PIO/DOWNTOWN DEV PROGRAM COORDINATOR

This position will serve as Public Information Officer (PIO)/Downtown Development Program Coordinator performing technical and professional work in developing and administering a program of internal and external communications for the City that encourages open communication and civic engagement.  Will serve as the information conduit for the City and provide information to the public and media.  Once the City is accepted into the Main Street Program; this person will serve as the Downtown Development Program Coordinator.   As the Downtown Development Program Coordinator will be responsible for organizing a downtown program following the recommended requirements from the NC Main Street and Rural Planning Center which includes following the Four-Point Approach®, organization, design, promotion and economic vitality as well as utilizing historic preservation as an integral foundation for downtown economic development.  The coordinator is the principal on-site staff person responsible for coordinating all program activities locally as well as representing the community locally and regionally.  Work is performed under the supervision of the Community Development Director.

Essential Functions

Public Information Officer

Serve as social media manager, developing content for several platforms

Collect, analyze, and interpret website and social media page

Provide support for message/content creation

Develops branding logos and slogans to enhance the City's image

Performs strategic planning to develop the marketing plan to coordinate with the City's overall business plan

Represent the City at public functions

Produces relevant and timely information that engages the public in dialogue through education, public relations, marketing, advertising and community outreach strategies

Serve as lead content manager for the website, intranet and social media

Any other duties as assigned

Essential Functions

Downtown Development Program Coordinator

Become familiar with advisory board and all groups involved in downtown commercial retail owners

Coordinate activity of Downtown Development Community advisory board or committees, ensuring that communication between committees is well established, assists committees with implementation of work plan items

Manage all administrative aspects of the Downtown Development Community program, including purchasing, record keeping, budget development and accounting, 501 (c)(3), grants and preparing all reports required by the North Carolina Main Street and Rural Planning Center and by the National Main Street Center; assists with the preparation of reports to funding agencies

Develop in conjunction with the Downtown Development Community advisory board/committees-downtown economic development strategies that are based on historic preservation and utilize community's human and economic resources; become familiar with all persons and groups directly and indirectly involved in the downtown commercial district;

Assist Downtown Development Community advisory board/committees in developing an annual action plan for implementing a downtown revitalization program focusing on Design/Historic Preservation; Promotion; Organization/Management; and Economic Restructuring/Development

Assess the management capacity of major downtown organizations and encourage improvements in the downtown community and the ability to carry out joint activities

Develop and conduct ongoing public awareness and educational programs designed to enhance downtown's architecture and other assets and to foster an understanding of the Downtown Development Community program's goals, objectives.   Use speaking engagements, media interviews and personal appearances to keep the program in the public eye

Conduct public speaking engagements in the community and regionally

Assist tenants or property owners with physical improvement projects through personal consultation or by obtaining and supervising professional design consultants

Inform downtown merchant's organizations and or Chamber of Commerce committees on NC Main Street program activities and goals

May make presentations to Council

Provide excellent customer service when working with citizens, elected officials, and/or associates.

Supports the overall City organization by executing the directives as set forth by the immediate supervisor and elected officials and program guidelines

Other duties as assigned.

$1,861.57 - $2,763.48 Biweekly
$48,400  - $71,851     Annually

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Thorough knowledge of standard office practices, procedures, equipment and program assistance techniques; thorough knowledge of business English, spelling and arithmetic; thorough knowledge of the organization and functions of the department and of general administrative policies and practices;  ability to keep detailed and complex records and to prepare accurate reports from file sources; ability to perform and organize work independently; ability to type at a reasonable rate of speed; ability to prepare effective correspondence on routine matters and to perform routine office management details without referral to supervisor; ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with associates, elected officials and the general public.

Education and Experience

Bachelor's degree from an accredited four year college or university in Communications, Marketing, Public Relations or Business or an equivalent combination of education and experience is preferred.  Preferably experience with Historic Preservation with excellent interpersonal and computer skills; verbal and written skills.  Person should be well organized and capable of functioning effectively with minimal supervision.  

Physical Requirements

This work requires the occasional exertion of up to 10 pounds of force; work regularly requires sitting, speaking or hearing, using hands to finger, handle or feel and reaching with hands and arms, frequently requires repetitive motions and occasionally requires standing, walking, stooping, kneeling, crouching or crawling, pushing or pulling and lifting; work has standard vision requirements; vocal communication is required for expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word; hearing is required to perceive information at normal spoken word levels; work requires preparing and analyzing written or computer data, operating motor vehicles or equipment and observing general surroundings and activities; work has no exposure to environmental conditions; work is generally in a very quiet location (e.g. park trail, storage or file room).

Special Requirements

Valid driver's license in the State of North Carolina.

The City of Laurinburg is dedicated to equality of opportunity.  Accordingly, we consider applicants for all positions without regard to race, color, religion, creed, gender, national origin, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation or any other legally protected status.  We are subject to, and comply with, the Americans with Disabilities Act.  We are an EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER.