Executive Director - Renton Downtown Partnership

Renton Downtown Partnership is seeking an Executive Director to lead our organization!  The Executive Director will be a strategic and tactical leader who builds relationships in the community, takes a collaborative approach to program development, and coordinates activities and volunteers.  Reporting to the Renton Downtown Partnership’s (RDP) Board of Directors, the Executive Director is responsible for furthering RDP’s vision, mission, goals and objectives, as well as managing day-to-day operations.
The ideal candidate for the Executive Director at Renton Downtown Partnership is an engaged community partner, excelling in diplomacy and tact.  They’re visionary, presenting forward-thinking strategies for RDP’s future, and exhibit the communication skills needed to galvanize wide-reaching support. They are adept at mobilizing and providing strong leadership to staff and volunteers and serve as a compelling spokesperson for RDP.
 
This role is a full-time position with a dedicated office in downtown Renton. 
 
About Us:
Main Street America (MSA) is a national leader in place-based economic development and community preservation. It is dedicated to revitalizing older and historic downtowns and neighborhood commercial districts. Through collaboration with thousands of local partners, MSA supports shared prosperity, resilient economies, and improved quality of life across the country. Since its founding in 1980, MSA has fostered significant local reinvestment, job creation, and community transformation in over 2,000 communities.

The Renton Downtown Partnership (RDP), a proud Main Street Affiliate, was founded in 2014 to lead efforts in revitalizing Renton's historic downtown core. With a mission to cultivate a vibrant social, cultural, and economic center, the RDP brings together businesses, property owners, non-profit organizations, and city stakeholders. The organization works to preserve Renton's unique character while driving downtown revitalization.

The RDP is a vital force in fostering connections between local stakeholders to transform downtown Renton into a thriving and diverse commercial hub. If you're passionate about neighborhood revitalization and community development, this role offers the opportunity to make a lasting impact on Renton's future.
More information about the Renton Downtown Partnership can be found at: https://rentondowntown.com
 
Key Duties and Responsibilities of the Executive Director:

• Communicate RDP’s mission, vision, and goals to the public, media, and stakeholders.
• Build and maintain relationships across local governments, business owners and the community.
• Work with the RDP Board to plan and execute the annual budget, expand revenue sources (including grant writing and promotion of RDP’s B&O Tax Credit Program), and ensure effective use of resources.
• Collaborate with the RDP Board on program development, goal-setting, and strategic planning.
• Implement and lead the Main Street Approach™ strategies, fulfilling reporting requirements for state and national programs.
• Maintain regular communication with the RDP Board and community, including attending monthly board and committee meetings.
• Supervise and recruit volunteers, foster broad community participation, and support volunteer-led initiatives.
• Oversee daily operations, including budget management, grant submissions, and reporting compliance.
• Lead the execution and progress tracking of the Board's strategic and annual work plans.
• Serve as the organization’s primary representative at local, state, and national levels.
• Develop and execute downtown revitalization projects, marketing strategies, and business recruitment and retention plans.
• Ensure adherence to RDP’s policies, maintain official records, and supervise any staff or consultants.

• Experience in leadership, preferably in economic or community development and/or relevant experience in community organizing, event planning, governmental work, public relations, or project management.
• Knowledge or interest in the Main Street Approach™ for downtown revitalization.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to foster relationships with community and civic leaders.
• Experience in fundraising and working with a board of directors to develop successful strategies.
• Demonstrated ability to recruit, supervise, and motivate volunteers and staff while maintaining a positive working environment.
• Skills in strategic thinking, problem-solving, and community collaboration.
• Commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, with experience in serving diverse communities.
• Experience with or interest in historic preservation.
• Self-motivated, independent worker with attention to detail and openness to feedback.
• Proficiency in MS Office applications, Google Drive, social media, and basic website content management.

• A significant portion of the job requires an "on the street" presence downtown, with the executive director calling on businesses, property owners, and other community leaders and/or members.
• Occasional travel includes local, regional, and national meetings.
• This position may regularly require evening and weekend work.

• $85,000 to $95,000 per year
• Annual benefit stipend