Director of Communications and Public Affairs

Position Summary and Requirements

The key measures of success for the Director are:

• lead an effective strategic communications and advocacy strategy for Midtown and the organization including organizational communications, stakeholder and media relations, electronic and digital communications, community committees, advocacy efforts, and presentations that results in Midtown’s programs and initiatives success
• increase visits to and sales tax in the Midtown district through effective story telling
• advise internal teams and community partners on efforts to enhance and preserve the reputation and investment value of the district
• collaborate effectively across Admin, Communications, Events, Placemaking, and Clean and Safe teams to align communication efforts with organizational priorities
• manage direct and indirect reports, launch and scale program enhancements, advocate and negotiate with stakeholders/public agency partners, and manage external consultants/contractors to streamline system improvements

Culture and Values

Our small but mighty team is fast-paced, creative, and mission-driven. We value:

• Integrity: High standards and personal accountability
• Responsiveness: Empathetic, thorough service to all stakeholders
• Growth: Personal, team, and organizational growth celebrated often
• Collaboration: Helping others succeed as part of a collective mission
• Resiliency & Resourcefulness: Adaptability in a changing environment
• Efficiency Through Technology: Tech-driven transparency and results

Work Hours

This is a full-time, exempt position at no less than 40 hours per week. The schedule is generally Monday through Friday professional hours with variations for meetings, events, and community programming including occasional evenings or weekends. Offsetting flex days are offered for days when a full Saturday is worked if this position engages on a special initiative, or event such as Second Saturday or Midtown Farmers Market.

Work Environment

The work environment is in the office four days per week with one remote day per week in addition to a bank of work from anywhere time. The office environment is located primarily inside and consists of working in meetings, via email, via phone, independently, or in collaboration with external partners to complete tasks involving communications, public relations, and public affairs. The office is generally an open environment. We have a very collegial and community/customer-facing office, and interruptions of work can be routine so this position is best suited for someone who can be flexible, focused, results-oriented, and can set priorities.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

Public Affairs and Campaign Leadership/Strategy

Keep the Explore Midtown and Midtown Love brand strategies in action to increase visitations to the district, maintain the value of Midtown as desirable for investment, and showcase the creative Midtown ethos through high-quality design and brand voice, leading long-range and short-term key campaigns on behalf of the organization, ensuring the messages are appropriately threaded through all visitor facing channels (@ExploreMidtown social channels, earned media, e-newsletters, and event) and through all strategic communications and public affairs channels (board communications, website, strategic communications to board and stakeholders including presentations, committees, and a few limited paid media opportunities, and 5-7 semi-evergreen print pieces).

• Long-range key campaigns include (a) demonstrating organizational program outcomes to and engaging with stakeholders on key initiative such as public safety, economic development, multimodal transit and development, (b) promoting specific clusters of businesses to consumers to increase the economic health of the district, (c) advancing the organization’s position on an advocacy matters with government agencies, (d) ensuring the community is well-viewed to receive outside investment.
• Short-term key campaigns include specific public space installments, advocacy efforts for harm reduction strategies or future development projects, or an upcoming special event.
• Evergreen print pieces include an annual report for Midtown Association, a prospectus for Midtown Parks, descriptions of organizational programs, consumer-facing rack cards, economic development reports, and others.

Stakeholder and Fund Development Support

Stakeholder support - Ensure new businesses and property owners are welcomed into the district by providing templates of resources and ensuring they are represented in electronic communications and media strategies. Support stakeholders by amplifying their communication efforts for openings, special events, and milestones. Support the economic development of the district through storytelling.

Fund Development Support

Generate the communications strategy and materials to support the fund development plan, which includes corporate sponsorship, grants, and individual donors. Demonstrate district value by working collaboratively across departments to produce and maintain print and digital collateral materials which demonstrate the value of Midtown and its businesses.

HR and Leadership

Lead the organization’s communications strategy in partnership with the Executive Director, Deputy Director, and senior leadership team. Support organizational planning, budgeting, and strategic initiatives that strengthen Midtown Association’s long-term sustainability and community impact. Help cultivate a culture of responsiveness, innovation, and high performance throughout the organization. Lead and support staff, and contractors to achieve their professional development goals and company goals including facilitating strong 1:1s, motivating and developing the team dynamics, conducting annual review for direct reports and supporting annual reviews for indirect reports. Partner cross-functionally with Administration, Development, Events, Placemaking, Clean and Safe, and leadership teams to align goals, stakeholder engagement, fundraising strategies, and public impact initiatives.

Benefits

Midtown Association has a very generous benefits package after the introductory period: 8 days of sick time, 12 days of vacation plus several paid public holidays, 401k with match and immediate vesting, flex-spend account, fully paid insurance (Medical, Life, Dental, Vision, Alternative Care Insurance), parking/transit reimbursement, unlimited in office refreshments, wellness program and more.