Creative District Fellow - North Adams

About the role

The Creative District Fellow is a full-time, three-year role with MassDevelopment, embedded in North Adams to lead the implementation and growth of the Creative City model. This role blends strategy, partnership-building, and hands-on execution, guiding cross-sector collaboration, advancing high-impact projects, and connecting creative assets to real economic opportunity.

What You’ll Do

• Lead the development and execution of a district-level Creative City workplan aligned with pilot goals, delivering early visible wins while advancing a long-term creative economy strategy.
• Identify and drive catalytic opportunities across arts and cultural production, small business growth, real estate activation, placemaking, and downtown vitality.
• Serve as the lead facilitator of a dynamic public-private partnership, strengthening governance structures, clarifying roles, and fostering shared decision-making.
• Build and maintain trusted relationships with artists, creative entrepreneurs, property owners, cultural institutions, residents, and municipal leaders, while expanding leadership participation to reflect the community’s diversity and strengths.
• Advance high-impact projects that activate underutilized assets and build local wealth by connecting creative entrepreneurs and cultural organizations to financing, grants, and technical assistance.
• Identify co-investment and external funding opportunities and manage consultants and partners to ensure alignment with district priorities.
• Champion North Adams as a vibrant hub of culture and commerce by supporting business recruitment, retention, and expansion within the creative economy, while strengthening the narrative around its role as a key economic driver.
• Collaborate closely with internal teams and external partners, contributing to cohort-based learning and cross-district knowledge sharing.
• Support reporting, storytelling, and data collection efforts to measure impact and communicate progress to partners and funders.

What We're Looking For

• Bachelor’s degree (master’s preferred) in planning, public policy, real estate, arts administration, economics, sustainability, or related field, or equivalent professional experience.
• 3–7 years of experience in community development, creative economy strategy, urban planning, economic development, arts-based revitalization, or real estate.
• Ability to navigate complex stakeholder dynamics, manage conflict constructively, and support resolution through sound judgment, active listening, professionalism, and a solutions-oriented approach.
• Demonstrated understanding of how arts and culture intersect with real estate development, small business ecosystems, and place-based growth.
• Strong ability to build trust across cultural, institutional, and civic boundaries.
• Entrepreneurial mindset with experience launching, managing, or scaling initiatives.
• Excellent written, verbal, and presentation skills.
• Ability to manage multiple projects, partnerships, and timelines simultaneously.
• Willingness to work occasional evenings and weekends for community meetings and events.

Benefits We Offer

• Comprehensive Health Coverage: Including medical, dental, and vision insurance to keep you and your family healthy.
• Retailer 401(a) and 457(b) plans with an agency match to help you plan for your future.
• Paid Time Off: Generous vacation, sickness, personal leave, and holidays allowing you to refresh and maintain a healthy work-life balance.
• Hybrid Work Environment: Helps you minimize the burden of a daily commute, for that ideal balance of work and personal life.
• Professional Development: Opportunities for continuous learning to help advance your career. Never stop learning with our tuition reimbursement and Student Loan Reimbursement programs.
• Wellness Programs: Access to wellness resources and programs to support your overall well-being.