The South Huntsville Business Association (SHBA) was established to support, promote, and advocate, for our South Huntsville businesses. We are looking for a full time Executive Director to help us carry out our mission. The new Executive Director will also serve as the “Main Street ProgramDirector”for the newly designated South Parkway District. If you are a person who loves to take on new challenges and have the passion to impact real change see below for more details about this position.
THE OPPORTUNITY:
The Huntsville metro area has already established itself as the growth engine for employment in the state of Alabama, generating 68% of the total job growth within the state since 2000. South Huntsville offers convenient access to Redstone Arsenal which is home to more than 42,000 daytime workers. Major roadway improvements along the South Parkway are expected to be completed later this summer, a key site near the newly constructed Grissom high school is currently being master planned for redevelopment, and additional new investment is already occurring within the district and in the surrounding neighborhoods. Our recent designation as a Main Street Alabama corridor will provide tremendous support to the revitalization of our district. Combined with the support of the City of Huntsville and sponsor businesses, South Huntsville has the opportunitytobranditselfastheplaceto“live, work, shop, play, and....relax.” The new executive director will have the opportunity to work with the SHBA board, City of Huntsville, and Main Street Alabama to make this a reality.
THE PERSON:
The Executive Director should have leadership, coaching and relationship management experience. Knowledge of securing Federal and State grants is highly desirable. They should have education and/or experience in one or more of the following areas: commercial district management, economics, finance, public relations, planning, business administration, public administration, retailing, volunteer or non-profit administration, and/or small business development. The director must be entrepreneurial, energetic, imaginative, well organized and capable of functioning effectively in an independent environment. Excellent written and verbal communication skills are essential. They should have a passion for building consensus, fund raising, and creativity in event planning.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:
Main Street Program Director
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Serve as administrative support for the SHBA Board of directors including support with monthly program planning and logistics, member recruitment and retention, special events, and board meetings.
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Coordinate the activity of the Main Street program committees, ensure that communication among committees is well established, and assist committee volunteers with implementation of work plan items.
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Manage all administrative aspects of the Main Street program, including purchasing,record keeping, budget development, accounting, preparing all reports required by the state Main Street program and by the National Main Street Center, assisting with the preparation of reports to funding agencies, and supervising employees or consultants.
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Develop in conjunction with the Main Street program’s board of directors, the district’s economic development strategies that are based on the UrbanMain Street approach.
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Develop and conduct on-going public awareness and education programs designed to enhance appreciation of the district’s assets and to foster an understanding of the Main Street program’s goals and objectives.
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Assess the management capacity of major district organizations and encourage improvementsin the district community’s ability to carry out joint activities such as promotional events, advertising, and special events.
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Work with the Chamber of Commerce and other entities to assist with business recruitment,to include making calls and direct contacts with prospective businesses.
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Advise district merchants’ organizations and/or Chamber of Commerce retail committees on Main Street program activities and goals, help coordinate joint promotional events such as festivals or business promotions, and improve the quality and success of events to attract people to the district.
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Help build strong and productive relationships with appropriate public agencies at the local and state levels.
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Work with the City and Chamber of Commerce to develop and maintain data systems to track the progress of the local Main Street program.
Leadership & Management Responsibilities
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Actively engage and energize volunteers, board members, event committees, partnering organizations, and funders to the betterment of SHBA.
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Provide ongoing support to the board of directors;attend board meeting sand prepare presentations as required; seek and build board involvement with strategic direction for both ongoing operations as well as plans for future development.
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Supervise any temporary or permanent employees, as well as professional consultants.
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Monitor the annual program budget and,with the assistance of the SHBA treasurer,maintain
financial records of the organization.
Fundraising & Communications
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Expand local revenue generating and fundraising activities,including sponsorships,to support existing program operations and future activities.
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Deepen and refine all aspects of communications—from web presence and social media to external relations with the goal of creating a stronger brand for SHBA and the district.
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Us eexternal presence and relationships to garner new opportunities for project development and fundraising.
QUALIFICATIONS:
Relevant associate or bachelor’s degree with a track record of effectively leading an organization and ability to point to specific examples of having developed and operationalized strategies and projects that have taken an organization to the next stage of growth. Senior management experience is preferred but not required.
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Unwavering commitment to quality programs, customer relationships and organizational growth.
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Excellence in organizational management with the ability to coach staff & volunteers, manage projects, develop high-performance teams, set and achieve strategic objectives, and manage projects and an annual budget.
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Past success working with a board o fdirectors with the ability to cultivate existing board member relationships.
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Strong marketing,public relations, and fundraising experience with the ability to engage a wide range of stakeholders.
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Strong written and verbal communication skills; a persuasive and passionate communicator with excellent interpersonal and multidisciplinary project skills. Practice of effective communication skills which include media, web, and social networks.
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Action-oriented, entrepreneurial, adaptable, and innovative approach to business planning, project development and implementation.
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Ability to work effectively in collaboration with diverse groups of people.
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Passion, idealism, integrity, positive attitude, mission-driven, and self-directed to meet program
objectives; creative in program development and execution
PHYSICAL DEMANDS/ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS:
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Ability to lift up to 25pounds
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Ability to sit or stand for extended periods of time
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Regular travel within Huntsville/Madison County region, travel within the State of Alabama to
Main Street workshops, and limited travel out of state.
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To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each responsibility
satisfactorily.
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Meeting the requirements of the position may occasionally mean working flexible hours
including early morning, nights and weekends.
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This role is a full-time position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable
individuals with disabilities to perform the key responsibilities.
APPLICATION PROCESS:
SHBA is an equal opportunity employer and encourages a diverse pool of candidates to apply. If this sounds like your just right job, please submit your resume, a cover letter and the names of at least three professional references via email to info@SHBA.biz. Applications will be accepted until midnight on Wednesday, June 20.
SELECTION PROCESS:
Phone interviews will be scheduled for selected candidates June 26th or 27th with onsite interviews with the top three candidates to occur July 9th or 10th. The selected candidate will meet with a representative of Main Street Alabama, and the board and officers of SHBA on July 16th. A formal offer will be given on July 17th, and acceptance of the offer will be due July 19th. Employment start date will be August 6th.
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