Street programs, or non-profit
- Certified Main Street Manager (CMSM) credential or Michigan Certified Economic Developer
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
- Proven Self-Directed Leadership: Must be a highly motivated self-starter capable of managing multiple projects, setting strategic goals, and executing them with minimal daily
- Economic development and financial acumen. Strong understanding of redevelopment, development economics, business attraction and retention, incentives, real estate, TIF, municipal finance, grants, and capital
- Data-informed decision making. Ability to use market information, financial analysis, project tracking, and performance measures to guide recommendations and resource allocation.
- Communication Excellence: Exceptional public speaking, written communication, and interpersonal skills to effectively engage business owners, elected officials, city staff, volunteers, and the
- Relationship Builder: Proven track record of managing a diverse board of directors, uniting fragmented stakeholder groups, and motivating volunteer
- Technical Proficiency: Familiarity with Geographic Information System mapping, graphic design tools (e.g., Canva), social media marketing, and standard office/financial software.(QuickBooks)
WORKING CONDITIONS
- Must be willing to work flexible hours, including frequent evening board meetings and weekend community
- While performing the duties of this job, the employee occasionally works in outside weather conditions. The employee is occasionally exposed to wet and/or humid conditions or airborne
- The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet in the office and moderate in the field.
- While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to talk or hear; sit; use hands to finger, handle, feel, or operate objects, tools, or controls; and reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to stand or the employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.
- Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust
SELECTION GUIDELINES
The selection process includes a formal application review, an evaluation of education and experience, an oral interview, and reference checks. Candidates may also be required to complete job-related skill assessments. Final selection is contingent on successfully completing a background check and drug screening.
The duties listed above are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to the position.
The job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and the employee and may change as the employer's needs and job requirements evolve.
FIRST 90-DAY PERFORMANCE MILESTONES
To ensure the director is an accountable, self-directed leader, the following benchmarks should be met during the initial 90-day onboarding period:
- Day 30: Discovery & Relationship Building:
- Conduct one-on-one introduction meetings with the City Manager, Mayor, all DDA Board Members, Howell Mian Street President, and key city department heads (Planning, Public Services, Police).
- In-person visits completed with at least 20 core downtown business and property owners to assess immediate needs and
- Review all active TIF budgets, PA 57 compliance records, and Main Street financial accounts to establish a
- Day 60: Alignment & Process Integration:
- Establish a recurring, bi-weekly operational sync meeting with the City Manager and integrated project tracking with city
- Attend Main Street 501(c)(3) board meeting and help audit organizational needs moving
- Present a comprehensive inventory of current downtown storefront vacancies and active development projects to the DDA
- Day 90: Strategic Execution & Reporting:
- Deliver a data-driven "Downtown Status Dashboard" tracking vacancy rates, foot traffic, and TIF fund forecasting to the DDA Board and City
- Launch at least one business retention initiative or target recruitment outreach campaign based on the 60-day vacancy
- Present a 12-month business recruitment, retention, and redevelopment strategy, including priority business targets and priority development
