City Manager

Downtown Development Director

City of Watkinsville, Georgia

Shape the Future of One of Georgia's Most Vibrant Downtowns

The City of Watkinsville is seeking an energetic, visionary, and relationship-focused professional to serve as its next Downtown Development Director. This leadership position provides an exciting opportunity to guide the continued growth, revitalization, and economic success of one of Georgia's premier downtown districts.

Working under the administrative direction of the City Manager and implementing the strategic vision established by the Downtown Development Authority (DDA) Board, the Director serves as the City's champion for downtown development by fostering business recruitment and retention, marketing the downtown district, coordinating special events, managing redevelopment initiatives, pursuing grant funding, and building strong partnerships with business owners, property owners, community organizations, elected officials, and regional stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities

• Implement the strategic vision and priorities established by the Downtown Development Authority.
• Lead downtown business recruitment, retention, redevelopment, and economic development initiatives.
• Develop and manage the DDA annual budget and present financial information to the Board.
• Coordinate downtown events, marketing campaigns, branding efforts, website management, and social media.
• Research and secure grants, sponsorships, donations, and other funding opportunities.
• Build collaborative relationships with downtown businesses, property owners, community partners, volunteers, and government agencies.
• Support historic preservation efforts and promote tourism throughout the downtown district.
• Manage administrative operations while serving as the primary staff liaison to the Downtown Development Authority.

Qualifications

Qualified candidates should possess a bachelor's degree in business administration, urban planning, marketing, public administration, or a related field, along with at least two to three years of progressively responsible experience in downtown development, economic development, planning, marketing, public administration, or a closely related field. Equivalent combinations of education and experience will be considered. A valid Georgia driver's license (or ability to obtain one) is required.

The Ideal Candidate

The successful candidate will be:

• A strategic thinker who can transform vision into action.
• A skilled communicator comfortable working with elected officials, business owners, and community partners.
• Experienced in project management, budgeting, marketing, and grant development.
• Passionate about downtown revitalization, economic development, and community engagement.
• Organized, collaborative, and able to manage multiple initiatives simultaneously.

Why Watkinsville?

Watkinsville offers a vibrant, walkable downtown, strong community partnerships, and a commitment to thoughtful growth. This position provides an opportunity to make a lasting impact on the economic vitality and character of one of Georgia's most distinctive downtowns. As the county seat of Oconee County in Northeast Georgia, the city has a population of approximately 4,000. Watkinsville's vision is to create Georgia's most compelling community by honoring our history, building community, and creating opportunity for citizens to engaged and do business with one another every day. Learn more at www.cityofwatkinsville.com.